Council group warns of 50% council tax rise unless law is changed to help local authorities

North Lanarkshire.Emergency services were called the scene on Merry Street, Motherwell, at around 6.25pm on Sunday.Local residents reported seeing thick, black plumes of smoke rising into the sky while flames took hold of the Spar shop.Hero firefighters have been battling the blaze with high-pressure hose reels but some homes in the area have lost water pressure as a result.Scottish Water said: “We’re aware that Scottish Fire and Rescue are in attendance at Merry Street in the ML1 Motherwell

Paisley.Ryan Low, 32, was found in his Springbank Road flat on Monday, June 29.Police Scotland launched a full investigation into the Hibs supporter's death.Officers have now confirmed a 17-year-old male youth and a 19-year old man have been arrested and charged in connection with the death.Both are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, 20 July.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has confirmed it will formally change its name to NatWest Group on Wednesday, July 22. Bosses said the move was because 80 per cent of customers bank with the NatWest brand, rather than through RBS branches.

Nicola Sturgeon'sadministration in Scotland after it was revealed that Whitehall will assume control of the state aid regime.

UK Government initiative aimed at protecting jobs in the hospitality industry and encouraging people to safely return to dining out.The Eat Out to Help Out registration service went live this morning on Gov.uk allowing businesses to join the scheme announced last week by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.Restaurants, bars, cafes and other establishments who use the scheme will offer a 50 per cent reduction, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to all diners who eat and/or drink-in throughout

Scottish government announced that it was increasing the number of people allowed to gather in groups in its next stage of easing the lockdown.

housing market was given a shot in the arm today as Kate Forbes announced a tax break in a bid to get the economy moving. Holyrood's finance secretary announced a package of measures in response to the mini-Budget announcement by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday.

restaurant and pub bills slashed in half when eating out. In a bid to kickstart the struggling hospitality industry, the government announced the new discount scheme to coax families out of lockdown.

alcohol in their system, there is a concern that the long-awaited reopening of pubs could result in a sudden surge in devastating fires.Even at the best of times cooking can be hard to manage and when you have been drinking alcohol the risk of having an accident increases as your coordination decreases, the LFB said.Many people drunkenly stick a pizza in the oven or some sausages in a pan and then fall asleep only to be woken by their smoke alarm.For those without a smoke alarm such incidents

Chancellor Rishi Sunak made the announcement during his summer statement on Wednesday and said the "Eat Out to Help Out" scheme would provide 50 per cent off - up to a maximum of £10 per head - meals at participating businesses across the UK. Restaurants, cafes and pubs have been severely affected by the coronavirus lockdown, with many staff placed on the UK Government's Job Retention Scheme.

Scottish borders are risking their lives by climbing onto school roofs during lockdown. Cops in the area have warned against the new craze after getting 'several calls' from worried locals watching youngsters on the roofs.

Nicola Sturgeon.Activists headed to the border with England at the weekend to protest visitors crossing into the country due to the coronavirus crisis.The demonstrations have been widely criticised - including by senior Scottish National Party figures and the First Minister herself.It has now been reported a new gathering is being planned for Thursday, July 9 against anyone travelling from the south - including group Action for Scotland.Protester Sean Clerkin, who has hit the headlines

Nicola Sturgeon has warned Scots not to drop their guard in the battle against Covid-19 as international examples show the virus has not gone away. Lockdown measures were reimposed in Australia's second biggest city on Tuesday, confining Melbourne residents to their homes unless undertaking essential business for six weeks, as officials scramble to contain a coronavirus outbreak.

Join thousands of others who have signed up for the Daily Record newsletter.Leading trade union UNISON has urged care home bosses in Wishaw to “pay up now” to workers self-isolating with suspected Covid-19 who have been forced to survive on statutory sick pay of less than £96 a week.Many care homes and care-at-home service providers have failed to pay workers their full wages until they get the money up-front, despite the Scottish Government publicly stating funds would be available.Now the

Scottish independence and its aftermath, an explosive new book has claimed. It has long been suspected that operatives working on behalf of Vladimir Putin 's government helped spread false information across social media around the time of the landmark vote - claims strongly denied by Russia.

coronavirus symptoms before flying, a consumer rights expert has warned. Alex Neill, chief executive of consumer resolution service Resolver, said travel insurance is unlikely to cover such a scenario.

Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo have said that reopening cinemas at the moment is a “high-risk situation”.Cinemas around the world have recently begun to reopen a few months after being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.Those in England will be allowed to reopen from July 4 provided they are “COVID secure”, while cinemas in Scotland will be allowed to open from July 15.