Top council meeting on economy recovery in Dumfries and Galloway to be screened online tomorrow

Get the latest politics news sent straight to your inbox every FridayThe Scottish Government has revealed a “cross border” cluster of covid-19 cases in Dumfries and Galloway.Nicola Sturgeon announced the single figure outbreak at her press conference in Edinburgh.Coronavirus infection levels are falling north of the border, but concern exists about people from other parts of the UK bringing the virus to Scotland.The First Minister has said the Government has no plans to impose quarantine on

Police Scotland was an “epiphany” in his career as he spoke in the wake of riots sparked by the death of George Floyd.Chitwood said he had been heavily influenced by a trip to Scotland in 2015 where he was trained in techniques aimed at reducing the use of force and firearms.He was one of dozens of US law enforcement officials who spent several days at Tulliallan, Police Scotland’s training centre and headquarters near Stirling.He said: “It was an epiphany to sit there and watch.

council tax bills to fill a Covid black hole.Council group COSLA believes a law change is required to address crippling deficits and avoid massive tax rises.Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “The financial black hole that Scotland’s councils now face cannot be paid for by cutting council services or a massive hike in council tax.”Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a

lockdown that has left the industry hanging by a thread. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Wednesday that bars with beer gardens and outdoor restaurants can get back to business from Monday, July 6.The plan is part of the next phase of the route out of lockdown.

West Lothian Council  has made “significant progress” in settling equal pay claims, it said this month.The statement came as Scotland’s local government watchdog has praised councils for their progress in settling equal pay claims, but says they expect councils to maintain their focus on unresolved cases.The 32 local authorities in Scotland have spent £1.3 billion settling cases of pay inequality between male and female staff.

A Paisley councillor has called for major events including the town's fireworks display and Christmas lights switch-on to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.Renfrewshire Council previously said an announcement would be made on whether the celebrations would go ahead - along with festive switch-ons in Renfrew and Johnstone - by next Tuesday.But as Scotland continues to gradually move out of lockdown, bosses confirmed this week they were holding their decision to ensure they

A LEADING trade union has warned North Lanarkshire Council that the local authority’s furlough scheme “must not be a waiting room for redundancy”.Councils across Scotland, including North Lanarkshire, announced last week that they have applied to the UK Government’s job retention scheme to fund their staff.Johanna Baxter, Unison Scotland head of local government, said: “The fact that Scottish councils are having to apply for funding from the Westminster furlough scheme is a damning indictment of

Cops have been alerted to a council probe into a bungled roads maintenance contract which cost taxpayers more than £3 million.An internal investigation into the loss-making deal with Transerv Scotland has revealed a trail of mismanagement and incompetence.And the police were informed of the inquiry amid concerns that there may have been fraudulent activity involved.Council leader Elaine Murray (below) told the Standard: “There’s certainly been incompetence.

Council bosses are now planning for pupils to return to schools full-time following a government climbdown today.Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced schools will return full-time in August if Scotland continues to make progress on suppressing coronavirus.The government u-turn follows revolt across the country at plans to have some pupils in class for as little as one day a week, including in West Dunbartonshire.This afternoon, West Dunbartonshire Council confirmed it is now revising its

anti-racism protest in Glasgow after a series of volatile mass gatherings. The Glasgow Says No To Racism event is due to begin at 10.30am despite shameful scenes over the last week where peaceful protests have been disrupted.

PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS: Live news as it happens The £4.5million handed over by the Scottish Government will be used by education chiefs to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on children’s learning.The money is part of the Attainment Challenge Fund and will allow the council to plough cash into schemes that best support children from the area’s most deprived households.It will be shared across all 62 schools in the local authority area. Read More News: The council can also take advantage of a

Dumfries whippet Olly has been voted Scotland’s top lockdown dog after becoming the “face” of a Covid-19 appeal in the region.Olly, who will be one next week, received more than a quarter of the votes in the competition run by the Daily Record and Butchers.He has earned a place in the grand final this weekend to find Britain’s ultimate Lockdown Dog Hero.Delighted owner Lee Herron said: “I am over the moon that he has won and really grateful to everyone that voted for him.

schooling.Some are only scheduled to meet in August - even though education is one of the key issues of the pandemic.Calls have been made for the committees to be kickstarted to scrutinise unpopular plans for combining home and school learning.Get all the top Scottish politics news sent straight to your Inbox by signing up to our Politics newsletter.We cover Holyrood, Westminster and local councils, with a current focus on how our governments are handling the coronavirus pandemic.To sign up,

West Lothian pupils will spend two days in school each week and two-and-a half days being taught at home by parents.Council bosses have written to parents and carers advising them on the plans for most students returning on August 12.The council is planning for the start of the new term on August 11, in line with all other councils in Scotland.However this will be an in-service day when schools will be closed to pupils and a second in-service day planned for Monday, August 17, will not take

South Lanarkshire Council are hoping to give every new primary one pupil the chance to visit their new school before the summer holidays.Over the next couple of weeks, the council wants to organise dates for four- and five-year-olds due to start school in August to meet their new teacher.Some schools - including Cathkin Primary and St Columbkille's Primary in Rutherglen and Auchinraith Primary in Blantyre - have already contacted parents with details of visits next week.According to Scottish

Scotland’s top civil servant has said she does not know who used a Scottish Government social media account to criticise Tory politicians.

West Lothian has backed national calls on the Scottish Government to release extra funds given by Westminster.

He sent temperatures soaring as hunky trolley collector Ted 2 in Peter Kay’s award-winning comedy Car Share.