Council workers on the Shetland Islands are facing bank holiday blues following the King’s coronation.
Those who want Monday 8 May off to continue the weekend’s celebrations will now have to book it off as annual leave after elected members ruled against making the day a bank holiday.
The unanimous decision was made at a meeting of the policy and resources committee this week.
Councillors cited financial pressures and education concerns amid the teacher strikes in Scotland as reasons to reject the holiday.
Awarding the additional holiday would have cost an estimated £91,907 based on salary costs for 2022/23, the committee heard.
The coronation of King Charles III will take place in London on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey in London.
The UK government has called for an additional bank holiday on 8 May, but in Scotland national holidays are a devolved matter for councils to decide on.
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The local authority therefore had no obligation to recognise the day as a public holiday. However, it previously recognised the one-off bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral last year.
A number of options were presented to the committee, ranging from ‘do nothing’ to granting the holiday and closing non-essential services, including schools.
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A spokesperson for Shetland Islands Council said: “Councillors took a decision at the policy and resources committee yesterday not to award an extra day’s leave in view of the current financial pressures facing the council.
“Concerns were also expressed about school pupils losing another day of learning as a result of schools being closed to accommodate the additional day’s leave.
“Council staff who are scheduled to work on Monday 8 May and who wish to join the celebrations can book annual leave in the usual way.
“Managers are encouraged to grant leave where possible, in line with the needs of the service.”
