World Cup bank holiday in doubt for North Ayrshire Council
PA MediaA decision by North Ayrshire Council's cabinet to give workers a bank holiday in celebration of Scotland men's team returning to the World Cup could go to extra time.
The local authority had initially approved the day off - set for 15 June, the day after Scotland face Haiti in their opening group game - back in March.
Three councillors have called in the decision, saying it would cost the council more than £1m in lost productivity.
A motion to uphold the call-in and refer the matter to the cabinet for further consideration on 28 April passed by five votes to two, against an amendment which called for the public holiday to stand.
The Scottish government declared the national holiday should be held after Scotland faces Haiti in Boston, but left the decision on whether or not to take it up to individual councils.
The tournament is the first time Scotland have reached a World Cup in 28 years.
Conservative councillors Ronnie Stalker and Scott Gallacher and independent member Ian Murdoch called in the decision, which was then heard by the audit and scrutiny committee on Tuesday.
Depute leader Christina Larsen said the day off would recognise "the hard work and dedication of delivering services" when services were under strain financially and would boost staff morale.
She added that the cost of £73,000 for covering overtime would be absorbed within services budgets.
Councillor Cameron Inglis, who leads the Conservative group, said staff could spend Sunday recovering from the match - which kicks off at 02:00 that day - and then work the Monday.
He added: "We are losing £1.2m in productivity to the council and to the taxpayer and there will be an effect on education attainments."
He said the council approving the holiday showed a brass neck given the money issues faced by many local authorities.
Independent councillor Donald L Reid said he was concerned about the cost to the authority at a time when it was carrying out reviews of people who have packages of care with the local Health and Social Care Partnership.
He said could lead to locals losing the packages as part of cost-cutting.
The cabinet are now expected to consider the decision at their meeting on Tuesday, 28 April.
