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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Exam clash fears prompt change to West Lothian school holidays
The changes will see the Easter holiday moved forward, and will also take account of the council election in early May 2027. Easter holiday dates for West Lothian schools are being changed after concerns were raised about the SQA exam dates. West Lothian council has revised its term dates for the new school year in 2026-27. The changes will see the Easter holiday moved forward, and will also take account of the council election in early May 2027. In a report to the Education PDSP Hannah Haywood, Customer Services Manager said: 'Easter is early in 2027.' She added: 'Proposed dates for session 2026/27 were presented to Education PDSP on 1 April. Consultation on the proposed dates was still under way at that time. 'Four responses were received, two expressing satisfaction with the proposed dates, and two requesting that the Easter Break should be later. 'Since the meeting on 1 April 2025, new information about the SQA time-scales has been provided, and it is now clear that the previously proposed timing of the Easter break would potentially negatively impact on students meeting submission deadlines for SQA awards. She added: ' Easter is early in 2027, and the original proposal was for the schools to break up on Friday 19 March, and resume on Monday 5 April, with the Easter weekend in the middle. 'A new proposal is now being presented, which moves the Easter break to make it one week later, starting on Good Friday 26 March, and resuming on Monday 12 April. 'As the Easter break is now two weeks and one day long rather than two weeks, the new proposal removes the Friday from the September weekend to make sure that we provide the required 190 teaching days in the session.' As ever the West Lothian holidays are unlikely to tie with neighbouring councils, many of which have yet to be confirmed. Chairing the PDSP Councillor Andrew McGuire said he and fellow councillors were unlikely to forget to move an in-service day to the first Thursday in May as this marks the end of their current council term. The in-service day in May 2026 has also been moved from Tuesday 5 May to Thursday 7 May to coincide with the Scottish Parliamentary Election. Term dates for 2026/27 are:- Pupils return: Wednesday 12 August September weekend: Monday 21 September October holiday: Friday 16 October-Tuesday 27 October Christmas holiday: Friday 18 December- Tuesday 5 January Mid Term: Friday 5 February - Tuesday 16 February Easter Holidays: Thursday 26 March - Monday 5 April May Day holiday Monday 3 May Staff in-service Thursday 6 May. The new term dates will have to be confirmed by the Education Executive when it meets in two weeks' time.
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
West Lothian Council revises term dates for new school year in 2026-27
West Lothian council has revised its term dates for the new school year in 2026-27. The changes will see Easter holiday moved forward and will also take account of the council election in early May 2027. In a report to the Education PDSP Hannah Haywood, Customer Services Manager said: 'Easter is early in 2027.' She added: 'Proposed dates for session 2026/27 were presented to Education PDSP on 1 April. Consultation on the proposed dates was still under way at that time. 'Four responses were received, two expressing satisfactions with the proposed dates, and two requesting that the Easter Break should be later. 'Since the meeting on 1 April 2025, new information about the SQA time-scales has been provided, and it is now clear that the previously proposed timing of the Easter break would potentially negatively impact on students meeting submission deadlines for SQA awards. She added: 'Easter is early in 2027, and the original proposal was for the schools to break up on Friday 19 March, and resume on Monday 5 April, with the Easter weekend in the middle. 'A new proposal is now being presented, which moves the Easter break to make it one week later, starting on Good Friday 26 March, and resuming on Monday 12 April. 'As the Easter break is now two weeks and one day long rather than two weeks, the new proposal removes the Friday from the September weekend to make sure that we provide the required 190 teaching days in the session.' As ever the West Lothian holidays are unlikely to tie with neighbouring councils, many of which have yet to be confirmed. Chairing the PDSP Councillor Andrew McGuire said he and fellow councillors were unlikely to forget to move an in-service day to the first Thursday in May as this marks the end of their current council term. The in-service day in May 2026 has also been moved from Tuesday 5 May to Thursday 7 May to coincide with the Scottish Parliamentary Election. Term dates for 2026/27 are:- Pupils return: Wednesday 12 August September weekend: Monday 21 September October holiday: Friday 16 October-Tuesday 27 October Christmas holiday: Friday 18 December- Tuesday 5 January Mid Term: Friday 5 February – Tuesday 16 February Easter Holidays: Thursday 26 March – Monday 5 April May Day holiday Monday 3 May Staff in-service Thursday 6 May. The new term dates will have to be confirmed by the Education Executive when it meets in two weeks' time. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Exam clash fears prompt change to West Lothian school holidays
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Easter holiday dates for West Lothian schools are being changed after concerns were raised about the SQA exam dates. West Lothian council has revised its term dates for the new school year in 2026-27. The changes will see Easter holiday moved forward, and will also take account of the council election in early May 2027. In a report to the Education PDSP Hannah Haywood, Customer Services Manager said: 'Easter is early in 2027.' She added: 'Proposed dates for session 2026/27 were presented to Education PDSP on 1 April. Consultation on the proposed dates was still under way at that time. 'Four responses were received, two expressing satisfaction with the proposed dates, and two requesting that the Easter Break should be later. 'Since the meeting on 1 April 2025, new information about the SQA time-scales has been provided, and it is now clear that the previously proposed timing of the Easter break would potentially negatively impact on students meeting submission deadlines for SQA awards. She added: ' Easter is early in 2027, and the original proposal was for the schools to break up on Friday 19 March, and resume on Monday 5 April, with the Easter weekend in the middle. 'A new proposal is now being presented, which moves the Easter break to make it one week later, starting on Good Friday 26 March, and resuming on Monday 12 April. 'As the Easter break is now two weeks and one day long rather than two weeks, the new proposal removes the Friday from the September weekend to make sure that we provide the required 190 teaching days in the session.' As ever the West Lothian holidays are unlikely to tie with neighbouring councils, many of which have yet to be confirmed. Chairing the PDSP Councillor Andrew McGuire said he and fellow councillors were unlikely to forget to move an in-service day to the first Thursday in May as this marks the end of their current council term. The in-service day in May 2026 has also been moved from Tuesday 5 May to Thursday 7 May to coincide with the Scottish Parliamentary Election. Term dates for 2026/27 are:- Pupils return: Wednesday 12 August September weekend: Monday 21 September October holiday: Friday 16 October-Tuesday 27 October Christmas holiday: Friday 18 December- Tuesday 5 January Mid Term: Friday 5 February - Tuesday 16 February Easter Holidays: Thursday 26 March - Monday 5 April May Day holiday Monday 3 May Staff in-service Thursday 6 May. The new term dates will have to be confirmed by the Education Executive when it meets in two weeks' time.
Daily Record
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Number of empty council homes in West Lothian 'lowest in two years'
Councillors heard this week that the bulk of homes vacated come back needing thousands of pounds spent on them, with costs sometimes difficult to recoup except through debt recovery agencies. West Lothian has its lowest number of empty council homes for two years thanks to a team set up in the autumn to tackle a backlog from the Covid lockdown. The backlog of houses needing refurbishment - known as voids - is down by a quarter. Councillors heard this week that the bulk of homes vacated come back needing thousands of pounds spent on them, with costs sometimes difficult to recoup except through debt recovery agencies. Of three categories, almost 50% of homes returned to the council are in 'C' class the worst, with an average £10,000 worth of work needed to make them habitable again. Grant Taylor, Building Services Manager told councillors on the Housing Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP), the formation of a central team to deal with empty homes in all wards had made a big difference in helping to reduce the amount of time homes were out of use. In the last year 1,348 properties were let across the county, 1,537 refurbishments were completed by Building Services and 1,346 new void properties were retired to the council. On average 30 properties a week are being refurbished by Building Services and, in March this year, there were 100 fewer empty homes than in April last year. The creation of one team to deal with all void homes has improved engagement with contractors and made it simpler to deal with one utility supplier, rather than dealing with the issue on a war by ward basis. The team was created in response to a backlog in repairs and a growing number of homes lying empty for long periods, sometimes for half the year. The backlog began to increase during the Covid pandemic, with councillors in all wards seeing their in-boxes stuffed with complaints about the number of empty homes at a time when demand for council housing was surging. Mr Taylor said the turnaround had been achieved at a time when the number of houses in the worst condition had been climbing. This increased the amount of time spent on bringing the homes back up to standard. Housing officers cite societal changes and problems such as addiction and hoarding among some of the issues they face in dealing with some tenants. In 2021 there were 170 C class void homes- 27% of all voids across all nine council wards. By last year that number had climbed to 358, or 46% of all voids. Last year the Bathgate ward alone had 138 void homes - 82 C class and 56 B class, which need around £4,500 spent to bring up to standard. There were none in A class- which need only around £1,500 spent to return to let. Mr Taylor presented photographs to a meeting of the committee in December which showed befouled bathrooms, damaged filthy kitchens, and living rooms piled high with rubbish. He said there had been some improvements but he added: 'we are still seeing a similar amount of work that needs to be done to bring the homes up to habitable standards. There's the repairs costs but a rental loss too so when you add the two together it is obviously well over the repair costs.' Chairing the meeting, Councillor George Paul said: ' These tenants that leave properties in these conditions, how is the recharge process affecting them, how do we recoup the costs? Mr Taylor said that rechargeable items were identified at the void point and those costs added to a service account managed by the council's finance team. The process of recovery of costs then goes to a third party. Councillor David Russell asked: 'Is there any consequence for people who leave properties in this condition for example if they don't engage would they be excluded from getting a tenancy until they did? Alison Smith, housing management and community safety officer said the council had a responsibility to rehouse people that come forward. She said: 'We will have information about previous history and try to recoup charges. They may go out of the system for many months or years. However, we cannot bar people from the housing list.' Mrs Smith added that sitting tenants could be taken through a legal route similar to that for non payment of rent. Head of Housing Julie Whitelaw said: ' With regards to consequences I would say that we would follow a debt recovery process and the normal debt recovery processes and tools available to us would be followed on all occasions.'
Edinburgh Reporter
02-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Lowest number of empty West Lothian council homes in two years
West Lothian has its lowest number of empty council homes for two years thanks to a team set up in the autumn to tackle a backlog from the Covid lockdown. The backlog of houses needing refurbishment – known as voids – is down by a quarter. Councillors heard this week that the bulk of homes vacated come back needing thousands of pounds spent on them, with costs sometimes difficult to recoup except through debt recovery agencies. Of three categories, almost 50% of homes returned to the council are in 'C' class the worst, with an average £10,000 worth of work needed to make them habitable again. Grant Taylor, Building Services Manager told councillors on the Housing Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP), the formation of a central team to deal with empty homes in all wards had made a big difference in helping to reduce the amount of time homes were out of use. In the last year 1,348 properties were let across the county, 1,537 refurbishments were completed by Building Services and 1,346 new void properties were retired to the council. On average 30 properties a week are being refurbished by Building Services and, in March this year, there were 100 fewer empty homes than in April last year. The creation of one team to deal with all void homes has improved engagement with contractors and made it simpler to deal with one utility supplier, rather than dealing with the issue on a war by ward basis. The team was created in response to a backlog in repairs and a growing number of homes lying empty for long periods, sometimes for half the year. The backlog began to increase during the Covid pandemic, with councillors in all wards seeing their in-boxes stuffed with complaints about the number of empty homes at a time when demand for council housing was surging. Mr Taylor said the turnaround had been achieved at a time when the number of houses in the worst condition had been climbing. This increased the amount of time spent on bringing the homes back up to standard. Housing officers cite societal changes and problems such as addiction and hoarding among some of the issues they face in dealing with some tenants. In 2021 there were 170 C class void homes- 27% of all voids across all nine council wards. By last year that number had climbed to 358, or 46% of all voids. Last year the Bathgate ward alone had 138 void homes – 82 C class and 56 B class, which need around £4,500 spent to bring up to standard. There were none in A class- which need only around £1,500 spent to return to let. Mr Taylor presented photographs to a meeting of the committee in December which showed befouled bathrooms, damaged filthy kitchens, and living rooms piled high with rubbish. He said there had been some improvements, but he added: 'we are still seeing a similar amount of work that needs to be done to bring the homes up to habitable standards. There's the repairs costs but a rental loss too so when you add the two together it is obviously well over the repair costs.' Chairing the meeting, Councillor George Paul said: 'These tenants that leave properties in these conditions, how is the recharge process affecting them, how do we recoup the costs? Mr Taylor said that rechargeable items were identified at the void point and those costs added to a service account managed by the council's finance team. The process of recovery of costs then goes to a third party. Councillor David Russell asked: 'Is there any consequence for people who leave properties in this condition for example if they don't engage would they be excluded from getting a tenancy until they did? Alison Smith, housing management and community safety officer said the council had a responsibility to rehouse people that come forward. She said: 'We will have information about previous history and try to recoup charges. They may go out of the system for many months or years. However, we cannot bar people from the housing list.' Mrs Smith added that sitting tenants could be taken through a legal route similar to that for non-payment of rent. Head of Housing Julie Whitelaw said: 'With regards to consequences I would say that we would follow a debt recovery process and the normal debt recovery processes and tools available to us would be followed on all occasions.' By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
