Highland Council in the firing line on overpayments and Inverness Academy Street costs.
Childline is here to help
The NSPCC’s Childline service is anticipating thousands of children and young people reaching out to them for help and support across the upcoming festive period, with counsellors available around the clock throughout the holidays.
Over the 12 Days of Christmas last year (December 24 to January 4) Childline delivered almost 5500 counselling sessions to children living across the UK, averaging out at more than 450 a day.
As throughout the rest of the year, problems with mental health and wellbeing is the main reason why children and young people contact Childline.
However, there are also recurring issues and worries arising that are more specific to the festive season including:
Young people reflecting on the prospect of Christmas without a loved one
Being worried about family conflict and adults consuming alcohol
Feeling pressure to eat more than normal/coping with an eating disorder
Concerns about family money worries
Feelings of guilt or jealousy about the presents they receive
Childline bases across the UK, including in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Cardiff, will be in operation throughout the Christmas period, filled with both full-time staff and volunteers.
Childline will be there, as always, to help the thousands of children who contact us by phone and online over the festive period.
We know Christmas can be a difficult time for some children and young people when they are spending more time at home.
This time of year, can cause added stress to family life such as financial worries, arguments, and adults drinking a lot of alcohol.
Whatever they may be worried about we’d like to reassure children and young people that our trained counsellors will be there to listen and support them on every day of the 12 Days of Christmas and into the New Year.
This Christmas, a child will contact Childline every 45 seconds on average. Help the charity to make sure Childline is ready for every question this festive season by visiting the NSPCC website. Just £4 could help a counsellor answer a call this Christmas.
The Childline service is here for children every day, even on Christmas Day. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk
Adeniyi Alade
Service head of Childline
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No apology over Academy Street costs
The leader of Highland Council has refused to apologise for the loss of £713,000 of taxpayers’ money over what one opposition leader described as “the unwanted, unneeded and unwelcome Academy Street fiasco”. Raymond Bremner told Conservative group leader Ruraidh Stewart it was a matter for the Inverness city committee and its leader.
“Should be sacked, if that was any other business that’s what would happen.” - Peter Sinclair
“The leader of the council represents a ward in Caithness, over 100 miles away from Inverness. As a result his electorate is unlikely to be concerned enough about his role in this local disaster for Inverness to kick him out at the next election. But as this mess unfolds, Highland Council still refuses to consider reconstruction and the introduction of true local accountability.” - Charles Bannerman
“Where’s our local MPs/ MSPs in all of this? Their silence is deafening. Shame on them for not calling this out and instigating a full investigation.” - John Walter Brown
“The days of integrity when people did apologise and resign are long gone. He should be booted. Not fit to lead anything.” - Audrey Whitfield
“Utter scandal. And this on top of the £600k paid in wages to staff who no longer work for the authority! They wouldn't be so free and easy if the debts were deducted monthly from their excessive salaries. Sack the lot of them and bring in competent business people.” - Shirley Whiteley
Council overpayments could happen again
There is no guarantee Highland Council will not overpay staff in the future after it was revealed that it overpaid staff - past and present - by £1.2 million. It is the latest in a series of errors that have hit the council’s reputation for financial management as council leader Raymond Bremner said it could happen again.
“Put the council into special measures, how can it provide accurate yearly accounts?” - Martin Allan
“Am I missing something here. How can you overpay someone and not know about it? It's pretty basic accounting surly? Who is in charge of the payroll department, are they not being held accountable? When a staff member is issued a contract I am sure there rate of pay is agreed at that point and you pay them the agreed amount. If it was a private company it would have gone into administration years ago. An absolute shambles. Why is this allowed to continue with no accountability??” - Ross Edwards
“Ross Edwards, from the point of view of the receivers of the overpayments....payment one could have been monies owed for holidays due/tax refund etc., but anything after that would surely prompt them to ask the question as to why they are still receiving salaries, pensions or whatever…I have never ever known payroll team not having their work checked before payments were made in any company....and look out for the auditors arriving!” - Margaret Mackenzie
“They are doing a great job with our money, aren't they, just? Meanwhile, here, where I live, no gritters, no street cleaning, no public transport, loch Ness size potholes everywhere, and...what makes matters worse, no lollipop lady to help children to cross the road in and out of school...disgusting!!” - Jorge Salgado
“For him to admit the council will very likely continue to haemorrhage our money paying ex employees while increasing our taxes is absolutely insane. He has to go. This level of utter incompetence ought to be enough to oust those responsible and those who make excuses for them for good. It really demonstrates that budgeting is an alien concept to some of these people who earn far too much money and don’t have to keep track of their own personal spending.” - Kim Corbett
“And THEY were worried about the reputational risk caused by NOT building the Gathering Place.” - Gerry Reynolds, MSc
“Nearly 2 million between this and the ‘always-gonna-fail’ Academy Street revamp. An absolute shambles. Wouldn’t mind paying council tax if there was some competence. Shambolic.” - Stefan Reip
“Some corporations have millions of employees on their payroll and they don't make the same mistake twice! Only HC would admit it could happen again.” - Liz Beth
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