Extra World Cup holiday refused by councillors after majority vote
Any hopes Angus Council staff might have had for a World Cup holiday this summer have been dashed after a vote by councillors.
Angus has become the latest local authority to show proposals for an extra holiday the red card, which, one councillor said, would have cost the equivalent of 1% council tax.
Councillors were asked to consider a day off for staff and teachers following Scotland’s 2026 opening game, following First Minister John Swinney’s announcement of a bank holiday for Scottish Government employees on Monday, June 15.
The men’s team will play Haiti in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time, their first appearance at a World Cup for 28 years.
At a recent full Angus Council meeting, however, elected members voted overwhelmingly against the idea, leaving Dundee as the only council in Tayside, Fife and Stirling to approve the day off.
Officers said an extra day of annual leave or a one-off public holiday would cost the authority at least £650,000.
Montrose Conservative councillor Iain Gall said: “The estimated cost at £650,000 is 1% council tax. We can’t sit in this chamber and talk about budget cuts, funding shortfall and council tax going up when we look at our neighbours in Dundee City Council who voted for this at a cost of £1.2 million. None of that adds up.
“I think it’s very reckless financially given the funding circumstances in local government.”
Montrose independent Tommy Stewart added: “The match is two o’clock on a Sunday morning. It will be finished about four o’clock. If people can’t get to their bed after that and be ready for work on a Monday morning then there’s something wrong.”
Arbroath councillor Brenda Durno expressed support for the holiday.
She said: “We can join together with the grandchildren and everyone can support Scotland. It will boost the economy. It’s not as if it happens very often.”
Monifieth SNP colleague Lloyd Melville added: “I think it’s important for us to read the room. But I do think it’s important for us to say well done to the team, it’s a real moment of national significance.”
A handful of SNP councillors backed the one-off holiday in a 20 to 5 five vote.