A Whalsay tunnel could be ruled out within a few weeks if Scandinavian experts advise a delegation from Shetland Islands Council that it would cost too much and take too long to meet the local authority’s requirements.

Inter-island ferry fares will have to rise by five per cent, the cost of school meals and meals on wheels will need to be increased by 15p and 20p respectively and an annual charge of £160 must be imposed for children wishing to learn to play musical instruments, if the council is to meet its strict budget targets.

The reign of David Clark as controversial chief executive for Shetland Islands Council appears to be over following a high level meeting at the Town Hall yesterday, although the SIC may have to pay him off with a six-figure sum to help sweeten his departure from office.

Over £10,000 of public money could be used to help send three dancers to take part in the hand-over ceremony at the end of this year’s Commonwealth Games at Delhi in India.

The future of Shetland Islands Council chief executive David Clark was unclear this week after he was granted special holiday leave for the second time in only eight months in the job.

All money paid into an account for a company called Northern Isles Knitwear owned by Lerwick North councillor and Judane adviser Caroline Miller was used to pay Judane’s creditors, according to a letter issued by her lawyers.

SIC chief executive David Clark is to press the case for government funding to help alleviate the isles’ housing shortage at a Scotland-wide emergency jobs summit to address unemployment next Monday.

Council departments have made good progress on cutting back the scale of their budget increases for next year, according to head of finance Graham Johnston.

Scotland’s local government watchdog is taking the unusual step of sending in a representative to further examine how Shetland Islands Council is being governed.

Competition between council departments has been blamed for spending plans being drawn up for next year which are a whopping £16.3 million over budget, placing the future of Shetland’s oil reserves at risk.

It was a special day in the South Mainland on Friday with its first-ever Up-Helly-A’ festival proving a roaring success.

WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SHETLAND

Friday, 12 March 2010 at 10:42

HEADLINES

TODAY: SCATTERED SHOWERS, COOL NW’LY WIND
TONIGHT: LITTLE CHANGE
TOMORROW: SCATTERED SHOWERS, BREEZY
DAYS 2-5: SOME RAIN OR SHOWERS, LIGHTER WINDS
DAYS 6-10: RAIN OR SHOWERS

Firms in Shetland are facing huge rate rises – some by as much as two-thirds – under the Scottish government’s revaluation of business property which will come into force at the beginning of next month.