News

New measure aims to protect FOI rights from danger of ‘AI overload’

  • 26 June 2026

The Scottish Information Commissioner has introduced a new measure which aims to protect people’s right of appeal to his office under FOI law being negatively impacted by an influx of ‘machine-generated’ AI appeals. The new measure will give the Commissioner the ability to restrict the number of FOI appeals from individual requesters under ‘live’ investigation […]

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The Food Standards Agency moves to GOV.UK

  • 26 June 2026

The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website has moved over to the GOV.UK platform. FSA state that this will help to meet the evolving needs of their diverse user base, while also reducing costs, enhancing security, and improving the efficiency of their online content. This aligns with the UK Government’s ambition to create a single, consistent […]

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BBC comedy to feature an Environmental Health Officer

  • 24 June 2026

Ruth Jones , best-known for her role as Nessa  in ‘Gavin & Stacey’, is set to play a fictional Environmental Health Officer in a brand-new BBC comedy, ‘Better Later’. The series will follow EHO Shelley Anne (Jones) alongside retired teacher Clive, played by Steve Speirs. Filming is now underway in Wales The six-part series, called […]

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New Duties and Powers Portal launched to support Scottish councils

  • 24 June 2026

The new national Duties and Powers Portal, developed as part of the SOLACE/Improvement Service Transformation Programme, is designed to make it easier to understand the extent of the duties and powers that local authorities have across Scotland. Available at www.dutiesandpowers.scot the portal brings together hundreds of council duties and powers in one place, explaining what councils must […]

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Swansea Council investigation into fraudulent food mislabelling leads to £500,000 fine

  • 23 June 2026

Kismet Kebabs Limited has been fined £500,000, along with £259,000 costs at Swansea Crown Court following a major investigation by Swansea Council into fraudulent food mislabelling. On Friday 5 June, the company, based in Chelmsford, Essex, was sentenced, after pleading guilty to one offence of fraud by false representation. Swansea Council’s Trading Standards team launched […]

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Boost for Scottish producers

  • 23 June 2026

Scottish producers will be supported to maximise the use of locally produced food and drink in public sector settings including schools and hospitals, First Minister John Swinney has announced. In a speech to the Quality Meat Scotland breakfast at the Royal Highland Show, the First Minister announced the new Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce, which […]

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Scottish House Condition Survey: Local Authority Tables

  • 23 June 2026

Figures have been released on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, the condition of housing and other key descriptors of the occupied housing stock in Scotland at the Local Authority Level. This is the first release of information from the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) Local Authority Tables for 2022- 2024. Fuel poverty In the period 2022-2024, […]

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Council Health and Safety Enforcement

  • 22 May 2026

Financial cuts and a culture of deregulation is causing underfunding and near-abandonment of health and safety enforcement by local authorities across Scotland, according to a research briefing by the Jimmy Reid Foundation (JRF). Local authorities in Scotland are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in 45% of workplaces (140,571 premises), while the Health and Safety […]

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Chip shops caught selling catfish as ‘traditional’ fish and chips

  • 22 May 2026

Several fish and chip shops in England have been caught selling catfish as “traditional fish and chips” to cut costs, a BBC investigation has found. A BBC North West investigation found a catfish species, known as pangasius or river cobbler, being sold in the region’s chippies without customers being fully aware of what they were […]

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Clean Air Day

  • 21 May 2026

Clean Air Day is happening on Thursday 18th June and this year the focus is recognising the critical role that local leaders play in cleaning up our air and encouraging communities to come together to learn and take action on air pollution. Clean Air Day is a UK wide air pollution campaign, which has been running since 2017. […]

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