09/02/2016 Reporting Scotland

It's goodbye from me and on BBC One we can now join the BBC's

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: A victory for the Government over

the council tax freeze as local authorities look set to sign up.

But it's claimed the settlement means big cuts to services.

As Andy Murray and his wife Kim celebrate the birth of their first

child, we speak to a very proud great-grandmother.

Absolutely delighted, as you can imagine. It seems a long time we

have been waiting for this, but all's well now.

Also on the programme: MSPs reject an opt-out system on organ donation

but the Government says it'll look again at the law.

Scotland not taking it lying down as they prepare for the game

against Wales, their captain says they shouldn't be written off.

And they've been stalwarts of the Scottish music scene

for decades, but Runrig tell us why they've decided to call it a day.

It's been the focus of bitter dispute between local authorities

and Government but tonight it seems every council in Scotland

will accept another council tax freeze.

But many authorities are adamant the freeze -

the ninth in a row - is unacceptable and will result

in hundreds of millions of pounds worth of cuts.

Here's our Local Government Correspondent Jamie McIvor.

It was a high stakes standoff. Now it looks like the Scottish

Government's won. Every council seems set to accept the Government's

funding deal, even though every single council which isn't run by

the SNP claims the deal is simply unacceptable. The difficulty that we

have got is that despite increasing statutory duties, increased

pressures that we have got, the Scottish Government have chosen to

pass on what we think is disproportionate cuts to local

Government. Now we had obviously prepared for a cut in our budgets

because that was flagged up to us but the difficulty we have got is

the cuts that we have seen have well outweighed what we expected. The big

problem for many councils this year is budgets are lower than they had

forecast. In Stirling they're contemplating doubling the cost of

music tuition for some children. At Highland staff have been consider to

cut working hours or take redundancy. Many councils are going

to agree how to spend their money a little later than usual this year so

they can work out just what to do. This year, there is a real

possibility some councils would put up the council tax but this

rebellion was snuffed out. The penalties the Deputy First Minister

has introduced mean it's just too expensive to think about raising

council tax by anything that would be electorally acceptable. Some cuts

simply aren't an option. Councils have to maintain the ratio of

teachers to students and primary school hours can't be cut.

The Government calls the deal challenging but fair. This is a good

deal. It puts funding forward for freezing the council tax, for

delivering the living wage for social care staff, for increasing -

for maintaining teacher and pupil numbers and transforming social

care. Those are good priorities, good policies we hope everybody will

sign up to. This is a good deal and worth taking. Tough choices are

never popular. Would voters pay more to maintain services? I am not sure

but I would like to think so. They're going to have to accept it

and cut services, many people can't afford tax especially with the

bedroom tax and other taxes that come into play. We find it a

struggle where we are living. There is simple basic economies they could

make to save small bits of funds from their budget. But a little bit

here and there will add up to go a long way and I reckon if it was run

lying the private sector you would see significant savings in budgets.

Ultimately, the Government holds the trump cards but this has badly

strained relations with some councils. Over the next few weeks

many of them will be deciding just how to spend their money.

Andy Murray and his wife Kim have announced the birth of their first

During the recent Australian Open, the British Number One said he'd be

on the first plane home if his wife went into labour,

but in the end the baby came only a day or two early,

Aileen Clarke spent the day in Dunblane.

It's a girl. The pink ribbon around Andy Murray's gold post box in

Dunblane said it all today. While locate ls hung up the bunting Andy's

gran couldn't have been more proud when the text arrived announcing the

birth of her great-grandchild although she did have to text back

to check. Oh, the baby must be here! I immediately texted back and said,

what's happened? Sounds fantastic. But let me know. I got a text back

from Andy to say, sorry, forgot you had an old phone. But baby girl here

and everyone doing well. Absolutely delighted, as you can imagine. It

seems a long time since - that we have been waiting for this but all's

well now, as far as I know, don't have any details. I just know that I

have got a great-granddaughter so that's just lovely.

On the high street more ribbons were appearing and even full window

displays completed. Just as people here wished the couple well at the

time of their wedding, today they're keen to pass on their

congratulations on the arrival of their baby daughter. We had some

little girl things put downstairs and boy things, so it was a case of

just racing out and getting a pink balloon this morning because we had

everything else. The weather this while has been down, but it's perked

everybody up now. After the Australian Open final Andy Murray

was clearly desperate to get back to his wife's side in time for the

birth. To my wife, Kim, you have been a legend the last two weeks.

Thank you so much for all your support. I will be on the next

flight home. And today some advice for the new

parents from new mums back in Dunblane. Sleep when you can. Eat

when you can. Keep good friends. Enjoy it, maybe that would be my

advice. Hopefully he will come up here and see all us oldies, I can't

wait! You forget how small they are, don't you?

You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC.

Still to come on tonight's programme.

We speak to some of the people who live and work along the A9 -

in the first of a series of special reports on Scotland's longest road.

In sport, Scotland rugby skipper Greig Laidlaw promises we'll be fine

Elsewhere, the SFA say they will review procedures

after last night's Cup draw malfunction.

And, we meet Scotland's firefighting athlete,

bidding for Commonwealth Games success in the Gold Coast.

Find out who, in the sport very soon.

The First Minister has written to David Cameron accusing

the Treasury of trying to systematically cut the Scottish

budget in the negotiations over future funding of the Scottish

The UK Government maintains its funding offer is fair.

Here's our political correspondent, Glenn Campbell.

There we go, well done! Pancakes are not the only thing worth giving a

toss about. This -- about this Shrove Tuesday. The big talk is the

lack of agreement with the UK and Scottish governments in their talks

over Holyrood's future budget. When Holyrood takes on the extra tax and

welfare powers recommended by the Smith Commission, Smith said there

should be no detriment to either the Scottish Government or the UK

Government. In other words, neither side should be worse off

financially. Sounds straightforward. But Ministers in Edinburgh and

London can't seem to agree exactly what those words mean. Over pancakes

in Edinburgh the First Minister used her monthly news conference to

in Edinburgh the First Minister used accuse the Treasury of trying to use

extra devolution to raid Scottish finances. We were promised

additional powers, not addition agriculture powers in exchange for

an room and systemic reduction in our budget. She's worried that after

nine meetings with the Scottish Finance Secretary and the Chief

Secretary to the Treasury there is still no sign of a deal. But

following talks in Number 10, the Scottish Conservative leader

suggested the Scottish Government might be underplaying the progress

made. I think that there is a deal there to be done. I think it's a

deal that's good for the UK and Scotland. I want to see the powers

come to Scotland. I would be disappointed if the SNP used the

grievance narrative to walk away from these talks. The Scottish

Government says it stands to lose around ?3 billion over ten years

under current proposals. But UK Government sources say Scottish

Ministers have to accept the risks that come with extra tax powers.

It's so hard to know exactly what's going on because neither party, the

Scottish Government or the UK Government, are being particularly

transparent about the detail. I would urge them to get around the

table, to make sure we secure that deal because we need those powers in

Scotland. The SNP have my support but they cannot walk away from the

table. Unless there is a deal for Holyrood to discuss in the next week

or so, MSPs won't have time to rubberstamp the new powers before

they break for the election campaign.

A man who murdered his first wife in a staged car accident and tried

to kill his second in a copycat crash has lost a bid

to have his conviction referred back to the High Court.

Malcolm Webster was jailed for a minimum of 30 years

for killing Claire Morris in Aberdeenshire in 1994

and attempting to kill Felicity Drumm in New Zealand

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has confirmed Webster's

application for a review has been refused.

Deciding whether or not to donate your organs when you die

is a difficult decision - and one many of us may well put off.

Enshrining such a decision in legislation is something our

politicians have been wrestling with - one MSP proposed a bill

which would make organs automatically available

But it was voted against by MSPs, with the Government pledging

Alison is backing changes to the rules on organ donation. She knows

the toll it takes waiting for a transplant. It's an endless limbo,

mentally and physically, you are in limbo and there's not a lot you can

do. She received two kidneys, once on the transplant list, the other

came from her family. If I hadn't got the kidney from my mum in 1981,

I wouldn't be here. There wouldn't be grandchildren. At the moment, you

must sign up to be an organ donor. The transplant bill suggests a soft

opt-out, meaning organs can be removed after death unless someone

objects. Today, in Scotland, 535 people are waiting for an organ

transplant. Doctors and politicians agree that something needs to be

done to increase the numbers of people willing to donate organs but

they don't all believe that an opt-out system is the best way to do

it. The British Medical Association backed the changes saying it makes

it an easier conversation for medical staff and families. The

family would be approached in a slightly different way which I think

would make it easier for both sides. The family would be approached to

ask if they were aware of any objections that person had to giving

their organs for transplantation. Today the debate was brought to

parliament by a Labour MSP. We have the opportunity today to save more

lives, please take it. Some argued opting out isn't always the answer.

In Spain with opt-out legislation in place, it's only when discussion

takes place with the family at the point of death that rates begin to

show real improvement. The public health Minister said today's

proposals are unworkable. They're not against soft opt-out in

principle but we have a duty... We have a duty to ensure that it's

introduced in a way that improves donation rates and does no harm.

Instead the Government wants to look at Wales, the first country in the

UK to introduce an opt-out system, saying it will introduce a new bill

on organ donation in 2017. A look at other stories

from across the country. Polaroid's Vale of Leven factory

is to close with the loss The company's Italian parent firm,

Safilo, says it's planning A consultation with staff

is underway and the site looks set The plant, opened in 1965,

once employed 5,000 people. A man's appeared in court

charged with shooting a man near St Helen's Primary School

in Bishopbriggs on the outskirts 55-year-old William Burns,

from Paisley, is charged with the attempted

murder of Ross Sherlock. Prosecutors claim he acted

with another and that the incident was aggravated by serious

and organised crime. Mr Burns made no plea or declaration

at Glasgow Sheriff Court Business Minster, Fergus Ewing,

has visited Lochaber amid concern Rio Tinto has started a review

of its Fort William aluminium smelter which employs

more than 150 people. There's also concern over jobs

at Marine Harvest's sites A conference in Perth has been told

members of Scotland's minority ethnic groups can find it hard

to access public services A new report is calling

for more to be done. If they're unable to access

services, if it's a health service, it's going to cause them anxiety and

going to cause more serious issues so we need to make sure that the

people access services at the point when they need it.

The unique seaweed-eating sheep of North Ronaldsay could be

about to receive a special "protected status."

Islanders are applying for the classification

If the bid is successful, the sheep would join the likes

of Abroath Smokies and Stornoway Black Pudding.

The A9 is Scotland longest road, running down the spine

of the country, and an enormous engineering project is under way

So what's it like to work on such a project, or even

Our reporter, Ian Hamilton, has been meeting some of the people

most affected and, in the first of a series of reports,

he's been to see the project manager tasked with upgrading one part

At 273 miles, the A9 is the longest road in Scotland and the fifth

longest in the UK. It was first designated an A-road in 1923 and ran

from Edinburgh to Inverness originally. The route now begins in

sterling shire and end at John O'Groats. I'm project sponsor with

Transport Scotland working on the A9 project. It's ?3 billion worth of

investment the Scottish Government has committed. It's a really

exciting opportunity to be involved in taking these projects forward. By

the 190s the A9 was heavily congested. 139 miles were upgraded.

One of the upgrades was the Keswick Bridge. Over the next decade it will

be upgraded in 12 different sections. Up upgrading the A9 could

be a challenge. The ski centres can get cold in the winter. Snowfall in

this site. We had significant snowfall three times this year. It's

a sensitive area we are working in. We are within the Cairngorms

National Park. The site has otters, red squirrels and wood ants we need

to understand the affect on the local environment. The fact the A9

needs to remain open through construction influences how we

undertake all the works. We have a new bridge we need to construct

while at the same time has to carry the A9 over the top. It's ten years

of my working life now, I'm excited by it. Upgrading is not just about

road safety. It's about opening up the heart of Scotland, offering more

economic opportunities. Ian Hamilton, reporting Scotland, A9. He

with want to know what a hairy wood ant is now. I dare say you have

hairy rugby players for us now? I'm not going to respond to that. Good

evening to you. "You're writing us off,

but we'll be fine!" That's the message today

from Scotland rugby captain, Greig Laidlaw, as he and his

players prepare to take After defeat by England

in their opening game, Laidlaw says there has been been

a frank assessment of the players' performance, and they will be,

all the better for it. 72-hours on disappointment lingers

in the Scotland camp. The captain says the rehe view has been brutal

into that defeat. Absolutely. We are men enough to take things on the

chin. The boys reacted well. That is all you can ask. It comes down to

what we produce this Saturday. This game is massive for us. The 59 loss

generated a number of headlines with some ex-players calling for strong

Kongs kwenss for the current Scotland side. There is a message

for the media. You guys are are wrooing us off. We will keep

in-house, one game into the tournament we are not going to

panic, stick together as players and coaches we believe we'll be fine.

Amid the frank talk though came tributes today or to one of modern

rugby's greatest. Paul forced into retirement He's a class act.

Annoying to play against. That is is the template they will be following

this weekend to get their Six Nations Championship back on track.

The SFA will review its Scottish Cup draw procedures.

That's after the selection of teams for the quarter-finals had to be

The initial draw, which ws televised live, was declared void,

because of what's been described as an equipment malfunction.

Three men, eight balls, what could possibly go wrong? Dundee United...

Will play Celtic. No, they won't because if you look closely, one of

the pieces of paper containing a team name has popped out of its

container. The draw continues. Until SFA President spots the Mall

function. I'm sorry, we'll have to re-do this last two ties. We have a

problem here. The functionality of the equipment restored, the draw

resumes, but not without comment. Scotland international

DarrenOD joined in: The SFA get the message and it's considering

switching to a numbered ball system. The SPFL use that for the League Cup

it's not full proof either. In the 2007-2008 semi-final draw Holyrood's

Presiding Officer read out team names that didn't correspond to the

numbers. Number one, Rangers... Ouch!

The woman who broke Scotland's longest-standing athletics record

is aiming for medal success at the next Commonwealth Games,

Jade Nimmo broke Scotland's 39-year-old long jump record,

but is now training for the seven events of heptathlon.

She's also showing her strength and fitness as a retained

On your marks, set. It's a different kind of starters orders for this

Commonwealth Games athlete. When the painer goes off, that excitment. The

same adrenaline almost of competing. Applying for the Fire Service has

had added benefits. After a hip injury threatened to derail her

athletics can rear. I had been through surgery, a few months before

I applied to get in as a retained firefighter. I had that extra

motivation and a goal to aim for. I never knew how I was going to be

after the surgery. I never expected it to be that horrendous. There was

a price to pay in terms of funding. Missing a competitive season meant

no performances for consideration. After surgery I'm no longer on the

Scottish Institute of Sport. I will look to get on that when I get back

competing. It is a case of me focussing on my goals and

progressing and ticking them off to get back to where I was. A talented

all-rounder she has Commonwealth Games potential in a brand new

discipline, or rather seven of them! I'm looking to medal for Scotland in

the Gold Coast in the heptathlon, it's a different event for me. The

Fire Service plays its part. The money she earns is a life line to

help finance the next steps in her Commonwealth Games journey. We were

very impressed by that, weren't we? We worked out we could do one of

those. In case you are interested, the programme editor told me a hairy

wood ant has a fringe over its eyes. Someone has clearly got nothing

better to do! . OK here is a species that is endangered.

For four decades, Runrig have been one of the stalwarts

They've toured across the world and released more than

But the band says its latest record is going to be its last.

They've been speaking to our arts correspondent,

Pauline McLean, on why they're calling it a day.

A lot has changed since Runrig first began, yet something has remained

the same, the desire to keep on performing. Was like a It circle was

being completed. 40 years and the ex-band members came and played. A

wonderful night. An end of something, but nobody wanted

anything to end. The place to go was a new studio album.

# I'm still dreaming of the Hebrides... #

This last album tells the story of the band itself formed in 1973 when

gaelic music was far from cool. Runrig took it beyond Scotland to an

international audience, which still follows them 43 years later. I

wanted this album to be a very nostalgic piece of work. A flavour

of everything the band is known for as well as being a fresh, energetic

burst. Almost a surprise after the 40th anniversary almost like a fresh

start in the game, first album feel. Few bands can claim toll have their

music played in space. Their music was played on the ill-fated Columbia

Space Shuttle in 2003. What was found intact was the Runrig CD in a

field in Texas. Her husband came to Scotland and gave us a presentation

of it ins Glasgow City Chambers it. Was a story. The band pay tribute to

her in their closing track of their last album. Their last studio album,

but not the end of the road for this band much they will back on tour

from here at Aberdeen this week and at festivals across Scotland this

summer. Let's see what the weather holds. Gillan has the latest.

Favoured spots were basking in sunshine for most of the day. This

picture of Blairgowrie sent in by one of our weather watchers. Most

places seeing some sunshine across central and southern Scotland as

cloud filtered to the south. Across the north it has been going somewhat

down hill, thickening cloud bringing rain in from the north. We will see

snow on hills and higher level roads. Tricky driving conditions for

the east highlands and Aberdeenshire. Most places will

become dry by morning. It will be chilly, enough of a breeze to keep

temperatures from falling away too far, certainly a touch of frost in

sheltered rural spots. A cold start to tomorrow with a risk of ice first

thing as you head out. Dry and bright weather. A scattering of

showers, mainly the northern and western isles, northern coast, West

Coast, central and southern Scotland seeing the best of the sunshine.

This is the picture around 3.00pm. Glorious sunshine, looking good

through the central belt. Showers to Argyll, not too many. Showers for

the Murray coast the highlands. Showers will become more frequent as

the afternoon goes on. For Shetland they will rattle in on near gale

force winds. That band of wet weather will work southwards. We

will see snow for the hills and higher level roads. It will push

south as we head overnight into Thursday. Actually, a good deal of

dry weather as low pressure pulls away to the east, high pressure

builds in from the west. Thursday is looking like a decent day. Still a

few showers mainly around the coasts. A lot of fine, dry bright

weather for central and southern Scotland in particular. It will be

chilly. It will be breezy for the northern isles and east coast. For

Friday and easterly breeze bringing showers to the east, best of the

sunshine in the west. That's the forecast. Thank you.

Now, a reminder of tonight's main news.

Every council in Scotland looks set to accept another council tax freeze

But many authorities are adamant the Government's terms

are unacceptable and will result in hundreds of millions