Chief Executive Festive Message
17/12/2020
Colleagues
I trust that by now you’ll be looking forward to some seasonal time off after what has been an unprecedented year of challenge for us all. I know you’ve all worked hard to keep Moray and its communities going throughout the pandemic, and still are. As we all know only too well, there’s still lots to be done before we can be confident the risk of infection is diminished, and council staff will be at the frontline of this.
Inevitably this year’s seasonal celebrations will be somewhat muted and not what we would normally expect to enjoy with lots of interaction with friends and family. Many of us rely on the Christmas and New Year break to visit those we haven’t seen since the previous year, but a lot of these reunions won’t be able to happen this year. Although there is some relaxation of the guidance for five days, we need to continue to exercise caution to ensure we don’t place ourselves or loved ones at risk, so please think carefully before you travel or mix with other households.
While that’s disappointing, we cannot risk spreading infection. Moray and the Highlands are still some of the safest areas in the UK and we have to try and keep it that way.
A big part of that success has been the response of council staff to the pandemic; almost without skipping a beat you have all stepped up to the plate, done what has been asked and much, much more. I have read much recently about how teams across the council have gone above and beyond the call to keep the wheels of service delivery spinning. Even those of you working from home have adapted swiftly to this different way of carrying out your duties.
We may not get the high-profile recognition that other public services receive, but we know that it’s the wide range of services a local authority delivers that has kept Moray – and the country – going.
So I wish you all a restful Christmas and New Year, and recognise that although a time of joy for many, the festive period can be challenging for various reasons, loneliness or isolation, remembering loved ones who are no longer with us, or stresses such as money worries. If you’re struggling, there is help available and I’d urge you to seek it. If you can, please also check in on a neighbour – this small act of kindness could make their day.
To those who are on call and working over the period, we all owe you our thanks, and I hope that you manage to enjoy some downtime over the festive break. And a personal thank you from me to all of you for all your hard work and commitment during this most difficult of years.
Roddy Burns
Chief Executive