Thanks has been issued to the “incredible teamwork” of council staff during the pandemic.
Following government guidance during the first stages of the pandemic, Aberdeenshire Council redeployed Roads, Landscape and Waste Services (RLWS) staff as a number of employees were either shielding or remained off work through illness.
Redeployment required staff to work longer hours, commute to new locations and undergo training in unfamiliar departments.
As a result some activities such as grass-cutting and road repairs – which are now beginning to resume – were suspended.
Instead those staff members were sent to other departments to ensure things such as burial services and bin collections could continue.
Councillor Peter Argyle, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, said: “This has been a difficult time for everyone, and our thoughts are with members of staff who remain at home shielding.
“These staff have demonstrated incredible teamwork and dedication under difficult circumstances, which is a testament to their resilience and personal character. As a local authority, we appreciate and value the long hours and training they have undergone to ensure our key services continued to run smoothly during lockdown.
“We now look forward to welcoming back those members of staff who have been shielding in due course.”