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The council is taking its first step to going back to the normal cycles of bin and recycling collections – three weekly for general domestic waste and two weekly for blue bin/bag recycling. From the week beginning 22 June

The Leader of ����ֱ�� has urged the UK and Scottish Governments to progress ����ֱ�� and Bute’s rural growth deal, and so support the area’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19. Councillor Aileen Morton has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland and to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Islands and Connectivity, following the council’s recent agreement of an economic recovery plan for ����ֱ�� and Bute which features the £50 million+ rural growth deal (RGD). Councillor Morton said:

����ֱ�� has given out £30 million in business grants, and is reminding businesses affected by COVID-19 that help is still available. Staff from a range of council services have either refocused their work, or left their usual roles temporarily, to help deliver support to local businesses at this hugely difficult time. The main area of activity involves the administration of Scottish Government business support schemes, which include rate reliefs and specific grants for small and medium sized businesses.

����ֱ�� is continuing to deliver a range of services aimed at improving the educational attainment and life chances of care experienced children and young people. The Council has confirmed that significant improvements achieved during 2018/19 in relation to scrutiny, audit and outcomes for the area’s care experienced children and young people have been sustained into 2019/20 – including additional support related to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

����ֱ�� will invest up to £250,000 in events and festivals to help the local economy combat the impact of COVID-19.  A range of cultural events, which had been awarded grants by the council’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund and Supporting Communities Fund, cannot go ahead in 2020/21 because of COVID-19 restrictions.  The council’s Business Continuity Committee agreed three measures today to address this and the impact on the economy: 

“We need to work together locally to help recover our local economy.”   The Leader of ����ֱ��, Councillor Aileen Morton, summed up the challenges facing the local economy in moving on from the impacts of COVID-19.    “Tourism and regeneration work on hold, numerous local shops closed, businesses suspended, jobs being lost… COVID-19 is having significant consequences for the local economy.    

Moves to expand Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and implement 1140 hours of funded ELC in ����ֱ�� and Bute by August 2020 are continuing to progress, despite the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. In March the Scottish Government announced that local authorities would no longer be legally obliged to deliver 1140 hours of funded childcare from August 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis.

����ֱ�� has  commissioned a design team to develop a new concept for an area of Ardrishaig’s public realm and waterfront. The new design is the latest step in a project looking  to enhance this important area within the village with the aim of encouraging people to visit and spend more time there.

Plans are being progressed by ����ֱ�� to prepare for children and young people returning to school and early years settings in August. Although specific details are still being confirmed, children will return to a ‘blended model’ which will include a mix of school and home learning.

����ֱ�� is urging people to act responsibly and follow national guidance following a busy weekend at popular beauty spots. The warm weather brought high volumes of visitors to the area including Luss and Arrochar which in turn created antisocial issues including parking congestion and littering in the village and across beaches. Councillor Robin Currie, the council’s policy lead for roads and infrastructure said: