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¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to pursue the transfer of lifeline ferry services to Transport Scotland, services currently being subsidised by the council by £1million. The provision of lifeline ferry services is the responsibility of Transport Scotland. These small, local services were likely to have been operated by Strathclyde Regional Council and were taken over by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ when the single tier authorities came into being. The four ferries currently operated by the council are:

Kilcreggan Primary School’s Pre-5 Unit has received a glowing report from the Care Inspectorate, having been graded as ‘good’ in every category. Inspectors found that staff were welcoming, kind and caring, and took time to listen to the children. Open-ended questions were used to encourage pupils to problem solve, and Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PAThS) were in place to empower children to make positive choices through social and emotional learning.

A talented team of pupils from Hermitage Primary School took second place in the Scottish European Educational Trust’s National Euroquiz Final of 2019. The event was held in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament and saw the Hermitage youngsters battle it out against St Mary’s Primary School of Duntocher in what was a nail biting final round. Hermitage fought hard but were pipped to the winning post by St Mary’s.

Overall spend on roads, lighting, piers and harbours capital investment on Islay and Jura will be in the region of £1.6 million during 2019-20. Over 1000 tonnes of bituminous surfacing material will be used to resurface roads and footways on the islands. Where possible, local materials are being sourced for surfacing and repairs. This brings financial benefits to the local economy, saving money on haulage and freeing up valuable space on local ferries.

School pupils from across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute came together to celebrate diversity and equality when they took part in Oban’s first ever Pride Parade on Saturday.   The youngsters were representing an LGBTQI+ group which has been established by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Education Services as part of its commitment to embed a culture and ethos of inclusion and equality.   Young people travelled from as far afield as Dunoon and Campbeltown to attend the event, and met at Oban High for breakfast before marching to Station Square to join the main parade.  

Welcome to ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s weekly news round-up.  Thank you for reading it. If you have ideas on how we could make it more useful for you, we’d love to hear them. Please let us know by emailing press@argyll-bute.gov.uk Greenlight for Target road junction work

Congratulations to Dunbeg Primary on gaining its seventh Green Flag from Eco Schools. The school's clans have been working hard on addressing a range of topics as part of their clan activities, resulting in a positive impact on sustainability at a local and even global level. #abplace2b

Pupils from Kilcreggan Primary School have received a prestigious Young Reporters Scotland award in recognition of their creative reporting on environmental issues. The pupils were presented with the accolade as part of the Young Reporters Scotland 2019 competition - which encourages young people to share their voice on sustainability subjects through film, writing and photography. The initiative provides a platform for participants to investigate and report on the subjects they are passionate about and increase their knowledge and awareness of environmental topics.

The council’s Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee has approved new guidance to help with assessing applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute. The new, non-statutory guidance was put together following public consultation. There are four key principles: Support getting the right number of HMOs in the right places; Ensure they are of good quality and properly maintained; Manage the impacts on local amenities; and

Work to improve the junction at Barmore and Garvel Roads in Tarbert will begin later this year after the council’s Policy and Resources Committee approved the plans. The improvements to the junction were drawn up under the council’s £3million Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund and will result in it being easier for vehicles to enter and exit Garvel Road in all directions, while also improving visibility and safety at the junction.