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¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is on track to achieve a national good practice standard for its ports and harbours that few others in the UK have secured. The Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) sets out a national safety standard covering different aspects of running ports and harbours. The current list of 230+ ports, published by The Department for Transport as complying with the Code, represents around 14% of UK ports and 30% of Statutory Harbour Authorities.

A £15.5 million programme of investment is planned in 2022/23 for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s ports and harbours.A report to today’s meeting of the Harbour Board outlined various marine services projects being progressed by the council now:

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed an £8m roads improvement programme for the area. This sum includes an additional £2.6 million, approved at last month’s budget meeting. Allocations for the 2022-23 roads reconstruction programme are as follows: Area Spend for 2022-23

A multi-agency exercise will take place at Oban Airport on Saturday 5 March, 11.15am to 12.45pm. Emergency services, support agencies and volunteer groups will come together to respond to a pre-planned scenario, designed to check safety procedures. The airport is required to test emergency procedures routinely, as a condition of its licence for the Civil Aviation Authority.  Please do not be alarmed if you hear sirens or see blue lights at the airport, this is part of the exercise.

Two schools in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are celebrating after winning at this year’s prestigious FilmG Awards. Pupils from Sandbank Primary School’s Gaelic 5-7 class scooped Best Film Production in the under 12 category, while Islay High School’s entry won Best Film (Learners). FilmG is an annual event organised by MG ALBA, which celebrates Gaelic screen talent and attracts hundreds of applications each year. This year’s competition culminated in a highly anticipated awards ceremony broadcast on BBC ALBA on Friday evening (25 February).

Thursday 10 March is #WelcomeToYourVoteDay - and the Electoral Commission is encouraging everyone aged 16 or over, and resident in Scotland, to register to vote so that they can take part in the council elections in May. Recent changes in the law in Scotland mean that many new Scots will have their first opportunity to have their say on who they want to represent them on their local council - which makes decisions on a range of issues which affect everyday life, including education, social care, housing, rubbish and recycling collections.

  ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is encouraging people to book their places for the third Gaelic Gathering, which takes place virtually via Zoom on Saturday 12 March. The event is free and provides an opportunity for organisations, community groups and individuals to meet with national organisations and share ideas on how they can work in partnership to help grow the Gaelic language.

Roads, schools, bins, public toilets and the local economy – all benefit from investment in the budget set today by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ for 2022/23. Council Leader, Councillor Robin Currie said: “We listen to our communities. This budget invests in what people tell us matters most to them.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ is reminding people who keep poultry and other captive birds to take action to protect them against Avian Influenza (A1). This advice follows a recent outbreak of Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Greenland Barnacle Geese in the Republic of Ireland.

Regeneration projects across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute will benefit from nearly £2 million of funding, following approval at the Policy and Resources Committee.   Almost £2 million of Scottish Crown Estate funds, and the Scottish Government’s Islands Infrastructure Fund has been allocated to support a variety of community-based initiatives.    Scottish Crown Estate funding is designed to deliver benefits for coastal communities with a focus on four key priorities: the environment, community, climate change and economic development.