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Congratulations to Jilly Wilson, of Lochgilphead Square Peg, who is the ����ֱ�� and Bute’s regional champion in Scotland's Town Partnership’s High Street Heroes Awards. Jilly was recognised for supporting communities in Lochgilphead, and in Tayvallich, working seven days a week to fulfil orders from her shop. She and her small team of staff also fed between 120 and 180 essential workers - three meals a day for four weeks.

����ֱ�� is asking for your views on its bus services, as part of its work to prepare for setting its budget next year. Estimates show that the council should prepare to bridge a funding gap of around £6.7 million in 2021/22. One of the steps the council is taking to do that involves assessing how it could work differently, together and with partners, in key areas of work including the delivery of public and school bus services.

The council’s building standards team were contacted by Police Scotland at the weekend and attended the scene where it was found that an area of stonework from the front elevation of the property had collapsed onto the public footpath and roadway. Due to the poor condition of the property it has been unoccupied for a number of years. In the interests of public safety and working with Police Scotland and our Road and Infrastructure Services, the council used its statutory powers to close the public footpaths and road in the immediate vicinity, with traffic diversions put in place.

Hermitage Academy has received glowing feedback from Investors in Young People (IIYP), 18 months after becoming the first school in Scotland to gain the national accreditation. In a follow-up report from IIYP, the school is referred to as an ambassador for its young employees, and is praised for its commitment to attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining young staff, students, and probationary teachers. Some of the positives highlighted in the report are:

Ulva Primary School on the Isle of Mull has been awarded a gold award by the Woodland Trust for taking an active role in green activities on the island. The Trust’s Green Tree Schools initiative offers schools the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom. To achieve this award, pupils planted new trees on the Isle of Ulva; created artwork using natural materials; visited local woods; and completed woodland workshops with Countryside Ranger Jan Dunlop.

����ֱ�� and Bute’s four administrative areas are to benefit from a share of £444,000 of improvements, split equally, as part of the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Capital Fund 2020. The aim of the fund is to support economic recovery within town centres with a population of 1,000 plus by providing immediate opportunities to secure money into the local economy and to support town centre businesses and the local supply chain/contractors. At a meeting of the ����ֱ�� today members agreed a potential list of capital projects in all fours areas.

“A permanent solution within the existing 2km corridor of the A83 is the only realistic solution to prevent ongoing disruption at the Rest and Be Thankful, and should be progressed as a priority.” ����ֱ�� is calling on Scottish Government to take forward Option 1 following a consultation by Transport Scotland highlighting eleven options to address landslide issues at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. Option 1 offers a permanent solution within a proposed 2km wide corridor along the existing A83. Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of ����ֱ��:

Round three of ����ֱ��’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund opens for applications at midday on 22 October 2020.  Round three is open to events and festivals that are of strategic importance to the area and that will take place between April 2021 and March 2022.

Following consultation with local communities and stakeholders, in which 1500 people gave their views, projects have been agreed that will make it easier for people to move around town centres easily and safely. The plans have been made possible thanks to the Spaces for People programme - a £38M fund established by the Scottish Government and managed by Sustrans to enable safe physical distancing for people walking, wheeling and cycling.

Hermitage Park in Helensburgh joins the best parks and greens in Scotland after achieving Green Flag status from Keep Scotland Beautiful. The Green Flag Award is the benchmark for green spaces and recognises the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers who help ensure that outdoor areas provide locals with a safe, clean and inspiring local environment.