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Putting equalities into action will help build the great future we all want for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute. These were the words of Councillor Rory Colville, Policy Lead for Corporate Services, following approval of the council’s Equalities Mainstreaming Report 2019. The report sets out the council’s progress in embedding equality in its day-to-day work.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥â€™s ‘One Council’ approach to property management has raised over £3million in its first 11 months of operation. With over 1700 buildings and parcels of land, the council transformed its approach to estate management to help meet the challenge of on-going cuts in funding. All council property now comes under one team, tasked with delivering a proactive, commercially astute management service.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has today agreed to gift a strip of council-owned land at Innellan Village Hall to the charity which manages the hall. The village hall is a focal point in Innellan, playing host to various groups like the Public Hall Archive Project, community council meetings, SWRI, visiting theatre groups, art club, yoga groups, badminton club and carpet bowls.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has gifted a piece of land to a nursery on Bute to enable it to grow and create additional childcare places for young people on the island. Apple Tree Nursery is based in Rothesay and the land concerned is at the rear of Rothesay Pavilion, adjoining the nursery. By gifting Apple Tree this land, it will enable the nursery to increase provision for young people in the area â€“ something strongly supported by the council’s education services as part of the Scottish Government’s 1140 hours requirement.

On Thursday 23 May 2019, voters across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute will join others across the country to decide who will be elected to the European Parliament.   Six Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected to represent the Scotland region.  

Disruptive weather conditions yesterday saw a number of ferry journeys cancelled across Scotland.   In Mull, the weather also had the impact of disrupting an underwater timber column.  

A talented young pupil from Rhu Primary School has had her art work put on display at a prestigious exhibition in the Tannahill Centre in Paisley. Rosa McLeod, of primary five, was selected as a runner-up in the prestigious John Byrne National Drawing Competition, beating off stiff competition from more than 7,000 entrants.

Children and young people in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are benefitting from trusting relationships and feel their voices are heard and their opinions valued. This was just one of the strengths highlighted during a recent joint inspection by the Care Inspectorate, in partnership with Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and HMICS. Inspectors looked at the impact ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute’s Community Planning Partnership is having on the lives of looked after children and young people in the area, and those for whom the partnership has corporate parenting responsibilities.

  A new trial to pay for parking by debit and credit card, and contactless payment, is now available in car parks in Helensburgh and Dunoon. The new machines can be found at Helensburgh Pier Car Park and ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Street Car Park, Dunoon. Cash payments are still accepted. This is another step towards providing more choice and convenience when paying for parking. The suite of services includes paying by mobile and a range of parking permits, including the new weekly and monthly permits on trial in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area.

Graham Hatton, from the council, and PC Ben Rusden, from MAKI Police, (second and far right) have been explaining to colleagues from Dumfries and Galloway how organisations in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute work together to tackle livestock worrying and prevent further cases happening. The methods used by our local police and council have been highlighted as a way forward for other local authority areas in Scotland.