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  Jean Muir Every resident of Bute will be watching the progress of the £14million refurbishment of Rothesay Pavilion with great interest – but few have the famous building as close to their hearts as local woman Jean Muir.

Councillors have given their backing to proposed heritage-led regeneration projects for Lochgilphead and Helensburgh. At today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee, elected members agreed recommendations to consider a potential financial commitment of £386,220 from the council towards a Lochgilphead Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), and £500,000 for a Helensburgh CARS. Final financial approval will be subject to the council’s budget setting process.

The Scottish Government funding allocation for local government could increase ����ֱ��’s funding gap for 2019/20 to around £9million. This was the update provided to today’s Policy and Resources Committee, following the Scottish Government budget announcement yesterday.

“The mental health and wellbeing of our school communities is a priority. We need to help stop the stigma often associated with mental health disorders and ensure that our young people and staff have access to the support they need.”  

Children at Kilcreggan Primary’s Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC) are settling in well to their new surroundings, after moving into a custom-made learning environment within the main school building.   The ELCC was previously located in an annexe beside the school, however, refurbishments carried out across the school during the summer holidays meant the children were able to move into the main building, become an integral part of the school community.  

As the cold weather starts to bite, the council has approved its Winter Service policy for 2018/19 which sets out priorities to keep ����ֱ�� and Bute moving until Spring. The policy prioritises routes that will be treated ahead of winter hazards.

Ongoing investment in ����ֱ�� and Bute’s roads is halting deterioration and beginning to improve the overall network condition. ����ֱ�� and Bute is now one of the top five fastest improving Scottish Local Authorities in terms of road condition. The Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR) summarises the council’s road assets as at April 2018 and sets out future options that can be considered in terms of investment.

The latest round of funding for the council’s Supporting Communities Fund is now open and community groups are being encouraged to submit applications for their projects. Groups can apply for up to 100% of the total funding costs for their project or activity from ����ֱ��’s Supporting Communities Fund 2019/20. The maximum award available is £2500. The deadline for submission of completed applications is Wednesday, February 6, 2019. 

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been running an appeal to encourage more people to find out about fostering opportunities in ����ֱ�� and Bute. Bruce and Sheila Johnston from Mid ����ֱ�� are a wonderful example of the rewards fostering can bring. The couple started fostering in 2012 before going on to adopt the little girl in their care just four years later.

While Christmas is a very happy time for many people, for others it can be difficult. Following on from the success of last year’s food bank collections, Council employees will be giving donations for food banks across ����ֱ�� and Bute again this year. Staff will be joined by pupils in a number of our schools who are coming up with their own ideas on how to generate income to purchase items for donating, helping them to learn the value of money at the same time.