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“People in ����ֱ�� and Bute have responded with overwhelming kindness to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.” Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of ����ֱ�� has paid tribute to communities across the area who are helping Ukrainians who are fleeing the war. Communities are showing their support by collecting donations of clothing and other vital supplies and arranging transport to Europe.

To conclude Scottish Apprenticeship Week, Robert Miller, ����ֱ��’s Customer Engagement and Transformation Manager, talks about what it is like to employ a Modern Apprentice. “We had a number of successful Summer Student placements over the year, so we thought it was time to go a step further and employ a Modern Apprentice,” he said. “

Parking meters across ����ֱ�� and Bute currently offer different payment options, from contactless to Chip and PIN, cash and an app (payment by phone). The suppliers of the PaySmarti parking app are withdrawing it from the market and it will no longer be availiable to use from 14 March 2022. In the meantime, you can still pay for parking using contactless, Chip and PIN, cash or by phone - see below for more information.  A new improved app will be available later this spring. 

Children and young people across ����ֱ�� and Bute are continuing to benefit from a variety of health and wellbeing initiatives as part of the Council’s £600,000 Covid-19 education recovery programme. At a meeting of the Council’s Community Services Committee, members received an update on the initiatives supported by the funding:

Tom McLaughlin is a great example of someone who has worked their way up the ranks since starting an apprenticeship with ����ֱ��’s Digital Learning Team in 2017, aged 21. Having previously worked in a junior role in IT, Tom wanted to continue his technology career, and a Modern Apprenticeship allowed him to do this while pursuing qualifications and applying his technology skills in new ways, such as supporting pupils and staff in educational environments.

����ֱ�� would like to apologise to anyone affected by delays to bin collections in Helensburgh and Lomond over the last few weeks. These delays have been caused by a variety of issues, and our teams are working hard to catch up on missed collections. The backlog is expected to be cleared by Friday 11 March and for normal service to resume on Monday 14 March.

The council is carrying out a full investigating into how items including Gaelic books were in a skip. We apologise for any distress or upset caused and are taking the matter very seriously. Making the best possible use of the resources we have is always a priority.

Works to create a new public square in the heart of Ardrishaig is due to start later this year. The square is a long held community aspiration and part of a wider transformation project that will see improved seating, access and redesigned car parking and gardens. ����ֱ�� is investing £700,000 to help transform the area into a vibrant village centre with improved community and visitor facilities.  The work includes:

Louise Morrison was a pupil at Dunoon Grammar School, when an opportunity arose for her to do a foundation apprenticeship at Clyde Cottage Nursery. Fast forward two years and she is now doing a Modern Apprenticeship, working with the nursery full time.

The £1.5 million transformation of Lochgilphead’s Front Green is progressing well and nearing the planned completion date. ����ֱ�� is delivering the long held community aspiration of a new public square to hold events in. The works also include a new play park, additional seating, drainage and landscaping to help ease the impact of flooding and new walking and cycling facilities.