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����ֱ�� and Bute’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS), outlining the council’s vision and investment priorities for the area’s housing sector, has been submitted to the Scottish Government for ministerial approval. The five-year strategy sets out the joint approach the Council and its partners will take to delivering high quality housing and housing-related services across ����ֱ�� and Bute.

Former Lord-Lieutenant of ����ֱ�� and Bute Patrick Stewart CVO, MBE, is to be awarded the freedom of ����ֱ�� and Bute, in recognition of more than three decades of service to the local community. In his role as a solicitor in the Campbeltown family firm of Stewart, Balfour and Sutherland, Mr Stewart developed particular expertise in a number of legal issues significant to ����ֱ�� and Bute, including agriculture, forestry, company law and the marine environment.

����ֱ�� fought off stiff competition from across the country to win the hotly contested Early Years and Childcare Development category at last night’s Learning Places Scotland Awards.

If you live in the Lomond North area and want to have your say in next month’s by-election, there are just a few days left to register to vote. The by-election, on Thursday 16 December, is being held to elect one councillor to represent the Lomond North communities on ����ֱ��. Only people who live in the ward, and who are registered to vote, are able to take part.

����ֱ�� has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government to help people who are in rent arrears as a result of Covid 19. The Tenant Grant Fund is aimed at providing assistance to people living in social and private housing who have fallen behind with their rent between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021 as a result of financial difficulties during the pandemic.

If you are legally responsible for the repair and maintenance of a private property, there are straightforward steps you can take to protect your building from winter weather. As part of National Maintenance Week (19-26 November) ����ֱ�� is urging residents to carry out simple checks on properties of any age that could save money on expensive repairs further down the line.

Essential resurfacing work, to improve the facility, will take place at Westland Amenity Site, on Bute, until 18 November. This is because of poor weather conditions during critical stages of the work. This means the site will only be open to cars. Vans and cars with trailers will not be able to visit. Please plan ahead if you think you may have large items to recycle. The site, which is run by Renewi, will operate a reduced service for the four days so that householders can recycle or dispose of some essential items from the home.

Volunteers are being sought on Bute to take part in a new project which aims to further strengthen links between the local community and New Scots on the island. The project, named Sawa (Syrian Arabic for ‘together’), will enable New Scots to develop language skills previously learned through ESOL, and will give islanders the opportunity to get to know them better by working in partnership and sharing experiences.

Issued by ����ֱ�� and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership   ����ֱ�� and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership is delighted to be holding its first ever digital online community consultation on our next three year Strategic Plan.  This Plan outlines the HSCP’s vision and values and details how health and social care resources are governed, allocated and operationally managed.   

Delivering medical equipment, transporting patients to hospital, welcoming tourists and providing vital links to the mainland are just some of the critical roles air services play across ����ֱ�� and Bute.   A new Scottish Government consultation has launched to consider the future of aviation services in Scotland.   ����ֱ�� is encouraging communities and businesses to have their say on the importance of regular and reliable air services to the region.