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There are just a few weeks left for residents in ����ֱ�� and Bute to give their views in a national consultation to help shape how we protect homes and businesses in Scotland from the risk of flooding. There are currently 284,000 homes, businesses, and services at flood risk in Scotland and climate change is projected to increase this number by an estimated 110,000 by the 2080s. SEPA launched the joint consultation with local authorities, to help shape the direction and delivery of flood risk management across the country.

����ֱ�� have developed a scheduled programme of community engagement to discuss and co-develop proposals for enhanced school leadership in the region. Following the Community Services Committee’s decision in June 2021 that ����ֱ�� would undertake an extensive consultation process.

Members of ����ֱ�� have agreed to develop a series of ambitious infrastructure projects which could form part of bids for funding from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (UKLUF). UKLUF will see local authorities across the UK compete for a share of £4.8 billion capital funding which will support investment projects with up to £20 million of funding, in addition to investment in larger high value transport projects up to £50m in exceptional circumstances.

“City status for Oban would create opportunities for growth across ����ֱ�� and Bute. Competing for the title, with other places across the UK, is about showcasing that this is a great place to live, work and invest. It’s about attracting the people, skills and investment the area needs for long-term success. I would encourage everyone to get involved in helping Oban, and ����ֱ�� and Bute, win.” Leader of ����ֱ��, Councillor Robin Currie, highlighted the importance of community feedback, following today’s decision by Council to bid for city status for Oban in 2022.

����ֱ�� has approved a new housing strategy that sets out plans to build more than 1,000 affordable homes over the next five years.  The revised Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) has the potential to deliver around 343 new affordable homes in 2021/22 and over 700 additional homes in subsequent years.

����ֱ�� has once again signalled its commitment to supporting the global drive to tackle the climate change emergency. At its meeting today, full Council renewed the pledge, originally made by the Council in September 2019, to play its part in the worldwide effort to address global warming. Council considered the publication of the recent United Nations Climate Change Report which outlined the scale of the threat, warning that the situation is now a ‘Code Red for Humanity’.

Roadworks are planned to resurface and strengthen the B8024 from the junction with the C23, at the Tarbert Golf Club, northwards towards the A83 junction near Stonefield Castle. This project will start on the 11 October and is expected to take eight weeks. The road will be closed, from the golf course junction northwards to the A83 junction near Stonefield, while the work is being carried out to make sure it can be done as safely and efficiently as possible. Signage will be in place to indicate the closure.

The new blue bin recycling service for Kintyre and Gigha will start from 4 October. The new service is designed to make it more convenient for people in Kintyre to recycle. It will be sustainable in the long-term as new government legislation for waste disposal and recycling comes into place. The new dates for scheduled uplifts are on the council website: Kintyre (argyll-bute.gov.uk).  They can also be downloaded and printed out as calendars.

Dunoon Grammar will take to the global stage once again when staff and pupils deliver a virtual seminar at this year’s World Education Week. After becoming the first Scottish school to deliver a session at the prestigious worldwide education showpiece last year, the school has again been invited to present an hour-long workshop to showcase their innovative approaches to community learning during the Covid pandemic.

“We have to be ambitious for ����ֱ�� and Bute. We have to consider all opportunities to grow our economy.” These were the words of the Leader of ����ֱ��, Councillor Robin Currie, in advance of a Council meeting which will consider bidding for city status for Oban.