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Candidates standing for election in Bute and Helensburgh and Lomond South have now been confirmed. ����ֱ�� is holding by-elections in two wards – Ward 8, Isle of Bute and Ward 11, Helensburgh and Lomond South – which each have a vacancy for one councillor. In Ward 8, Isle of Bute, the candidates are (in alphabetical order):

A replacement road must be agreed, planned, contracted, constructed and opened by May 2026 at the latest. This is the joint message sent by ����ֱ�� and Bute’s Council Leader, and MSP, to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Islands and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, in response to the publication of an update to the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) earlier this month. Cllr Robin Currie, Leader of ����ֱ��, and Michael Russell, the region’s MSP have written to the Cabinet Secretary reiterating the need for key actions to be progressed swiftly:

����ֱ�� will carry out essential maintenance works to the Craignure linkspan over the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March 2021 as part of its cylinder refurbishment programme. Ferry sailings over the weekend will be limited to a restricted passenger only service and those that will be running are: 13.15/17.00 departing Craignure on Saturday 6March; and09.15/13.15/17.00 departing Craignure on Sunday 7 March.Please check the CalMac website for up-to-date information.

Home testing will be available for staff and senior pupils required to return to school when restrictions are relaxed, with plans progressing for test kits to be freely available. With a return to school for some pupils being considered at a national level, ����ֱ�� is working with the Scottish Government to put in place a testing programme for staff and pupils without the symptoms of coronavirus. This is to enable those affected to self-isolate as quickly as possible and reduce the risk of passing on the virus.

����ֱ��’s Leader, Councillor Robin Currie, and Chief Executive, Pippa Milne, have formally signed up to the Scottish Government’s Household Recycling Charter and Code of Practice on behalf of the council. This continues the council’s strong commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and tackling climate change. ����ֱ�� and Bute already complies with the majority of the essential requirements outlined in the charter’s Code of Practice.

The impact of the covid pandemic features in budget planning reports that will be considered by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee this week. The cost to the council of responding to the pandemic is estimated to be more than £7 million in 2021/22, given for example lost income and increased contract costs for regeneration projects. Reports to the Policy and Resources Committee set out different options open to the council for making savings or raising income, and touch on the need to fund both the response to, and recovery from, the pandemic.

A £70 million investment in economic growth for ����ֱ�� and Bute was agreed today (11 Feb), with the formal signing of the area’s rural growth deal. The rural growth deal (RGD) brings together £25 million each from the Scottish and UK Governments, and at least £20 million via ����ֱ�� and partners, creating opportunities for people living in the region and attracting future investment. With the signing, ����ֱ��, the UK Government and Scottish Government will agree the themes for the 10 – 15 year RGD programme of investment.

A small number of properties in Campbeltown are eligible to receive grant support to help make them more resilient to flood damage. Owners and occupiers were contacted at the end of last year. However, in order to take advantage of the funds and improvements on offer, anyone who has not been in touch must do so by 28 February 2021. This offer, jointly funded by ����ֱ�� and the Scottish Government, is only available now.

The final design proposals for the public realm improvements to Ardrishaig North are now ready to view. An on-line consultation will run from Friday 12 February until Friday 26 February at . This project is part of the Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund that was set up by ����ֱ�� to make important public spaces in Mid ����ֱ�� more attractive and easier to use.

����ֱ�� is holding by-elections in two council wards on Thursday 18th March. Voters will be asked to elect one councillor in each ward where there are currently vacant seats – Ward 8, Isle of Bute and Ward 11, Helensburgh and Lomond South.