ÓûÂþɬ

Transforming ÓûÂþɬ’s economy continues to be a priority for ÓûÂþɬ Council to help create vibrant places and communities and attract more people to live and work in the area. A report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (ED&I) Committee highlighted the role the Transformation Project and Regeneration Team are playing to secure external funding and help deliver large scale regeneration projects across the area.

ÓûÂþɬ Council continues to support town centre regeneration by delivering Town Centre Funding from the Scottish Government. The fund worth £1.686 million is helping the local economy recover making it a more attractive places to live, work, visit and invest. A report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (ED&I) committee on Thursday highlighted progress to date with 28 projects in total allocated for funding.

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee recommends that the council funds a permanent post that will ensure housing in ÓûÂþɬ is accessible and adaptable, to meet all needs. The Housing Occupational Therapist post, is funded through the Strategic Housing Fund, and links up the Health and Social Care Partnership and Housing Services. This has been a temporary role for three years and has been successful in meeting key outcomes in the council’s housing strategy and helping appropriate services to work together. Key successes include:

With its stunning scenery from lochs to mountains, coast and islands, ÓûÂþɬ has built a reputation for offering some of the best scenery in the UK to the film and TV industry. A report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (ED&I) Committee on Thursday highlighted how COVID-19 has directly impacted the number and size productions coming into the area.

Developing innovative digital services and working practices, for the benefit of council employees and customers, is the aim of a strategy agreed at Thursday’s Council meeting. The strategy will shape the work of the council’s ICT (Information Communication and Technology) Services over the period 2021 to 2024. The ICT service was recognised as the number one ranked UK local authority ICT service for 2019/20 (*) Policy Lead for Customer Support Services, Councillor Mary-Jean Devon said:

Anyone wishing to take part in Public Questions at any of March’s Area Committees can do so by joining the meeting via Skype for Business.To sign up, contact:Bute and Cowal/Oban, Lorn and the Isles:adele.price-williams@argyll-bute.gov.ukMid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands/Helensburgh and Lomond:iona.campbell2@argyll-bute.g

The council agreed a £2.35 million boost for coastal communities across ÓûÂþɬ. This investment comes from the council’s share of Scottish Crown Estate funding, intended to deliver benefits for coastal communities based on four key priorities: the environment, community, climate change and economic development. The investment will support initiatives across ÓûÂþɬ as outlined below:

ÓûÂþɬ Council has set a budget that freezes council tax in 2021/22 and invests millions in helping local people, businesses and the area as a whole to move on from the impact of covid-19. Council Leader, Councillor Robin Currie said: “We are investing nearly £6.8 million to help ÓûÂþɬ keep going and keep growing. This budget takes on the unprecedented day-to-day and longer term challenges of living through a worldwide pandemic.

Car parking and new visitor facilities on Mull, and a new road on Kerrera will benefit from a share of £600,000 announced by ÓûÂþɬ Council. This investment comes from the council’s share of Scottish Crown Estate funding, intended to deliver benefits for coastal communities based on four key priorities: the environment, community, climate change and economic development. Councillor Rory Colville, Policy Lead for Roads and Infrastructure said:

ÓûÂþɬ Council has announced a £600,000 boost for the local economy in Helensburgh and Lomond. The council is investing funding, received from the Scottish Crown Estate, in projects in Helensburgh and Arrochar. Scottish Crown Estate funding focuses on delivering benefits for coastal communities based on four key priorities: the environment, community, climate change and economic development. Policy Lead for Business and Regeneration, Councillor Alastair Redman said: