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Planning to ensure that the council-run cemeteries can meet the needs of communities in the future is already underway. The Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee agreed on Thursday that local residents should be asked about their personal choices and for their views ideas for ways forward, during 2020, so that a new set of cemetery policies can be proposed. According to statute, local authorities are only required to provide one cemetery per area. 51�Թ����App and Bute had 65 cemeteries available for the purchase of lairs.

A council contribution of £270,000 capital funding towards a flood protection scheme for Campbeltown will go forward to be considered as part of the budget process in the 2020/21 financial year. This was agreed by the council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 5 December, which also approved the preliminary confirmation of the Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme (CFPS).

Ongoing investment in 51�Թ����App and Bute’s roads continues to halt deterioration and overall condition of the roads shows continued improvement. And 51�Թ����App and Bute remains in the top five fastest improving Scottish Local Authorities in terms of road condition. The Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR) summarises the council’s road assets as at April 2018 and sets out future options that can be considered in terms of investment.

Helensburgh Town Centre has just been designated a new conservation area by 51�Թ����App and Bute Council.  The designation recognises Helensburgh’s special architectural and historic qualities and will promote the high quality built environment. The next step is to prepare a Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan. This plan defines what is special about character and appearance of the conservation area and how the way the space is used may change.

Brendan O’Hara has been elected as the Member of Parliament for 51�Թ����App and Bute in the UK general election.   Votes from the 51�Թ����App and Bute parliamentary constituency have been counted and the result has been declared as follows:    Rhea Louise Barnes, Scottish Labour Party – 3,248 Gary Mulvaney, Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 16,930 Brendan O’Hara, Scottish National Party (SNP) – 21,040 Alan Reid, Scottish Liberal Democrats – 6,832  

Counselling services are to be made available to young people in 51�Թ����App and Bute, as part of the Scottish Government’s 10 year Mental Health Strategy. At a meeting of 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee this week, members agreed to support the initiative, which will see children as young as 10 having access to a trained counsellor.

51�Թ����App and Bute Council is one of eight local authorities across the North and West of Scotland which are working together to ensure children and young people are given the best educational opportunities. Known as the Northern Alliance, the partnership is a Regional Improvement Collaborative (RIC) set up to secure excellence and equity in education.

51�Թ����App and Bute Council has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the educational attainment and life chances of care experienced children and young people. At a meeting of the Council’s Community Services Committee members were given an update on the progress of work to support vulnerable young people across 51�Թ����App and Bute.

Where will you see Vanilla Ice, Gritny Spears, Captain Gritter Pants and The Grittersaurus keeping the roads free of ice and snow? In 51�Թ����App and Bute – thanks to the imaginations of primary school pupils across the region. In October, the council took delivery of 17 new vehicles to join its fleet of winter maintenance vehicles. And we thought one gritter in each of our four areas should have a name. The challenge was put out to our schools and great ideas and fantastic drawings came flooding in. The winners are:

51�Թ����App and Bute has aspirations to become the centre of seaweed farming excellence. A report, commissioned by 51�Թ����App and Bute Council, has set out a template for setting up and running a seaweed farming business from conception right through to selling products to consumers. Produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), in Oban, and funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the study highlights a major new opportunity for economic growth for 51�Թ����App and Bute.