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51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education is urging parents to find out if their child qualifies for free schools meals.   Councillor Yvonne McNeilly said: “We all want the best start in life for our children and young people, both in terms of their health and education.   “Evidence shows that school meals can help do this, by improving general health and helping to tackle health inequalities.

Unfortunately we've now come to the end of our A to Z of council services, so we're finishing with..... Z is for Zero Waste At the heart of 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s proposed waste strategy is the waste hierarchy focussed on preventing waste in the first instance. If and when waste is created, next priority is preparing it for a reusable purpose, followed by recycling or other recovery method. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

51�Թ����App and Bute has secured £1.7m of the Scottish Government’s Timber Transport Fund.  The council has been successful in getting the largest share of the government's £6.6m fund which is earmarked for projects that minimise the impact of timber lorries in its rural road network. The £1.7 million allocated to our local projects means that every £1 spent by the council has been almost doubled by the Scottish Timber Transport Fund (STTF). Total spend for timber roads’ improvements, including the council’s investment, will come to more than £2.7 million.

Roanna Clark works with the council’s Community Learning Team. Talking about her role, she said: “I work with various groups and individuals of all ages to engage them in learning, personal development and active citizenship. “We want our young people to thrive and go on to positive destinations in life and the support we offer is mainly focused on disadvantaged or vulnerable individuals and groups, with the aim of bringing about change in their lives and their communities.

51�Թ����App and Bute Council and NHS Highland in 51�Թ����App and Bute have brought together all health services and all adult and children/families social work services, as the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). Luanna Lamers is the Senior/CT Radiographer at Oban, Lorne and the Isles Hospital. Providing 24/7 services to outpatients, inpatients and people attending the hospital’s A&E department, Luanna and her dedicated colleagues work hard to ensure people receive the highest quality of care.

W is for Website Lorne MacBrayne is the council’s Website Manager. It’s vital that members of the public have easy access to council information and services, and behind the scenes Lorne and his team are hard at work ensuring this happens.

Fiona Anderson is a Special Projects Officer in the council’s Governance and Law Team, but during elections she takes on another important role, dealing with postal votes. Fiona said: “We work closely with the Electoral Registration Office in Campbeltown and issue postal voting packs to around 12,000 people.

The majority of pupils in 51�Թ����App and Bute are celebrating today, having gained the qualifications they were hoping for.  Nationally there has been a reduction in pass rates and we are analysing what this means for young people in 51�Թ����App and Bute. A report will be put to Community Services Committee later in the year. The council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said:

With less than two weeks until pupils return to school after their summer holidays, the council’s Policy Lead for Education is reminding parents to check if they qualify for help towards the cost of their child’s school uniform.  

Week five of the A to Z of council services and we're looking at the letter U. U is for Understanding Need Helping people get involved in decisions that affect them is a key part of Genna Lugue’s job. Genna is the council’s Research and Engagement Officer.