51�Թ����App

51�Թ����App and Bute Council is making positive progress in preparing for the implementation of the fully funded 1140 hours of free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in 51�Թ����App and Bute by 2020.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday), members heard how 27 ELC services in 51�Թ����App and Bute are already providing parents and carers with the option to access the additional hours, which are funded by the Scottish Government.  

Members of 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s Community Services have agreed to carry out a consultation to consider the possibility of widening the catchment area of St Columba’s Primary School in Oban.   The consultation comes as a result of a formal request from St Columba’s Parent Council. St Columba’s is the only denominational school within 80 miles of Oban, and the catchment area currently only covers the Oban and Dunbeg area. The consultation will consider rezoning this to the same as the mainland catchment area for Oban High School.  

‘Parents have a key role as prime educators and carers of their children. By working in partnership, schools and parents can develop children’s attitudes to learning and ensure they achieve their full potential.’   These were the words of 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, following approval of a revised Parental Engagement Strategy for 2019-2021 at today’s Community Services Committee.  

Luddon Construction Ltd has been appointed to progress the re-development of the Jackson’s Quarry Roads Depot, Oban, so that all essential operational services for Oban, Lorn and the Isles can be delivered from a single main site. This will free up the Mill Park site for development, as well as making significant savings in operating costs.  

51�Թ����App and Bute Council is inviting residents of Bute and Dunoon to give their views on the development of new walking and cycling routes. A drop-in event is being held on Wednesday 20 March at The Hub (the old Clydesdale Bank), 17 High Street, Rothesay between 11am and 7pm. And on Thursday 21 March, a separate event will be held at the Queens Hall in Dunoon from 11am to 7pm.

Roads infrastructure on Mull will receive a £963,000 cash boost in 2019/20, and footways will benefit from a further £38,250 of investment. This was agreed at last week’s meeting of 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee as part of the council’s Roads Capital Reconstruction Programme. Road that will benefit are: A849, Glenmore – Craignure A849, Pennyghael – Bunessan B8073, Toloisk – Gruline C46, Glenbellart C54, Lochbuie

A Modern Apprentice from Dunoon working in the field of aquaculture has won a hat-trick of awards. Janis Brivkalns works for the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) as a Modern Apprentice, and the 34-year-old was crowned Aquaculture Learner of the Year, Modern Apprentice of the Year and Overall Learner of the Year at the Lantra Awards last week, which was Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2019. Congratulations to Janis on a fantastic achievement. Find out more about apprenticeships in Scotland here:

 51�Թ����App and Bute Council will join forces with neighbouring local authorities in Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire to issue a tender to procure residual waste disposal services to cover the Helensburgh and Lomond area.  This will help secure the best possible price for services and ensure that we comply with the 2021 ban on Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) going to landfill.

Work to improve the ferry passenger experience at Dunoon Breakwater will begin on Monday 11th March. Following the announcement by the Scottish Government that CalMac Ferries will provide a passenger-only service between Dunoon Breakwater and Gourock Ferry Terminal, 51�Թ����App and Bute Council has committed to making changes to passenger facilities at Dunoon. The work will improve safety and provide facilities more suited to a passenger-only service, while any disruption will be kept to a minimum.

51�Թ����App and Bute Council will soon begin consultation on a new waste strategy it is developing to meet a new government ban on Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) going to landfill which comes into operation in 2021. Biodegradable waste is any waste capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, such as food, garden waste, and paper and cardboard.