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It’s always lovely to feel and see things changing as Christmas gets closer – even if some might say the whole festive season gets started a little too early these days. Of course it is inescapable once television and radio adverts switch to their Christmas focus, and shops roll out their festive decorations. It’s a lovely time of year though, and we are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world where even the winter weather doesn’t take away from the scenery and feeling of community.

The council’s policy and resources committee has agreed that 12 events and festivals will share £113,000 funding to help create attractions that will increase the appeal of 51�Թ����App and Bute as a world-class tourist destination. These include a literary event on Bute and a dance festival, as well as music festivals in Kintyre, Oban and Tiree. That funding is being made available for a portfolio of strategic events demonstrates the importance this industry has to economic development in the area.

Pupils at Dunoon Grammar School have ‘scooped’ themselves a year’s supply of ice cream after winning an international competition. Business Management pupils - Claire Lauffer, Eleanor Hill, Kim Kerr and Matthew MacDuff - beat off stiff competition from across the UK to win the School of Marketing’s ‘Ice Cream Dream’, sponsored by Walls.  

Christmas is a magical time for children: the excitement of putting baubles on the tree; searching the night sky for Santa’s sleigh; the joy of leaving a carrot for Rudolph and a glass of milk for Santa on Christmas Eve… the list in endless.   But, as many people with children will understand, some of this magic begins to fade as they grow older. This was the case for Moyra and Peter Paterson from Campbeltown.  

  Jean Muir Every resident of Bute will be watching the progress of the £14million refurbishment of Rothesay Pavilion with great interest – but few have the famous building as close to their hearts as local woman Jean Muir.

Councillors have given their backing to proposed heritage-led regeneration projects for Lochgilphead and Helensburgh. At today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee, elected members agreed recommendations to consider a potential financial commitment of £386,220 from the council towards a Lochgilphead Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), and £500,000 for a Helensburgh CARS. Final financial approval will be subject to the council’s budget setting process.

The Scottish Government funding allocation for local government could increase 51�Թ����App and Bute Council’s funding gap for 2019/20 to around £9million. This was the update provided to today’s Policy and Resources Committee, following the Scottish Government budget announcement yesterday.

“The mental health and wellbeing of our school communities is a priority. We need to help stop the stigma often associated with mental health disorders and ensure that our young people and staff have access to the support they need.”  

Children at Kilcreggan Primary’s Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC) are settling in well to their new surroundings, after moving into a custom-made learning environment within the main school building.   The ELCC was previously located in an annexe beside the school, however, refurbishments carried out across the school during the summer holidays meant the children were able to move into the main building, become an integral part of the school community.  

As the cold weather starts to bite, the council has approved its Winter Service policy for 2018/19 which sets out priorities to keep 51�Թ����App and Bute moving until Spring. The policy prioritises routes that will be treated ahead of winter hazards.