¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ

There is just one week left to apply for a proxy vote if you live in the Lomond North ward, want to vote in the upcoming by-election but can’t get to the polling station in person. A proxy vote is where you appoint someone to attend at the polling station and cast your vote on your behalf. You can download a proxy voting application form from Voting in the Scotland by-elections | Electoral Commission or by calling 0800 980 0470 to ask for a form.

Community projects across ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ continue to benefit from the Council’s Supporting Communities Fund. From youth groups to community woodlands, swimming clubs to community transport, the Council is helping a range of initiatives, providing vital lifelines and services in the area.    The 2022/2023 Supporting Communities Fund is now open for applications.  If you are a not-for-profit organisation, apply to the Fund and you could be eligible for potentially up to £2,500 to help projects happening in your community.

Issued by Culture, Heritage and Arts Assembly (CHARTS)  Five locations across ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ will be bathed in light next month to celebrate the anniversary of the birthday of Colmcille/St Columba. Each site will be spectacularly lit by projections featuring the artwork of artists at 7pm on 7 December 2021.

The findings of an independent options appraisal into long-term arrangements for managing Oban Bay will be considered by ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Harbour Board next week. The report by Caledonian Economics outlines the best options available at this time to address safety concerns in the bay and move to a Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA) within the shortest timeframe. It identifies that that either CMAL or the council progresses a Harbour Order to assume responsibility for Oban Bay and its approaches.

¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Council has approved plans to boost the supply of affordable housing on Colonsay. Councillors have agreed that Â£254,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund should be allocated to build five affordable houses at Port Mor on the west of the island. The project will also involve infrastructure upgrades, including an improved access road to three existing crofts at Port Mor, and will enable Colonsay Community Development Company potential to provide mains water to the crofts.

¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS), outlining the council’s vision and investment priorities for the area’s housing sector, has been submitted to the Scottish Government for ministerial approval. The five-year strategy sets out the joint approach the Council and its partners will take to delivering high quality housing and housing-related services across ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ.

Former Lord-Lieutenant of ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Patrick Stewart CVO, MBE, is to be awarded the freedom of ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ, in recognition of more than three decades of service to the local community. In his role as a solicitor in the Campbeltown family firm of Stewart, Balfour and Sutherland, Mr Stewart developed particular expertise in a number of legal issues significant to ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ, including agriculture, forestry, company law and the marine environment.

¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Council fought off stiff competition from across the country to win the hotly contested Early Years and Childcare Development category at last night’s Learning Places Scotland Awards.

If you live in the Lomond North area and want to have your say in next month’s by-election, there are just a few days left to register to vote. The by-election, on Thursday 16 December, is being held to elect one councillor to represent the Lomond North communities on ¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Council. Only people who live in the ward, and who are registered to vote, are able to take part.

¶¶ÒõÊÓƵ Council has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government to help people who are in rent arrears as a result of Covid 19. The Tenant Grant Fund is aimed at providing assistance to people living in social and private housing who have fallen behind with their rent between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021 as a result of financial difficulties during the pandemic.