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CGCC Meeting with Bute CC in March

As noted in our minutes in November, and elsewhere, our next meeting will be on March 10th at 6 pm with the express purpose of hosting Bute Community Council at the Colintraive Village Hall in a joint discussion on common issues, such as Calmac, a Fixed Link and other matters.

Agenda to follow.

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Online Surveys: Essential Feedback on Services that Matter

The Community Council has been contacted about several surveys which we list here:

BUDGET SURVEY

The first is a survey on budgets and services from the Council. This is extremely important as they are looking for millions in savings. Help our community by insisting our lifelines are not cut, and that the council find different ways to balance their budgets. You have until 14th February:

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/form/budget-survey

“With a budget gap of £27 million over the next five years, we do not have enough funding to meet demands. We’re asking you what services should council budgets prioritise?

“Over the past 10 years, we have delivered more than £50 million in savings to continue providing services to our communities. We continue to look for more savings but the size of the budget gap means we face having to deliver further savings in the years ahead.”

R100 SURVEY

In the three years to 2019 the c ommunity, through “Kyles Community Broadband” attempted to procure fibre optic broadband for the community. With a budget of £1.5M promised KCB got as far as the competitive tender, but were stymied by a combination of budget and capacity of the organisations tendering. At that point the Scottish Government promised to make our area a priority after the ten areas already allocated official priority status. Over the intervening years, despite a six-monthly reminder from the CC, nothing has happened, or has been intimated to happen. Therefore this survey is very important and we encourage everyone to answer it. Here’s what the SG say about it:

“The Scottish Government is investing in broadband infrastructure in Your area through its Reaching 100% (R100) programme and we’re keen to get your support to help gather feedback.

“The £600+ million programme is extending access to faster broadband to sub-30 Megabits per second homes and businesses who are unlikely to receive upgrades through commercial plans. You can find out more about R100 at: gov.scot/digitalconnectivity.

“To understand whether and how households and organisations have benefited from R100, the Scottish Government is undertaking an evaluation of the programme. As part of this, we are surveying households and organisations who:

  1. Are scheduled to receive broadband access via R100 but have not yet been connected
  2. Have been provided with broadband access via R100 and have taken up the connection
  3. Have been provided with broadband access via R100 but have not taken up the connection

“The surveys are available online and can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/R100Evaluation

VISITOR LEVY CONSULTATION

“People in council areas across Scotland are considering a visitor levy for their area and we would like you to have the same chance to consider one for Argyll and Bute.

“Why? Because at a time when funding for public services is shrinking, a visitor levy is an option for raising investment to sustain local services used by visitors, as well as residents, and to keep the area as a top visitor attraction.

“Support for individual tourism businesses, or for extending the tourism season are examples of how levy income could be used. Services used by the visitor economy, and so could benefit from levy funding, include for example, waste, roads, transport and leisure services.

“We are running a 12-week consultation and invite you to take the time to find out more about what a levy could mean for Argyll and Bute, and then give your view.”

You can find more information on the council website, plus:

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RIVERWOODS: An Untold Story

In partnership with ABCAN and as part of the development of our Local Place Plan, the Community Council and the Development Trust present an evening focussed on the River Ruel and the work of the River Improvement Association, centred around the feature film Riverwoods

Three years in the making, the featurelength Riverwoods film, produced by Riverwoods partner Scotland: The Big Picture and narrated by Peter Capaldi, shines a light on the perilous state of Scotland’s salmon, and tells the compelling story of a fish that once lived in the forest. And in the soil that feeds the forest. And in the predators, scavengers and even herbivores of the forest. Scotland’s Atlantic salmon – the King of Fish – is not only the ultimate angler’s prize, but a key building block in a complex forest ecosystem.

Doors open 17:45hrs, January 17th, Colintraive Village Hall

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A83 Rest & Be Thankful Exhibition in January

A83 Rest and Be Thankful 

Public exhibitions are being held from 15 to 21 January 2025 for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful scheme. 

These public exhibitions will provide local communities and road users the opportunity to view and comment on the draft Orders, Compulsory Purchase Orders and Environmental Impact Assessments for both the Medium and Long-Term Solutions. Please note these are two standalone schemes and should be considered separately when providing comment or representations.

Improving the resilience of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful remains a key transport priority for the Scottish Government.

Transport Scotland staff and their technical advisers AtkinsRéalis WSP Joint Venture (AWJV) will be available to answer any questions on the proposals for both the Medium and Long-Term Solutions. 

Details of the public exhibitions are as follows:

Wednesday 15 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Victoria Hall, Kinloch Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6EG (1pm to 7pm)

Thursday 16 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Lochgilphead Bowling Club, Bank Park, Lochgilphead, PA31 8LN (1pm to 7pm)

Friday 17 January 2025 (1pm to 6pm)

Lochgoilhead Village Hall, 8 Hall Road, Lochgoilhead, PA24 8AQ

Monday 20 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Queen’s Hall, 9 Argyll Street, Dunoon, PA23 7HH

Tuesday 21 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Three Villages Hall, Shore Road, Arrochar, G83 7AB

The exhibition material for both schemes is available now to view at pinpointcloud.co.uk/A83restandbethankful 

Please submit any representations to Transport Scotland by 7 February 2025 by post:

Director of Major Projects, A83 Rest and Be Thankful Scheme, Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD

Or by email: A83DraftOrders@transport.gov.scot

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Local Plan Planning Short Survey

The community council would like to invite everyone in the community to give us your views on our place and how it can be improved to contribute to our Local Place Plan through this very Short SURVEY.

A Local Place Plan (LPP) is a community-led plan that outlines a community’s vision for the development and use of land in their area

  • Purpose LPPs are a way for communities to share their ideas and aspirations for the places they live, work, and spend time in. They can help communities develop and deliver their own projects, and their proposed solutions can influence local planning policy. 
  • Who can prepare them LPPs must be prepared by a Community Council or a “community-controlled body”. 
  • What they include LPPs should set out priorities for future development, and may identify land and buildings that the community considers to be of particular significance. 
  • How they are prepared LPPs should take into account the local development plan and the Scottish Government’s Strategic National Planning Framework. They may also require a specialized design element from an architect or urban designer. 
  • How they are registered LPPs must meet a particular set of criteria to be considered valid by a planning authority.
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Visitor Levy Explainer From A&B Council

Argyll and Bute Council have published an updated explainer on the Visitor Levy. The plain English helps explain what the council are thinking of doing, why they think this is a good idea and the process that they will need to follow to implement the changes.

There is a meeting before Christmas at the council to consider a draft scheme which if approved will go out to consultation in the New Year for three months.

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/argyll-and-bute-visitor-levy-faqs

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Argyll Rally Residents Survey

As the promoters of the Argyll Rally, Mull Car Club and Dunoon Presents have been asked by Argyll and Bute Council to carry out a survey where views on the rally are sought across the Dunoon and full rally area (i.e. where each stage is taking place and affects households and businesses). Following this request a survey has been created to capture the views of both residents and businesses.

The link to the survey is detailed below but it can also be found via argyllrally.co.uk/residents

https://forms.gle/2hbvFLyxrU1hNpmS8

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Phone Switch Over to Digital in January 2027

The UK’s telephone network is changing.

Between now and January 2027 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology. This means services that rely on the old landline system such as home phones, telecare and health devices will need to be compatible.

Here is a good summary page from Argyll and Bute Council

Below are two documents which should provide all the information you need, but if you have problems accessing it, or have concerns do let the community council know.

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Argyll & Bute Council Visitor Levy Pre-Consultation Survey

Argyll and Bute Council is developing a visitor levy (VL) to support tourism as a sustainable beneficial part of Argyll and Bute community life and economy. More information on the visitor levy can be found at:

Argyll and Bute Council | Visitor Levy
Visit Scotland | Visitor Levy Guidance

To help develop a draft Visitor Levy scheme for Argyll and Bute and prepare for formal consultation period on that (beginning towards the end of the year), your views in our short pre-consultation survey would be welcome

Visitor Levy – Pre-consultation Survey
Communication from the Argyll & Bute Council.

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Date Change for November CC Meeting to 18th November

To ensure the CC can provide feedback on progress on the consultation with the Rally organisers.