This week has been one of those that brings together the full breadth of what we do – from big national and global uncertainties to the steady progress we are making locally across Argyll and Bute.
Earlier in the week, I spent time with colleagues at the Strategic Planning Board and through a range of meetings and catch-ups, reflecting on how we continue to sharpen our focus as an organisation – making sure we are aligning our priorities clearly to our outcomes, and maintaining momentum on the delivery that matters most. That discipline of focus is becoming increasingly important, particularly given the scale of activity across services and the pressures we are all working within.
At yesterday’s Policy and Resources Committee, that balance between challenge and progress came through strongly.
Members considered the potential impact of the conflict in Iran, with the main risks at this stage relating to rising energy, fuel and construction costs, alongside wider supply chain disruption. While there remains a high degree of uncertainty, we are actively monitoring the situation, managing exposure where we can, and reviewing how we prioritise and phase investment should those pressures increase.
Alongside this, there was positive progress across a number of important areas:
- The Transformation Strategy 2026–2031 was discussed, providing a clearer framework for how we deliver meaningful change and improve outcomes for our communities.
- Rural Growth Deal and other external funding programmes continue to move forward, supporting investment and economic opportunities across Argyll and Bute.
- Regeneration work, including approval of the Gleaner Phase 2 business case, demonstrates continued commitment to place-based investment in our towns and communities.
- Work on future care home provision is progressing, with plans for wider community engagement over the summer to help shape how we meet changing needs.
- The latest budget outlook reinforces both the scale of future financial challenges and the importance of taking early, planned action.
- Taken together, these discussions reflect the reality of the environment we are operating in – increasingly complex, and at times uncertain – but also the progress we are continuing to make.
I am particularly keen that we build on this and we have commissioned work to review a number of opportunities that have been brought together into a ‘Digital Blueprint.’ This work will consider a range of areas where technology could be used to help us do our jobs.
As always, I want to thank colleagues across the organisation for the work you are doing, and I hope you have a great weekend.
Pippa
Pippa Milne
Chief Executive
