I’m back from my annual leave and readjusting to the colder weather. It’s been a busy first week back but before I speak about that I want to thank Douglas and Kirsty for doing the updates while I’ve been away.
In his update Douglas trailed some of the big issues that were coming to the Council meeting this week. Members consideration of the Visitor Levy attracted national news this week as Full Council agreed to pause the possible implementation of the levy. This was in the context of Scottish Government indicating that they may change the legislation to allow for a flat rate rather than a percentage. This option is something we have been calling for from the beginning and would address many of the concerns we heard during the consultation. We’re waiting now to hear more about Government’s plan.
Also agreed is a Manifesto for Rural Change which outlines the Council’s commitment to working in partnership with other rural authorities to demand meaningful action from both Governments and national agencies to address areas such as transport infrastructure, digital connectivity, healthcare, and housing.
The final Council item I’m going to mention is the Council agreement to the next step in exploring a Single Authority Model (SAM), a different option for how services are delivered in Argyll and Bute. Working with NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute HSCP, the Scottish Government, COSLA and other councils, we’re looking at how greater integration could:
- Tailor services to local needs
- Strengthen local democracy and accountability
- Join up services across health, housing, education and more
- Help tackle key challenges like depopulation, workforce, and housing
Two preferred options are being developed:
- Fully Empowered Local Board – building on the current Integration Joint Board
- Single Authority Partnership – where NHS Highland delegates functions and resources to the Council
Draft proposals go to the Scottish Government in September, with final plans due in December. Staff, partners and communities will be involved in shaping next steps.
This week I also met with the Commodore of His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde about Clyde 2070, a new multi-billion pound redevelopment program for the base. HMNB is the home of the UK’s submarines, and the program has been launched with an initial £250 million investment in July 2025. The program aims to modernise infrastructure, support the next generation of Royal Navy submarines, and create jobs and economic growth in Scotland. There will be various aspects of the program that impact on things like planning, transport and housing that we need to collaborate on, but we are also aiming to capture social and economic benefits for the area.
Finally, you might have spotted an article in last month’s Cascade asking you to tell us a bit more about you. As an employer having equality information such as your marital status, age and ethnicity helps us make sure we have the right policies and plans in place to be a great place to work. For example, this info helps us create our Flexible Working policy and with reporting on any pay gaps. Can you spare a minute to make sure your info is up to date on iTrent? There is some helpful guidance on how to update.
Enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
Best wishes,
Pippa
