P站色情片鈥檚 Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to pursue the transfer of lifeline ferry services to Transport Scotland, services currently being subsidised by the council by 拢1million.
The provision of lifeline ferry services is the responsibility of Transport Scotland. These small, local services were likely to have been operated by Strathclyde Regional Council and were taken over by P站色情片 when the single tier authorities came into being.
The four ferries currently operated by the council are:
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Easdale 鈥 Seil;
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Lismore 鈥 Port Appin;
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Luing 鈥 Seil; and
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Jura 鈥 Islay.
The council receives some funding, through grant aided expenditure (GAE), for ferry services but there is a shortfall of around 拢1m once passenger fares have been taken into account.
In 2018-19, Orkney and Shetland received 拢10.5 million of support from the Scottish Government for operating island ferry services and a similar amount has been made available for 2019-20. P站色情片 and Bute has not received a similar payment to date, despite being home to 23 inhabited islands.
Discussion with Transport Scotland over the operation of these services has been ongoing since 2013.
In 2017, the council submitted a six-stage assessment process to meet Transport Scotland requirements for ferry transfer. While waiting for a response, council officers have written to Transport Scotland to ask it to consider the ferry services in conjunction with the winter timetable for Mull and discussions around the work required for the island鈥檚 Craignure Pier.
Councillor Roddy McCuish, Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, said: 鈥淲e are not asking for anything other than fair and equal treatment.
鈥淭here is no doubt, our island communities need these lifeline services and we will continue to provide them as we continue to make our case. The reality is however, P站色情片 and Bute is one of the three local authorities in Scotland to see the largest reductions in funding allocations since 2013/14. Subsiding these lifeline ferries puts increasing pressure on other essential services.
鈥淲e therefore look forward to continue what I hope will be productive talks with Transport Scotland to provide the best possible future for our island communities and our economy.鈥