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The Scottish Government has revised guidance for the hospitality sector during the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a childminder? Here, husband and wife duo, Dee and Brian Pennock from Taynuilt, share their experience... In the summer of 2008 my husband and I became registered childminders in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute. We both came from backgrounds which had no connection whatsoever to do with children or childminding but were both looking for a different challenge……. we found it!

Estimates show that there will be £33 million less for council services in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute over the next five years, with the council having to make another £2.5 million of savings in 2022/23 alone. Council has agreed its approach for identifying ways in which to meet these challenges. This will involve:

PվɫÇéƬ and Bute’s proposed local development plan 2 will go to the Scottish Government for examination, with a caveat that responds to local community concerns. Local development plans set out potential sites for uses such as business development or housing, or sites to be protected. They also include policies that guide decisions on planning applications. To develop a plan for PվɫÇéƬ and Bute, the council followed statutory planning processes which included several public consultations.

PվɫÇéƬ has approved a package of funding support for a range of community-based projects to help the area’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The council has received £537,000 from the Scottish Government’s Flexible Fund scheme. The Fund enables councils and their partners, including PվɫÇéƬ and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, to provide additional support, as communities across Scotland emerge from lockdown, with a particular emphasis on people at risk through health or social inequalities.

PվɫÇéƬ will deliver additional regeneration projects as part of the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP).   The council today, approved an initial first phase of £260,000 to support a range of major improvement projects in the area. The overall PBIP council allocation for 2021/2022 is £821,000. A report highlighting the next phase of funding will be presented at the Policy and Resources Committee in August.  

PվɫÇéƬ has given the go-ahead for a ballot on the proposal to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) on the Isle of Bute. A BID is part of a town, tourism and visitor area in which businesses work together to invest in local improvements to help enhance their communities. BIDs can only exist if they get support from a clear majority of local businesses in a vote.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE ARGYLL AND BUTE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

S1 pupils at Campbeltown Grammar School marked the end of their year-old interdisciplinary programme last week when they hosted a mini Olympic games. Interdisciplinary classes combine lessons in different subjects around a common theme. Young people worked with specialist teachers in various subjects over the last 12 months to explore gender stereotypes and produce a script and storyboard for an advert which went against this.

PվɫÇéƬ is running a campaign to recruit new childminders, particularly for children aged 0 to 3 years in rural areas. Full support is available and the council’s early years team will help guide potential candidates through the whole process, from the initial enquiry, to registering with the Care Inspectorate. Financial assistance is also available for equipment such as pushchairs and stairgates, as well as small home adaptations. Dee and Brian Pennock are a husband and wife duo from Taynuilt, who started childminding in 2008.