“Our priority as always is on making whatever funding we have deliver as much as possible for Argyll and Bute.”
These were the words of Councillor Robin Currie, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, as the council prepares to set its budget next week.
The council’s funding gap is more than £13 million in 2023/24 alone. This is in addition to the £70 million of recurring savings the council has had to make since 2010.
Council leader Robin Currie (left) and Cllr Gary Mulvaney.
The council’s financial position was on the agenda when the Policy and Resources Committee met today.
Councillor Currie said: “The council will continue to provide countless services that support day to day life across Argyll and Bute.
“Multi-million pound funding cuts over many years however stop us doing everything we’d like to do for our communities. We have to focus on saving the services we have a duty to deliver.”
The Committee considered a report setting out the demands on the council’s budget and additional options for fully bridging the funding gap, including stopping some services.
Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Policy Lead for Finance Services said: “We have done everything we can to save services – we have developed around £9 million of savings options that avoid impact on services for the public.
“With no end in sight however to cuts to council budgets, change, to what the council can do, is unavoidable.”
Funding to support a wide range of popular cultural events and festivals in Argyll and Bute has been approved by the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee.
A total of 11 events across the arts, culture and sport will receive support totalling more than £80,000 from Round 5 of the Council’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund (SEF).
The full list of events being supported includes:
Argyll Food Festival
Bute Noir
Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust
Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival
Jura Music Festival
Sea Change
Sound of Gigha
Mull of Kintyre Music and Arts Festival
Tiree Wave Classic
Cowal Highland Gathering
West Highland Yachting Week
Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council. 2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O’ Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today. More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss O’Balloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war. Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums. The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ‘Zhu’s life in Britain’. Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said “We are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch it’s a beautiful area of Scotland and we’ve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.” German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: “We are in Scotland for 10 days and although we’re not staying in Balloch we couldn’t miss this event. It’s a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.” West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: “This year’s event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. It’s always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the Games’ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.” The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: “I am delighted with this year’s event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. We’ve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this year’s games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support.” For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at http://www.llhgb.com Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898 http://www.paulphoto.co.uk
Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Strategic Development, said: “The events sector makes a significant contribution to Argyll and Bute’s economy and to local communities across the region. It also plays a key role in helping attract both national and international visitors to the area. The importance of events and festivals can be seen from the fact that, prior to the pandemic, the estimated economic impact to the area was around £7.5 million.
“The sector is continuing to rebuild following the pandemic and it’s great to see so many well-established and highly popular events taking place again in the coming year thanks to support from the fund.
