Shaping a new model for council services in Argyll and Bute …

West Dunbartonshire Council could find itself left behind by Argyll and Bute Council which has approved the next step in its exploration of potential changes to how services are delivered across Argyll and Bute, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh, Rosneath and Lomond, via the introduction of a Single Authority Model (SAM).

Officers have been working in partnership with Argyll and Bute HSCP, NHS Highland, the Scottish Government (SG), COSLA, and other local authorities, such as Western Isles and Orkney, to explore the potential benefits and opportunities of alternative governance arrangements, such as a Single Authority Model (SAM).

Argyll and Bute’s rich mix of remote, rural and island communities presents a number of challenges in terms of delivering services. In recognition of the area’s unique demographics and geography, the Council’s view is that a shift in public sector structures is required.

Building on existing collaborative working arrangements, particularly the success of integrated health and social care services, the potential for a whole system approach is being explored.

Possible benefits of a SAM could include:

• Place-based reform: Adapts decision-making to fit Argyll and Bute’s unique needs, avoiding ‘one size fits all’ approaches which don’t work in rural or island areas.
• Enhanced accountability and democracy: Empowers locally accountable decision-makers with better knowledge of community needs and enables citizens to actively influence and participate in local democracy.
• Increased democratic participation: Expands opportunities for communities to scrutinise, analyse, and participate in public decision-making processes
• Greater integration across sectors: Facilitates joined up working not just in health and social care, but also in housing, education, and other public services, supporting approaches to challenges such as depopulation, workforce retention and the housing emergency
• Potential for improved educational outcomes: Opens possibilities for closer collaboration between schools and further/higher education (such as UHI Argyll), potentially improving learner outcomes and use of resources

Following recommendations by the SAM Short Life Working Group (SLWG), at the latest update meeting, the council gave the green light to two potential options as preferred models, subject to further investigation.

The options are:

• A Fully Empowered Local Board – The starting point for this model would be through strengthening the Integration Joint Board (IJB) and the functions delegated by the partners (i.e. the Council and NHS Highland). This could initially build on the existing synergies and effective partnership working that has been demonstrated between the Council and NHS Highland
• Single Authority Partnership – This model could be considered as a variant of the traditional Lead Agency arrangement (in place within Highland) under the banner of a “Single Authority Partnership”. Under such a Strategic Lead Agency arrangement, there would be no transfer of staff – only functions and resources. Under these terms, the Health Board would delegate all functions and resources to the Council

The first draft of Argyll and Bute’s preferred models is due to be lodged with the Scottish Government in September 2025, accompanied by detailed plans mapping out next steps for inclusive policy development, including extensive engagement with communities and relevant workforces. More detailed models will be submitted to Scottish Government in December.

The Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “Public sector service sustainability in Argyll and Bute requires a multi-agency integrated model. Greater integration, collaboration and coordination through joined up strategic planning and delivery of public sector services has real potential to deliver better outcomes for our communities.

“Our preferred options will now be submitted to Scottish Government and further exploration of the potential benefits and assessment of the risks and challenges of these new approaches will be carried out prior to submission of final details at the end of this year.”

Councillors have approved the allocation of Strategic Housing Funding (SHF) to the following projects aimed at improving the availability of housing in communities where there is an ongoing demand for affordable homes.

• An additional SHF contribution of £175,000 will be made to cover extra costs on Oban’s Dunbeg Phase 3 development. Built by LINK RSL and completed in August 2023, the project delivered 300 affordable houses – a significant contribution to supply in Oban and Lorn. The new funding will cover added costs created by the pandemic, time delays and fuel and construction cost inflation. Both LINK and Scottish Government have agreed to pay additional costs towards the development.
• £100,000 from the SHF will cover feasibility studies on a project in Tiree to create serviced self-build plots on council-owned land in Balemartine and Crossapol. Tiree has been identified as an area of high housing need and demand, and one of the region’s fragile population areas.
• £50,000 will cover feasibility studies for delivering footpath improvements on Glencruitten Road, to facilitate the potential development of affordable housing at Glencruitten Rise, Oban.

The delivery of housing on plots has been a traditionally important part of new build housing delivery in Argyll and Bute, with self-build plots being considered affordable housing.

Research carried out by the Council has identified an ongoing interest in this form of housing provision, particularly on the islands, and this is supported by a National Islands Plan Survey which suggests that 45% of island residents believe that self-build is a viable option for home ownership.

The council’s Policy Lead for Housing, Councillor Jim Lynch, said: “Since the council highlighted the scale of Argyll and Bute’s Housing Emergency, a key priority has been to enhance availability of affordable housing for our communities and to identify public sector land that can be utilised to contribute to supply.

“This additional allocation of Strategic Housing Funding is further evidence of our determination to tackle the area’s housing challenges and will deliver much-needed support for developments aimed at helping people in our communities achieve their home ownership ambitions.”

West Dunbartonshire Council refuse to speak with The Democrat so it was impossible for us to obtain information for our readers if they had any similar plans to Argyll and Bute.