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When Louise Nicol was given the opportunity to work as a supply teacher at Rothesay Joint Campus on a temporary, three month basis, she jumped at the chance. Much to Louise’s delight, the position got extended and, 22 years later, she is still working at the school and has moved up the ranks to become head teacher. Louise started her teaching career at Trinity High School in Renfrew, where she worked as an English teacher, before making the move to Bute in 1997.

����Ů�� has welcomed the announcement of a £50million Rural Growth Deal as a ‘transformational vote of confidence’ in the area. The council has been championing a deal for ����Ů�� and Bute with the UK and Scottish Governments, based on a number of projects developed with public and private sector partners. Today (Wednesday 2 October) the UK and Scottish Governments announced investment of £25million each in ����Ů�� and Bute.

Free training is available for local businesses in everything from book keeping to social media and video production. The council’s Business Gateway Service delivers training designed to help businesses start-up and grow. It takes place in locations across ����Ů�� and Bute and covers a wide range of topics. The council’s Policy Lead for Economic Growth, Councillor Alastair Redman, encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the support available.

Inspiring, effective leaders are invited to apply for the role of Chief Executive of ����Ů��. Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of ����Ů��, outlined what makes ����Ů�� and Bute a great career and lifestyle choice: “Beautiful, ambitious, welcoming – that’s how I would sum up ����Ů�� and Bute. "We have stunning scenery, award winning businesses and services, and warm, tight-knit communities.

Councillor Aileen Morton and representatives from seven other councils met Scottish Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop at Holyrood this week to discuss population decline. When the NRS (National Records of Scotland) published their population projections early in 2018, the leader of ������ decided that the continuing and increasing west coast depopulation trend needed action.

Over 900 new affordable homes look set to be built in ����Ů�� and Bute over the next five years as part of the council’s revised Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP). These properties are in addition to the 192 homes already completed since 2017 and the 161 that are expected to be finished by April next year. The updated SHIP proposals were approved at today’s meeting of ����Ů�� and will now go forward to the Scottish Government for consideration, outlining the council’s strategic investment in affordable homes over a five-year period, up to 2024/25.

������ has today established a Climate Change Environmental Action Group to support the ongoing national and international response to climate challenges. With the issue of climate change causing grave concern around the world, the council recognises that everyone has a duty to take whatever action they can to make a difference. ������ has already undertaken work to reduce its carbon footprint and protect the environment, and the area currently has the lowest rate of CO2 emissions per head of population in the UK.

Planning and development proposals for 2020 to 2030 in ����Ů�� and Bute have been set out in the council’s latest proposed Local Development Plan. Councillors at this week’s meeting of the full council approved the proposed Local Development Plan 2, and it will now go out for an eight-week public consultation later this year.

An event to promote awareness of Modern Day Slavery is being held in Helensburgh’s Victoria Halls on 24 October, from 2.00 - 5.00pm. Run by Migrant Help and Rah Rah Community Theatre Company, the event uses theatre and role play to educate on the signs of trafficking.

Carina Taylor hails from Dunoon and, despite leaving the town to work and study in Glasgow, she has returned to her hometown to teach at Kirn Primary School. “I always knew I wanted to come back to Dunoon to be close to my family, but also to have the community feeling that I missed in Glasgow,” she said. “����Ů�� and Bute is a place where you feel part of something that is not just school wide but community wide.  I knew that I wanted to bring up my two children here.