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New apps now enable travellers on council-run ferries to buy tickets via their phones or other mobile devices. This extends the range of ways to pay to include cash, debit/credit cards on board the ferries or via the council website, making the service more convenient for users. Customers wishing to pay using a mobile device app should visit either Google Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone) and search for: 

Council heard on Thursday (28 November) that the terms of ����Ů�� and Bute’s Rural Growth Deal (RGD) continue to be negotiated. Discussion with Scottish and UK governments to date has been positive, with the amount of consultation done when preparing the RGD particularly noted. Both the Scottish and UK Governments have committed £25million each in support of projects, designed by the council, to deliver success across ����Ů�� and Bute based on:

A response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the principles of a visitor levy was agreed by ����Ů�� on Thursday (28 November). This will help the Scottish Government’s understanding of the pressures on the local environment and infrastructure felt in some areas by the increase in overnight and day visitors. It will inform development of legislation that would allow local authorities to introduce the levy if they felt it appropriate.

The ������ Employee Excellence and Recognition Awards 2019 have taken place and we can now reveal the full list of winners. Held at Mid ������ Sports Centre in Lochgilphead, the event was made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: Brodies, Walker Love, Oban Electrical Services, MacLeods Construction Ltd, PAM OH Solutions, Priority Management, Portavadie Marina, Live ������, Midton Acrylics, Mid ������ Chamber of Commerce, GMB, Unison, Unite, EIS and Positive People Development.

Pippa Milne, Executive Director, will be ����Ů��’s new Chief Executive from 19 December. Council Leader Aileen Morton: “We had a very strong pool of candidates to choose from. I would like to congratulate Pippa on securing this role, and I look forward to working with her, as Chief Executive, for the benefit of ����Ů�� and Bute.” Pippa will take up the post from 19 December, when Cleland Sneddon leaves for South Lanarkshire Council. Pippa brings with her 28 years of local government experience, five with ����Ů�� specifically.

#16daysofaction against gender based violence is an international campaign to raise awareness of violence against women. It runs from 25 November – 10 December. During the campaign, organisations throughout ����Ů�� and Bute will be giving out a clear message that domestic abuse will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Key landmarks, such as McCaig’s Tower and Highland Mary’s Statue will be lit up orange, in honour of the theme: “Orange the World: Generation equality stands against rape”.

A free event is being held in Lochgilphead next week to give local suppliers an insight into how they can improve their chances of winning council tenders. ‘Improving your Bid Score’ will be held on 27 November at 10am in Committee Room 1, Kilmory Castle, Lochgilphead. Don’t miss out on a place, book today at

����Ů�� has made free sanitary products available in a number of public buildings, leisure centres, schools and libraries in the area, as part of a drive to tackle period poverty. Funded by the Scottish Government, the initiative aims to ensure that products are available to those who need them in a dignified way, and that everyone who menstruates can have the products they need. For further information about the initiative, and for details of how you can access free sanitary products, visit: /periodprovision  

There are just a few days left to register to vote and make sure you can take part in the UK Parliamentary Election on 12 December.  The deadline to register is 26 November and, if you’re not already registered but want to take part in next month’s election, you will need to take action. The same deadline of 26 November applies to anyone wishing to apply for a postal vote. You can also nominate someone else to cast your vote on your behalf – a proxy vote. There is a little more time to apply for a proxy vote – the deadline for these applications is 5pm on 4December. 

From Monday 2 December, householders and businesses on Mull and Iona will no longer have to put recyclable material into separate plastic bags before it goes into blue bins. Putting the recyclable material directly into the bins reduces the amount of single use plastic going into the waste stream. It is also more convenient for customers, by cutting down on time and effort. There is no change to the materials collected and no change to the frequency or days of collection.