ÓûÂþɬ

This week we're celebrating the work our social work teams do on a daily basis in order to protect vulnerable people in our communities. Take 79-year-old Anne for example….   Anne lives alone in a small island community and liked to keep her money in her handbag, instead of putting it into a bank.  

Community groups wanting to build affordable homes in ÓûÂþɬ will now be able to benefit from the council’s Strategic Housing Fund.   At a recent meeting of ÓûÂþɬ Council, members agreed to extend the funding criteria to include community groups, as well as registered social landlords, providing they secure a Rural Housing Fund and/or Islands Housing Fund grant from the Scottish Government.  

Today is World Social Work Day so, to celebrate the wide range of services that our social work teams provide, we’re dedicating this whole week to them.   We caught up with Ann Martin who is a Through Care After Care Social Worker in ÓûÂþɬ, working with young care experienced people and key partner agencies to make life better for our young people.  

A total of 37 empty homes were brought back into use in ÓûÂþɬ from April through to December last year – exceeding ÓûÂþɬ Council’s annual target of 25.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday) members also heard how there have been 62 affordable houses completed during the third quarter of the year.   Twenty of these homes are in Bowmore, Islay; 16 are in Lochgilphead; and 26 are in Succoth. A further 41 homes are due to be completed by the end of next month.  

Young people in ÓûÂþɬ are achieving well in literacy and numeracy according to figures published by the Scottish Government.   The Scottish Government collects data every year which details pupils’ achievements in reading, writing, listening and talking and numeracy. These are known as ‘Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels’ and focus specifically on pupils in P1, P4, P7 and S3.  

ÓûÂþɬ Council’s Special Projects and Estates teams are continuing to investigate the commercial potential of three Oban car parks after a number of developers declared an interest in them.   Albany Street, Tweeddale Street and the Esplanade car parks were marketed by the council last year, inviting interested parties to come forward and explore commercial opportunities, while maintaining or improving parking provision within the town.  

ÓûÂþɬ Council is making positive progress in preparing for the implementation of the fully funded 1140 hours of free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in ÓûÂþɬ by 2020.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday), members heard how 27 ELC services in ÓûÂþɬ are already providing parents and carers with the option to access the additional hours, which are funded by the Scottish Government.  

Members of ÓûÂþɬ Council’s Community Services have agreed to carry out a consultation to consider the possibility of widening the catchment area of St Columba’s Primary School in Oban.   The consultation comes as a result of a formal request from St Columba’s Parent Council. St Columba’s is the only denominational school within 80 miles of Oban, and the catchment area currently only covers the Oban and Dunbeg area. The consultation will consider rezoning this to the same as the mainland catchment area for Oban High School.  

‘Parents have a key role as prime educators and carers of their children. By working in partnership, schools and parents can develop children’s attitudes to learning and ensure they achieve their full potential.’   These were the words of ÓûÂþɬ Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, following approval of a revised Parental Engagement Strategy for 2019-2021 at today’s Community Services Committee.  

Luddon Construction Ltd has been appointed to progress the re-development of the Jackson’s Quarry Roads Depot, Oban, so that all essential operational services for Oban, Lorn and the Isles can be delivered from a single main site. This will free up the Mill Park site for development, as well as making significant savings in operating costs.