Council's new property swap idea is a welcome approach on Mull

Argyll and Bute Council is breaking the mould by coming up with a novel alternative to asset transferring a house it no longer needs.

 

There are early-day plans to turn Fionnphort ferry house into an all-year round family home 'let' via Mull & Iona Community Trust (MICT).

 

Mull Community Council heard how the ferry house is now surplus to council requirements and MICT has been in discussions with them for several months about its future.

 

In the very early stages it was just outlying possibilities, but more recently the talks are moving towards MICT performing a role to support the council to make that property available for the local community in a similar way to how it was previously via CalMac to a local family, community councillors heard last week.

 

MICT's general manager Moray Finch read out a statement sent  from the council at the meeting. It said: "Moves are afoot  to occupy a council-owned property in Fionnphort which has been long-term leased to CalMac and ended last year.

 

"The council is at an exploratory stage with MICT to address some intermediate short-term issues for the 2023 season. Steps have to be taken before this can be confirmed as an option. The council is arranging, for example, for a condition survey of the property and any proposal would still need a board or appropriate approval before being finalised.

 

"Beyond this immediate season, a wider project to look at more permanent use of the house as a leased residential property will get under way."

 

Mr Finch said: "What it is saying is that for the forthcoming summer season we are hoping we can use it for seasonal workers accommodation and come the end of summer that will be able to make it available to a family.

 

"For me, it's a welcome approach by the council, quite a novel approach by the council. They are listening to the issues that the community is calling out to them about in terms of lack of affordable housing and they are prepared to break the mould and come up with an new solution that does not involve an asset transfer, and all the extra administration and effort that would be needed by us to bring it about. It's given us a very good outcome, the same as we would get from an asset transfer and if we did take ownership of the house."

 

Community council convenor Billy McClymont asked: "So it's like you acting as a letting agent, is that the gist?"

 

Mr Finch replied: "In not so many words, yes, exactly."

 

The house has been empty for 18 months.

 

The community council also heard that inside work on the council-owned teachers' flats in Tobermory has been completed but lead water pipes have now been discovered. The hope is that the properties will be ready for staff at the start of the new academic year.