Councillor's Column - Dougie McFadzean, Kintyre and the Islands, March 21 2025

It is also great to see that greenhouse gas reduction and capture projects will also be supported here on Islay, so that we are doing our bit to make our planet a safer and healthier place.

Since my election in 2022 I have very strongly supported and lobbied on both of these areas and it’s great to see we have been listened to.

For many months there have been difficult discussions trying to prepare and set a balanced council budget.

I wanted to protect services and support our Health and Social Care Partnership, whilst supporting community led aspirations and projects.

I think we managed to do that, but it was a tough decision to agree to a Council Tax rise of 9.9 per cent. The vast majority of councils in the UK are struggling with their finances, as we see with the rises which have been announced across Scotland. Future years are not going to be any easier.

I attended a Special Council meeting on March 7 where we spent several hours deliberating on the issue of a location for the new campus for the Isle of Mull.

This project is so very important for Mull and the difficult decision was made to approve a site in Tobermory, located in the north of the island.

I’ve been visiting many health and social care providers across Mid Argyll and chatting to staff about the challenges of providing care to those most vulnerable in our communities.

I have been blown away by the care and enthusiasm of our care providers, all of whom go above and beyond every day. 

These discussions really do prove that we are so lucky here to have such a compassionate and dedicated team of care staff, both in medical and social care. I want to thank them for all they do for us.

I hope we have seen the worst of the winter season pass, and that we can look forward to longer, warmer, drier days and the start of our community events.

We have so much going on across Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands, thanks to the army of volunteers and community organisations. Without your energy and imagination, we would be all the poorer, so thanks for giving us something to look forward to during these challenging times.

Please get in touch if you think I can help. Best wishes, Dougie