THE leader of Argyll and Bute Council, and its largest opposition group, are to contact the UK Government over the withdrawal of key funding for the area.
Councillors heard about the ending of the government’s shared prosperity fund, which provided nearly £6 million in Argyll and Bute between 2022 and 2026.
Four new funds have been set up, but Argyll and Bute Council is one of only two Scottish local authorities, along with Shetland Council, which will receive no funding.
Council leader Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles) and Conservative group leader Councillor Peter Wallace (Conservative, Isle of Bute) have now expressed willingness to send a joint response expressing concern.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee on Thursday, March 19.
In a report in advance of the meeting, executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “The lack of an allocation from the four replacement funds, in particular the local growth fund, to Argyll and Bute Council will have significant implications.
“The Argyll and Bute Council allocation for 2025/26 from the UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund) is £1.417 million; down from an allocation of £2.635 million in 2024/25.
“The complete loss of this funding will have an immediate and direct effect on council services, and an impact on external partners, who received a significant proportion (circa 41 per cent) of the current UKSPF allocation.”
Councillor Wallace said: “I am really disappointed that we have not been allocated any money. If we were looking to do a joint response, I would be happy to be involved with that.”
Councillor Lynch added: “This is exactly the point I was hoping to make. I would be happy for myself and the leader of the opposition to write a letter, because it is a cross-party thing impacting Argyll and Bute.”
The council later announced that an all-party specific response would be sent to the secretary of state for Scotland, Douglas Alexander MP.
