ARGYLL and Bute Council could stop its strategic events and festivals fund – and withdraw funding for the repair of a dangerous Helensburgh building.
A report to go before councillors has recommended that £104,500 is given to events in the community in the latest round of strategic events and festivals funding.
However, the budget pack has suggested the fund as a possible savings option, and says that if the recommendations are agreed, the option will not be deliverable.
The funding pot is recommended to support events across Argyll and Bute, including £30,000 to the Cowal Highland Gathering, £15,000 each to the Argyllshire Gathering Highland Games and Mull Rally, and £12,000 to Mull of Kintyre Music and Arts Festival.
Meanwhile, another savings option would see funding withdrawn for the building at 5-7 East Clyde Street in Helensburgh. It is estimated this will save the council £270,000 in 2026/27 only.
The building’s condition has seen the road closed between Sinclair Street and Maitland Street on a number of occasions in previous years, but difficulties delivering the project mean the money cannot be allocated this year.
The details all feature in reports to go to the council’s policy and resources committee at its meeting on Thursday, February 19.
On the strategic events and festivals fund, the budget report said: “[There is a risk of] Loss of support for key community/economic events across Argyll and Bute. For example, the Cowal Games, albeit this is a competitive fund.
“Loss of over £2m of economic impacts linked to this one event. £9m loss associated with all events albeit the council are part funders through this fund.
“Note that a paper asking for approval of applications in 2026-27 is being presented to policy and resources committee on February 19.
“If the recommendations in the paper are approved then this saving would not be deliverable in 2026/27 unless alternative funding was identified on a one-off basis.”
On the Crown Estate funding for the Helensburgh building, the report said: “£80,000 of Crown Estates funding to be retained to support ongoing works and costs associated with the compulsory purchase, legal costs incurred in services and potential appeal, to fund ongoing maintenance to the property to protect public safety and potentially to secure majority ownership of the site.
“Due to difficulties delivering this project due to multiple owners, legal issues and pursuing compulsory purchase provisions, these monies will not be allocated within the next year.
“Future development could be supported by funding from the Strategic Housing Improvement Plan (SHIP) and from ACHA (Argyll Community Housing Association).
“Full monies will not be available if the council requires to involve formal powers to demolish the property. This will fall to corporate budget/strategic housing fund.”
