THE new chair of Live Argyll has expressed hope that Argyll and Bute Council will reach a suitable service payment with the leisure trust for 2026/27.
Mairi Coleman has replaced Andrew Nisbet as the chair of the organisation, which manages leisure and library services across the area on the council’s behalf.
The council is due to set its budget in February, with a large gap being forecast and a number of savings options under consideration.
Ms Coleman, who has served Live Argyll as a board member since its inception in 2017, hopes that funding levels will continue into the coming financial year.
She said: “My hope for the coming year is simply agreeing an annual service payment with the council.
“We are pushing really hard to maintain as much as we can to deliver the same level of service in terms of what we deliver for Argyll and Bute.
“When you look at the benchmarking figures, we deliver services for a much lower cost than other trusts across Scotland.
“Six or seven years ago we decided to take a different approach to gym membership and more than halved the cost. In the past six years we have made two price changes which are well below inflation.
“Inflation and cost increases have been steep during that time but we have worked hard to make services as accessible as we can for everybody.
“We have fought really hard to maintain the affordability model and will continue to do that. I hope the council will continue to work with us for the services we provide.”
Ms Coleman added: “As a service we appeal to multiple different users, from libraries to event spaces to the Campbeltown Museum.
“We deliver a multitude of services and community learning, which came to us a couple of years ago and has gone from underperforming to very strongly performing.
“We have an excellent management team, and although delivering this service can be very challenging, what we do we do really well.
“A lot of people depend on us for their wellbeing to meet other people, gain qualifications, or keep themselves fit. Sometimes it is easy to underestimate the impact of some of those services.
“That is something that we are passionate about continuing and I know the directors and management are the same. I hope in 2026 we are able to continue to deliver that, and if we get the funding we will deliver it really well.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: ““Council funding is needed for a huge range of services that we all use in some way every day, from waste to roads, social care, education, or planning services. The harsh reality is that the council is facing a £15 million budget gap next year.
“We won’t know until mid-January how much Scottish Government funding Argyll and Bute is getting for its council services. The budget will be set in February.
“We are working hard with other councils, through CoSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), to campaign for fair funding for local government. Thank you to everyone who has supported this campaign by saying yes to fair funding for Argyll and Bute.
“The comments we have received underline the range of demands council budgets have to balance. We have passed on this feedback to CoSLA to support its campaigning.
“Anyone who hasn’t yet done so is welcome to give their support for fair funding for council services via our website.”
