Consultation launched after £300k funding request is turned down by councillors
LIVEARGYLL, LAUNCHED a public consultation process this week after confirming that cuts to their services were firmly on the table ahead of next month’s council budget meeting in Kilmory.
The charitable trust, which delivers services on behalf of the council, including libraries, leisure centres, community halls, archives and learning programmes, said it had been asked by Argyll and Bute Council to gauge how potential changes may affect people and communities across the region.
The consultation follows a detailed presentation on liveArgyll’s services to Dunoon Community Council earlier this month by general manager Kevin Anderson.
He explained that liveArgyll is facing growing financial pressure as costs rise faster than council funding. Baseline costs have increased from £6.2 million to £7.5 million over the past
four years, while the annual service payment from Argyll and Bute Council has fallen from £4 million in 2021–22 to £3.2 million.
Despite these pressures, usage of facilities remains high. Queen’s Hall in Dunoon hosted more than 1,000 events last year, attracting over 25,000 visitors. Research shows that only 17 per cent of audiences come from Argyll and Bute, with many travelling from elsewhere in Scotland and beyond. Each large-scale event is estimated to bring over £100,000 into the local economy.
Library use is also increasing. Dunoon Library now has 6,264 members, up from 5,943 the previous year, with an average of over 1,000 active borrowers per month and rising issue figures. The new Argyll Suite has already hosted more than 150 events this year.
During the presentation Mr Anderson also confirmed that in November liveArgyll had submitted a £300,000 business case to councillors in Kilmory so they could keep services intact.
However the proposal was voted down, raising concerns that the council’s projected budget gap will nowleadtocuts.Inresponse, liveArgyll issued a statement to this newspaper on Tuesday evening outlining the scope
of the public consultation they’ve launched and the challenges ahead.
A portion of the statement read: “The council are projecting a significant funding gap for the 2026/27 financial year, which is why it has requested that liveArgyll begins a consultation process on shaping future service provision.
“The purpose of this consultation is to carefully examine how possible changes might affect individuals, families, communities and protected groups. This includes examining the impacts on equality, socio-economic effects, and overall community wellbeing. It also helps ensure that any future decisions comply with equality legislation and are based on evidence rather than assumptions.”
It added: “The scope of the work is wide, covering all liveArgyll services, including libraries, leisure facilities, community halls, archives and learning development programmes. It considers the financial outlook not just for next year but for the years ahead and explores a range of possible scenarios. These could include changes to opening hours, alternative ways of delivering services, or cessation of service.
“This process is about providing information to allow elected members to make informed decisions about future service delivery and agree a sustainable service specification.”
Members of the public are being encouraged to share their views about their local services, and the impact these have on their daily lives. They can do this online at surveymonkey. com/r/BQJB7LL or by
picking up a paper copy of the survey at their local liveArgyll facility.
Final decisions on any cuts to services will be made by councillors when the local authority sets its budget next month.
