Argyll and Bute Council gets an extra £2.455 million

Our neighbouring council, Argyll and Bute Council, was appalled when its budget for 2011was cut to £220.059m, £11.49 million less than its 2010 allocation. It protested vigorously, and after some debate, the Scottish Government has awarded Argyll and Bute an additional allowance of  £2.455 million.

Councillor Dick Walsh, leader of the council, said, ‘We are delighted that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance has reviewed the position and awarded us this additional money.
We have said from the outset that Argyll and Bute Council’s settlement was unduly harsh – almost double the average percentage reduction for all Scottish councils.

The Argyll Rural Schools Network (ARSN), which has been fighting hard to prevent the closure of 12 Primary schools will no doubt redouble their efforts in the light of this news.