Next step in rural growth deal for Argyll

A rural growth deal for Argyll and Bute will take another step forward if an outline proposal is agreed at a special meeting of the council today (Thursday October 18).

A report before councillors will set out an ‘ambitious’, multi-million-pound proposal for UK and Scottish Government investment in growing Argyll and Bute’s economy.

Council leader Aileen Morton explained: ‘Argyll and Bute brings together much of what is best about Scotland – natural resources that drive forward national and international business markets, expertise that inspires innovation, and people committed to developing the prosperous future the area needs and deserves. To turn business opportunity into the success our future needs, we must reverse the decline in our population. Forecasts estimate that by 2027 we will need 10,000 more people to continue delivering the services we all rely upon, and more again to grow our economy.

‘We have had positive initial discussions with both the UK and Scottish Governments about the challenges and opportunities Argyll and Bute presents for the Scottish and UK economies, and have been invited to submit a proposal for a rural growth deal this month. Our ambition is to secure transformational investment to develop our economy and so our future.’

The proposal is made up of 16 individual projects which have been developed following consultation with the public, as well as local and national organisations with a role to play in making the deal happen.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, policy lead for strategic finance and capital regeneration, explained that, if agreed by the council, these projects will serve as a starter for negotiation with the UK and Scottish Governments.

‘There are limits to what we can ask for as part of a deal,’ he said. ‘Growth deals don’t provide funding for day-to-day council services, for example, so do not help in bridging budget funding gaps.’