Councillor enraged as Corran ferry ups price of tickets

Hold from May Opposition gains several approvals for measures

should a bid be accepted after a second procurement process, the contract could not begin until June 28 at the earliest.

“Due to EU law and state aid rules, we can’t identify any way to extend the current contract to cover the gap.

“Argyll and Bute Council is doing everything we can to secure a positive future for the air services and we are committed to finding a solution.

“However, we need an acceptable bid from an operator for this to happen.

“The contract outlines the level of subsidy available (more than £1.5 million over three years) and makes it clear we recognise changes may be required to the current timetable as part of a successful bid.”

Martin McWilliam, contracts manager for Hebridean Air Services, said the firm had offered to continue operating the service in the interim. Income generation to offset savings is a stated aim of Highland Council’s new budget strategy, with more than £2 million earmarked to come from community services.

Councillors agreed a 3% increase should be applied each year for the next three years to cremation fees, burial fees, commercial refuse collection, bulky uplifts, fish export certificates and the sale of lairs and foundations.

Harbour dues will go up by 4% each year, and ferry dues by 3%.

The councillors also agreed to put up fares on the Corran ferry by 3% a year sparking anger from Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter.

“The administration forced through their 3% increase on all fares on the Corran ferry,” he said.

“They weren’t prepared ahead of the meeting to listen to a range of other options, including the idea of charging £1 for foot passengers on the ferry.

“There is local support for a flat charge for foot passengers, and that was my amendment today, but they weren’t prepared to accept that, I don’t know why.

“I’ve campaigned on this consistently during the life of this council, as have members of the community.

“Officers from this council have gone out to meet them and all these suggestions have come up, they’ve been raised by me and other Lochaber councillors time and time again and we get no further forward.

“The simple answer is, we need to raise additional income so let’s just stick 3% on the Corran ferry and not look at how that impacts on certain groups of passengers or how we can do it differently.

“The fare’s going up to £8.50 from £8.20 for a single ticket. I’ve sat there during a busy period in the summer and watched visitors come down the slipway, see the price, turn round and head off.

“It would not surprise me if there were demonstrations at the ferry and I hear some communities over there talking about a legal challenge to the council in terms of equality assessment.” Highland Council’s Opposition SNP party scored a number of approvals for their own budget measures.

The group warded off a proposed 5p school meals increase, by finding efficiencies in the catering service.

Leader Maxine Smith said: “We don’t think putting 5p on will give more of an income; we want you to look at a school that performs well, take the good practice there and then roll it out, potentially across Highland.”

The group’s proposals to find £205,000 to reduce a £1.6 million cut facing High Life Highland were also approved, along with their measures to protect educational psychology posts and British Sign Language teaching and support staff.

Proposals to award an extra £10,000 to each ward discretionary budget after years of cutting back also found approval.

SNP finance spokesman Ian Cockburn said: “We have also agreed with the administration that a number of other areas will be looked at in full, including a complete review of education from early years through to 18.

“This must include cared-for children and where we present.

“We want a complete review of the council’s property and rented property and a complete review of borrowing.

“We also want a review of the council’s electricity usage, including that of their tenants so it can be put out to auction for bids for the supply.”

Ron MacWilliam, SNP spokesman for environment, development and infrastructure, said: “The SNP group was clear from the outset that we would work constructively with the administration to help them deliver a budget that avoided the worst of their proposed cuts.

“The cuts to education are deep and as an opposition we will be scrutinising closely every decision taken to ensure that services for children with significant additional support needs are protected.” are failing at