The National carried a number of stories recently which were critical of Argyll and Bute Council.

Councillor Ellen Morton, the council’s depute leader, asked for a right of reply:

ARGYLL and Bute Council has come in for some criticism lately but I would hope that any controversy would not overshadow the fact this is a fabulous place to live in and visit.

It’s a stunning part of Scotland. A consultation earlier this year showed quality of life is one of the main reasons people choose to live and work here. Offering a coastline longer than France, most of our villages and towns are built around the water – from the town of Helensburgh on the River Clyde to the island of Tiree out in the Atlantic.

Our number one priority is to build the local economy and strengthen our communities by encouraging people to live in the area while we work with the private sector and other public agencies to secure as many new jobs as possible.

We have young people to be proud of in Argyll and Bute. Education is closely linked to prosperity and it should prepare our young people to take their place in the world wherever they choose it to be.

That means being aware of the opportunities on their doorstep as well as those farther afield. Recent successes by Argyll and Bute schools underline that links between education and the local economy don’t need to be limited to the local business sector to reverse population decline. Dunoon Primary School fought off challenges from schools across Scotland to win the Scottish Microsoft Kodu Cup, a national competition to create online games, organised by the Microsoft Educator Network for children aged seven and 14. Cardross Primary won it last year and was pipped into third place this year.

The Argyll and Bute Economic Forum has identified linking learning and local employment opportunities for young people, along with tourism and food production as key areas for action.

The Forum was set up by Argyll and Bute Council to drive forward economic progress. It brings together representatives from business and public sectors and is chaired by Nick Ferguson CBE, Chairman of Sky plc.

Jobs bring people and prosperity. To create jobs we need to focus on Argyll and Bute’s best opportunities– it’s about pulling everyone’s expertise and commitment together. The Forum is one way of doing that.

There is a lot of support for Argyll and Bute. We held an economic summit and were delighted to welcome people from the public, private and voluntary sectors, as well as John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, as a key speaker. His presence and that of others in the political world underlined welcome support from both Holyrood and Westminster governments. We have a strong partnership across key local planning organisations from the police to the NHS and the voluntary sector. And we have people and communities to be proud of.

Despite the financial challenges facing all councils, Argyll and Bute Council is delivering investment across the area. Campbeltown’s new berthing facility and Helensburgh’s regenerated town centre and esplanade showcase the strengths of each town. In Dunoon, Rothesay and Oban work is ongoing – the Council’s £30 million investment has generated an additional £20m from other organisations.

The Council is also planning to invest up to a further £20m in the Lorn Arc area, (facilitated through the Scottish Government’s Tax Incremental Financing initiative), to support the creation of a renewables/marine/life science hub around Oban, which we want to see become a university town and a centre for cruise ships.

We have new schools in Rothesay, Dunoon, Lochgilphead and Helensburgh while a planned £74m investment in schools in Campbeltown, Kirn, Dunoon and Oban is due soon.

Some of our recently completed investments are already beginning to pay off. The new marina at Campbeltown has already welcomed nearly 200 boats in the first few weeks of operation and our investment in the harbour has attracted business from the renewables industry, fishing, aquaculture and the export of our timber.

The new town centre in Helensburgh has created a great venue for markets and events, and our retailers and Chamber of Commerce are working with us to create a regular cycle of events one of which, the Summer Festival, opened recently.

The fabulous town of Rothesay on the island of Bute has had considerable investment in its town centre and waterfront. The next stage will be the restoration of the Pavilion building.

Inverary, the jewel in the crown of Argyll & Bute’s outstanding built heritage, is being supported by the council and its partners through new conservation work and a major expansion of the village.

We can all play our part in turning opportunities into reality. We have people and communities to be proud of and we would warmly welcome more people coming to join us or visit our wonderful area.

Let’s talk Argyll up. Prosperity is here to be created.