With the coming retirement of James MacLellan, the current CEO at Argyll and Bute Council, a short list of five candidates has been drawn up. These candidates will be assessed over a two day period on 5th and 6th June, taking part in a series of management exercises and interviews. Following this process the appointment will be made by the Council’s Executive, who will be conducting the interviews.
Monthly Archives: May 2008
Crinan Classic Boat Festival
Crinan hosts its second annual Classic Boat Festival with an extended entertainments programme and discounts from the Crinan Canal to attract boats to attend.
Lifeline ferry services see costs doubled by fuel price rises
The Communications Director of west coast ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), Hugh Dan MacLennan, has revealed that the company’s fuel costs ‘have risen from around £10m a year to over £20m’. At the same time he noted that: ‘under the terms of the contract signed to provide lifeline services, the additional fuel costs are met by the Scottish Government.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said:’While fuel duty is a reserved issue, we are working with representatives within the industry to press Westminster for change.’ A sobering statistic from CalMac is that every time one penny is added to the cost of a litre of diesel, it takes another £500,000 or so to keep the company’s vessels operating its twenty-six west coast lifeline services, including all of the Argyll routes..
Faslane Sub Update: Damaged HMS Superb may be scrapped
In an update to our earlier news piece on the nuclear submarine Superb’s grounding in the Red Sea, a Royal Navy spokesman confirmed that a survey is under way to assess the damage to the vessel’s sonar. The damage to this equipment leaves the Superb facing a 4,000 mile surfaced journey across open sea to get back to its Argyll port at Faslane.. Obviously this is the least likely outcome. The nearest friendly port is Bahrain but the attention-grabbing presence of a surfaced nuclear submarine in the Persian Gulf may be considered too great a security risk. She could be taken to the massive US base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean – controversially leased to them by the British Government. Another option may be her scrapping.
Commissioned in 1974, Superb is the oldest attack submarine in the Royal Navy and one of only two of her class (Swiftsure) still working. She already has thirty-two years of service behind her and is still in operation only because of delays in the completion of new vessels. The Navy spokesman said:’The question of her future is open to speculation. That would depend on a number of factors, but the scale of the damage and the cost of repair would come into the equation’.
Second Faslane-based nuclear submarine collides with seabed
HMS Superb, a Swiftsure-class attack submarine, with a crew of one hundred and twelve, is lying surfaced and disabled in the international waters of the Red Sea. The Royal Navy is now exploring how to return the vessel to port at Faslane in Argyll. She hit an underwater pinnacle eighty miles south of Suez on Monday, damaged her sonar, was forced to surface and, with damaged sonar, cannot now dive. No crew members were injured and a Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed that the nuclear reactor was undamaged. A full investigation has been launched and will be followed by a Board of Inquiry.
The Superb was on the exercise off the coast of Skye in 2002 with HMS Trafalgar, when that submarine, also based at Faslane, hit rocks on the seabed there at Fladda-Chuain during officer assessments. The Inquiry report into that £5 million incident, released on 15th May 2008, found that a major factor was the established practice of trainee navigators plotting their vessel’s track on tracing paper placed over the marine chart. The tracing paper – used to keep the charts ‘tidy’ was described as ‘school grade’ and was sufficiently opaque to disguise crtical detail on the chart – such as the depth contours.
Glasgow to host World Acrobatic Championships in October
The 21st World Acrobatic Championships will be hosted by Glasgow this October and held at the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena. The three week event – the largest gathering of gymnasts after the Olympic Games – will see the first week devoted to juniors, the second to the senior competitions and the final week featuring the 11th annual Gymnastics Grand Prix – all well within reach of Argyll.
2008 Islay Jazz Festival
The 2008 Islay Jazz Festival in Argyll will run from 12th – 14th September. Programme details to follow when available.
Go North Dundee – music industry showcase and workshops
Argyll creative professionals will be interested that Go North Dundee, Scotland’s Premier New Music Showcase will be showcasing 60 bands, over 2 days, in 6 venues. As a delegate you’re promised the opportunity to: do business and develop your skills; network with other industry delegates; participate in a wide-ranging programme of informative, provocative panel discussions and workshops featuring specialists from all areas of the creative industries; receive preferential access to Showcase events; receive free entry to the DCA/goNorth film programme; access industry receptions and the Clash and Norway Aftershows; take a place on the infamous GoNorth Mystery Tour.
The Workshop Programme will take place in Dundee Contemporary Arts and in the VISION Building on the 5th and 6th June 2008 from 09.00 until 18.00. The Showcases will take place in various venues including Fat Sams & Fat Sams Live, The Doghouse, the Westport Bar, and No 25s from 19.00 onwards. Register now online and for details of the Film and Fringe Programme.
Latest news on line-up for Argyll’s Connect Festival
The latest additions to the line up for the Hydro Connect Festival at Inveraray Castle at the end of August are Gomez, The Young Knives, Black Lips, Joan as Police Woman, Dave Clarke (performing a rare electro set), Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and Passenger, adding their very own twist to the proceedings.
Advice session on using the internet to maximise cross-national trade
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is running a one-day event on Friday 13th June, focusing on developing a strategic use of the internet to maximise international trade and business. The event is free to businesses and organisations based in the Highlands and Islands whic, of course includes Argyll. Offered as part of HIE’s International Trade Development Events Programme, it will be held at the new and acclaimed Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre – another good reason to go.
The Internet has changed our approaches to communications, work -and even our social lives – beyond anything we could previously have imagined. Among many things, it has given businesses a cost effective method for reaching customers worldwide.
This event will provide delegates with: an overview of the key online facts, developments, and trends; useful and practical business tips on how to improve your global online presence; and to highlight best practice via an international case study. Those present will receive copies of speakers’ presentations, tea/coffee and a buffet lunch. They will also have the opportunity for one-to-one meetings with presenters. These will be set up on the day of the event, after delegates have had the opportunity to listen to presentations.
The schedule for the day is as follows:
1000 Registration & tea/coffee
1030 Welcome & Introduction
1035 Overview of the Key Online Facts, Developments & Trends: Neal McCleave, Managing Director – Business Alignment, Tiscali UK Ltd
1135 International Case Study: Med Direct Ltd’: Rob Barlow, Managing Director, Med Direct Ltd
1205 International Trade Advice & Assistance Available: Robin Clarke, Head of International Development, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
1235 Q & A Session
1300 Lunch
1400 One-to-One Sessions
1530 Close
1105 How to Improve your Online Presence: Rene Looper, Proprietor, GreaterSpeyside.com
To reserve a place at this event, please book online (this will take less than 30 seconds). If you have any queries call Stewart Meikle on 01463 741836 or Stewart Miller on 01369 830000. The deadline for bookings is Monday 9th June. Please note that due to limited spaces, only delegates that have booked online will receive entry to the event.