Before most folk were out of their beds this Saturday morning , 25th May, the Heroes Challenge UK‘s endurance team – composed of serving, retired and injured members of the armed services and colleagues in South Wales Police – were in their celtic longboat and on their way out of Campbeltown Loch under muscle power.

They’re headed for Glenarm on the County Antrim north west coast of Ireland, with their own support boats and Campbeltown’s fast passenger ferry and charters service, Kintyre Express, voluntarily acting as Mother Ship for the effort.

Above, at 7.00am, waiting for the team at the pontoon in Campbeltown Harbour – and photographed by Neil Brown who with Mairi Johnston of Kintyre Express, was also there – are Haydn Chambers [centre], Kintyre Express’s senior skipper, Jerry Craig [right], cousin of Colin Craig, MD of parent company, Craig of Campbeltown and of its subsidiaries, Kintyre Express and West Coast Motors; and Bruce Strang, of the Heroes Challenge UK crew.

Then they’re there, on the pontoon – at least two with prosthetic legs resulting from injuries in service. The two Kintyre Express boats nuzzle the pontoon like a pair of impatient dolphins with a sniff of imminent action.

Campbeltown harbour is getting plenty of attention – and well it might, with its marriage of the marina [thankfully to be extended] at the pontoons and the great jetties of what has long been a working harbour, for ferries, fishing and cargo boats. The harbour now also has a dredged deep-water berth for boats to ship out completed wind tower sections from the nearby manufacturing facility at Machrihanish.

Kintyre Express has typically, delivered its very best to support this tough physical challenge – KE IV, above, is the newest boat in its strategically young fleet, launched only very recently. Like her nearest sister, KE III, she has an extended stern deck for observation, bicycles, filming and photography – and it’s being well used by the team today.

All of the guys in these photographs are either rowers or support crew. They have three teams of four rowers, so four started on the boat, with the rest on Kintyre Express. The plan was to change the rowers every hour on the way across the channel.

Above left is what photographer Neil Brown has called ‘the Titanic Shot’ with one of the rowing crew on the bow of KE IV. On the right is the Cariad y Mor [which we think means 'dearest and more' - but stand to be corrected], waiting for her human engines and looking tiny for the mighty North Channel. Even on a windless day, the Channel has a marked lump from the long Atlantic fetch.

On the way, pulling strongly through the very calm waters of Campbeltown Loch, with the north shore on the far side, they will know that it’s not going to be like this after they get out into Kibrannan Sound and turn south for Sanda Island and the North Channel.

Above was the team’s own support boat, waiting to fall into escort position off Askomil.

With KE IV is close contact, the rowers start to pull away from habitation on the lochside and head for Macringans Point on the way out of the loch.

Jerry Craig, left above, seen here earlier with the Challenge crew, is freeing Haydn Chambers to support the row by skippering KEIII today on her normal scheduled service from Campbeltown to Ballycastle on the north coast of Ireland. Jerry reported later that, on his way, he had passed the Cariad y Mor inside Sanda Island and that the crew were pulling well.

They had left Sanda astern by midday and will be in to Glenarm by now [15.30] – and on their way to climb Northern Ireland’s highest mountain, Sleive Donard. Tomorrow morning [26th May] they row back across the Irish Sea to Portpatrick in Galloway. The celebrated Olymian, rower, Alan Campbell, commented on our earlier story that he is planning to rendezvous with them mid way over. After that, the cycle team take over and do 126 miles to Cockermouth in Cumbria – and on with the challenge.

In this shot, this morning, they are approaching the exit to the loch, with the Light on Davaar Island to starboard, below; and with the majestic hills of the Isle of Arran in the heat haze in the distance on the far side of Kilbrannan Sound.

Before they left, Neil Brown took the shot, below, of some of the crew with Kintyre Express skippers Haydn Chambers and Jerry Craig on KE IV’s stern. By now Haydn has been given and is inside a Help for Heroes T-shirt – as have Jerry, Neil Brown and Mairi Johnston. Last night, 24th May, two of the Help for Heroes T-shirts were auctioned at the seriously rated Putechan Hotel at Bellochantuy – and raised £250.

And Help for Heroes is what this entire epic challenge is all about – to raise funds for the worthiest of causes – one that touches all of us in our protectiveness for those sent by our country, for whatever reason [and it is 'theirs not to reason why'] – on service in actions which are, in every way and for all of them, life-changing; some more immediately than others.

By the time they finish by sky diving into Swansea Airport on 31st May, their physical confrontation of testing  circumstances on land, sea and air will have seen them:

• cycle a total of 1,206 miles from John O’Groats
• row across the Irish Sea’s no-holds-barred North Channel – and back
• climb a total of 13,787ft in summiting the UK’s, four highest peaks (Scotland’s Ben Nevis in Lochaber, at 4409 ft; Northern Ireland’s Slieve Donard in County Down, at 2789 ft; England’s Scafell Pike in the Lake District, at 3029 ft; and Wales’ Snowdon at 3560 ft)
• cycle on  to Lands End
• skydive from 13,787ft into Swansea Airport – there must be other ways of getting home.

We can all help by giving what we can to the cause they are doing all they can to support.

You can donate online here – and everything you give will really help. You can also donate by Text: Text HCUK to 70900. You will be charged £5 plus your standard network rate and a minimum of £5.00 will go to Help for Heroes.

Note: Photographs: for all of the photographs in this feature, we are indebted to the skills and generosity of photographer Neil Brown; and to himself and Mairi Johnston of Kintyre Express for the selection they have given us permission to use.

The Local Government Act stated that:

‘No person shall be treated as a member of more than one political group at any given time and, accordingly, if a person changes the political group of which he is a member by a notice under regulation 8 or 9 he shall from the date of delivery of that notice be treated—
(a) in the case of a notice under regulation 8, as a member only of the new political group which is constituted in accordance with that regulation; and
(b) in the case of a notice under regulation 9(b), as a member only of the group named in the notice.

This position was also the understanding of the councillors who, on Wednesday 22nd May, formed the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands group, dissolving three groups which had severally housed them up to that point:

• the Liberal Democrats
• the Conservatives
• the Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors group.

The second new group formation

The following day, 15 minutes before the council meeting, official notification was circulated within the council that a second new group had been formed – Argyll and Bute for Change – listing councillors by name only.

This group was composed of 8 members of the Alliance of Independent Councillors, 3 SNP members, 3 Argyll First members and four solo independents.

The revelation

On Thursday evening, Argyll First made it known to Council officers that it had been internally agreed that they would retain their Argyll First identity within the new Argyll and Bute for Change group, saying: ‘All three Argyll First members remain as a group within the new group. This should have been relayed to you within  the correspondence that was sent to your office. Please amend accordingly.’

The 3 SNP councillors  – Robert E MacIntyre, Isobel Strong and Gordon Blair -  do not appear to have negotiated for the same position within the new group.

When Argyll First’s understanding of their own situation was made known, procedural queries on the legal position were raised with senior officers.

The result was the information that the legislation on group memberships was repealed some years ago – which would make it multiple simultaneous group memberships perfectly legal – but council officers had simply decided to carry on as before. The gloss is: ‘… this Council has for political and other convenience continued to recognise the concept [Ed: of single group membership only] in terms of reporting on any whip being applied after group discussions and as detailed for approved duties.’

It does seem extraordinary that officers may choose to ignore legislative change and carry on as before, regardless of their view of which legal position – the former or the current – is the most logical.

Officers remain unclear whether Argyll and Bute for Change is, as was Argyll, Lomond and the Islands,  a new group with other previous affiliations abandoned or an umbrella for various groups and individuals. From the information they had been given in the way its membership was stated, apparently and reasonably understood it to be a new group with previous group memberships abandoned.

The legal position

Regardless of the informal continuing application of the old rule by council officers since the repeal of the Local Government Act’s provisions on group memberships, it would appear that it is perfectly legal for a councillor to have simultaneous memberships of more than one group.

This is bound to mean the return of party politics to Argyll and Bute – a move that will not now be welcomed by a substantial majority of voters.

This also sees the SNP group back in formal chaos, with 8 of them never having varied from their party group identity but with the ‘Russell group’ becoming members of the Argyll and But for Change group.

If this group of 3 now make it known that, like Argyll First, they are  now choosing to retain their SNP group membership, that is now, formally, a split group, with a majority group of 8 SNP councillors retaining their single membership of the SNP group, as reported in our position summary of yesterday.

Consequences of belonging to more than group at a time

With simultaneous multiple memberships being legal, there will now be group hierarchies – with a range of individual groups, alongside individual elected members, being members of umbrella groups.

How will internal voting work in such a situation? Will a veto system be necessary where an umbrella group decision on a specific issue might necessitate an opt out or a veto by a member group that is party-based?

A key issue is that the electorate would need to know from each individual councillor and from each group in an umbrella group:

• Whose interests take precedence – Argyll’s, the umbrella group’s or the party/group?
• Who calls the shots on what they do – their party/group or their umbrella group?

The Argyll First position

Yesterday evening we received the following position statement from Argyll First:

‘The Argyll First group will work with and within the newly established ‘Argyll and Bute for Change’ group. We will continue to pursue our own established aims and objectives.

‘Our new colleagues have expressed a desire to see commonsense and stability returned to the Council after what can only be described as a period of unacceptable and avoidable turmoil.We will work  together to promote change within the council, ensuring better practice is achieved at all levels with the objective of appointing the most talented Councillors  to the lead roles, regardless of their  political backgrounds. This would ensure that the most able Councillors  would be in the right roles for the right reasons. The residents of Argyll and Bute deserve the best possible representation and this cannot be achieved by Argyll First alone -  we therefore welcome the opportunity to work with our new and experienced colleagues to achieve this goal.’

Tomorrow – Sunday 26th May,  from 10.00am to 4.30pm, there is the magical Sounding Dunadd – ‘Kilmartin to Dunadd’ Walk with storyteller, Patsy Dyer and musician, Bob Pegg. This takes you on a journey from the prehistoric stones of Kilmartin Glen via the Moine Mhor SNH Nature Reserve to the Dal Riadic fortress of Dunadd; Stories and music inspired by the landscape and history of the glen will accompany the walk. The weather this weekend looks tailor made. After Dunadd fort, a mini bus will take walkers back to Kilmartin Museum for light refreshments – £4.00 per person for refreshments. Participants are advised to bring a packed lunch, wear suitable footwear and of course, always be prepared for the possibility of rain. Places are limited to 30 so booking is essential – phone 01546 510278 to book your place. Full details of this event are here online.

Friday 31st May, from 6.30pm to 9pm, sees the reappearance of the Pre-loved Pop-up Shop,  following the overwhelming success of the last such event. Taking place at the Museum, this offers a wide selection of vintage and pre-loved clothing and accessories of various sizes, eras and styles, for various budgets, from high street to designer brands. There will be a free glass of fizz and the cafe will be open for drinks and light snacks.

Friday 7th June, from 6.45pm to 8.40pm sees and hears Sounding Dunadd – Travellers, the second event in the 2013 Sounding Dunadd programme. Travellers will be held in Kilmichael Glassary Church ,with a half hour interval for refreshments. It will feature international storyteller and musician Bob Pegg; the multi award winning Gaelic singer – Joy Dunlop; specialist Harp performer Bill Taylor; and contributions by Kilmichael Primary School. There will be a performance by the specially formed community choir and on display will be the art work designed by Jae Ferguson and created by the children of Kilmichael Primary School. Contact admin@kilmartin.org or call 01546 510278 for more details – or find full details of this event here online.

15th June to 31st August – sees the Photographing The Wilds of Argyll Exhibition, the second of three exhibitions. More information on this event is here online.

WEATHER for Argyll and the Isles

25th May: Fine dry day with sunny spells and light winds. Warm afternoon. Light high cloud cover in the west. Max temp day: 17 C.

ROADS

All clear.

Advance notice 17th-21st June: A819 Inveraray to junction with A85 to close between 21.00 and 05.00 for each of the nights from 17th to 21st June – for repairs to road arch at Inveraray. Emergency vehicles and local access will be permitted.

Diversions either via A83 to Lochgilphead, then A816 to Oban and A85 to junction with A819 – and vice versa; or via A83 to Tarbet, then A82 to Crianlarich and Tyndrum, and A85 to junction with A819 – and vice versa.

Advance notice – to cover period from 10th June 2013 to January 2014: A82 closures for works at Pulpit Rock:

Proposed dates for night time closures

• 10th to 24th June 2013 (except 21st & 22nd) – 10pm to 6am
• 3 weeks in August 2013 & 3 weeks in September 2013 – pm to 6am
• 2 weeks in October 2013 & 1 week in November 2013 – 10pm to 6am
• Less than 1 week in March 2014 – 10pm to 6am
• 1 week in April 2014 & 1 week in May 2014 – 10pm to 6am
• A full closure of less than 1 week in January 2014

Trnsport Scotland say that there may be opportunities for ‘wave-throughs’ during the overnight closures in October/November to permit traffic to pass and this will be confirmed nearer the time.

FERRIES – 25th May 2013

• Western Ferries, Hunter’s Quay (Dunoon) -McInroy’s Point (Gourock): Sailing as schedule.
• Argyll Ferries: Dunoon-Gourock (passenger only). From 25th May - Sailing as normal schedule.
  
• SPT-Clydelink: Kilcreggan-Gourock (passenger only): Sailing as schedule.
  
• CalMac, (West coast ferry operator):  Sailing as schedule except for any specific route notifications below.

CalMac service notifications:

• Oban – Castlebay – Oban – 25th and 26th May: DISRUPTED – next scheduled sailing from Oban – Castlebay is Saturday 25th May at 15:40. An additional sailing from Oban – Castlebay will depart at 16:30 Saturday 25th May. (Oban-Lochboisdale departure at 08:30 and Lochboisdale – Oban departure at 14:05 are unaffected by any disruptions.) Contact CalMac for latest updated information regarding any reservations. Additionally, MVClansman will make an unscheduled sailing from Castlebay – Lochboisdale on Saturday 25th May: departing Castlebay 20:50 – arriving Lochboisdale 22:20; returning Sunday 26th May, departing Lochboisdale 07:30 – arriving Castlebay 09:00 and thereafter departing at 09:20 for Oban.
• Kennacraig /Islay 25th May: DISRUPTED – due to technical problems elsewhere in the network. The 18:00hrs sailing from Islay will be delayed until the later time of 20:30hrs and will be operating from Port Ellen NOT Port Askaig. Saturday 25 May 2013 There will be NO day trip opportunity for Passengers wishing to travel from Kennacraig / Port Askaig / Colonsay on Saturday 25th May 2013 as the ferry will NOT return from Colonsay to Islay to Kennacraig but will carry on north to Oban – departing Colonsay 13:30, arriving Oban 15:55hrs.

TRAVEL INFORMATION SOURCES

Online Information

• BBC Travel News (best up to date)
• Traffic Scotland – Current incidents  (not reliably up to date)
• Argyll Ferries – Service status
• CalMac Ferries – Service Status
• Clydelink – Kilcreggan-Gourock – Timetable and Service Status
• Western Ferries – Service Status note on home page
• Port Askaig [Islay] -Feolin[Jura] ferry – Timetable pdf and phone
• West Coast Motors – Service Updates
• Scottish Citylink Coaches
• ScotRail
• Glasgow Airport – Flight Information

Phone information only

• Hebridean Air Services: 0845 805 7465 (Flights between Oban and Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Islay)
• Clydelink/SPT: (Kilcreggan-Gourock passenger ferry) 0871 705 0888
• Isle of Kerrera-Gallanach ferry: 01631 563665
• Isle of Easdale-Ellenabeich ferry: 01852 300559 (ferry shed) or 01631 562125 (Argyll and Bute Council)
• Isle of Lismore-Port Appin ferry: (passenger ferry) 01631 562125 (Argyll and Bute Council)
• Isle of Luing (Cuan)-Seil ferry: 01631 569160 or 01631 562125 (Argyll and Bute Council)
• Port Askaig (Islay)-Feolin (Jura) ferry: 01496 840681 (ASP Ship Management)
• Corran Ferry: (Ardgour and the Ardnamurchan Peninsula) 01855 841243 (Highland Council)

Any queries regarding any of the applications ahould be:

• emailed to: centralvalidationteam@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• phone to the Planning Enquiry Line on 01546 605518.

This means that, as of tomorrow, 25th May, the  company’s passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon will return to its normal two boat service and timetable.

They should be arriving in Campbeltown around 18.00 tonight – and will be leaving tomorrow morning, with the endurance team rowing Celtic Longboats out of Campbeltown Loch, to Sanda Island and on to Ballycastle on the north coast of Ireland.

Try to get out to cheer them on and welcome them in

All donations will be hugely welcome – you can donate online here. Help for Heroes, which exists to help wounded members of the armed services – is an even more poignant charity today, following the recent barbaric butchery of a young soldier in London.

There are now three groups of councillors at Kilmory, only one of which, the SNP group – the smallest, with a cohort of 8 – is party-based.

The other two are both non political:

• the 18 strong Argyll and Bute for Change group – although its membership says more status quo than change;
• the 10-strong Argyll, Lomond and the Islands group – whose name indicates its prioritising of the area as a whole but whose representation does not, on its own, strongly support that.

The Council Leader, appointed yesterday, is Councillor Roddy McCuish of the SNP group and from Oban – in for Round Two, having stepped down from his previous Leadership in January.

There is no Depute Leader.

The Provost remains Councillor Isobel Strong from Bute, now a non-aligned councillor as a member of the Argyll and Bute for Change group.

Her Depute remains Councillor Dougie Philand, now a non-aligned councillor as a member of the Argyll and Bute for Change group.

The bog

This is where reason gets sucked down.

It appears that yesterday the council acted as one, making decisions together; and that there is no decision on the crucial administration that Councillor McCuish is supposed to be leading.

Were the council to try to continue govern as one, which is highly unlikely, such a plan would never get past the horsetrading.

So for the moment, the position at the Council is as follows:

• There is a Leader, Provost and Depute Provost in place.
• There are 36 councillors.
• There in only one party-based group, part of the former SNP group.
• All other former identities, of party and group. have been dissolved in favour of membership of one or other of the two non-party groups.

But, in a bizarre rewinding of reality, Lead Councillors have reverted to the way they were before the SNP ordered its councillors out of the administration led by SNP Councillor James Robb; and before Argyll First and Councillor Iain Macdonald chose not to support the planned coalition with the Lib Dems and the Conservative – neither of which now exist as council groups.

This is because Council rules require that a councillor is a member of only one group – so since all of the members of the Lib Dems, the Conservatives, the Alliance of Independent Councillors, Argyll First and the Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors Group, now belong to one of each of the two new groups, the identities of their former groups are dissolved.

With the SNP, the situation is different and quite amusing.

Almost all of the ‘Russell group’ of SNP councillors – only three of whom are officially SNP party members at the moment – have joined the Argyll and Bute for Change group, so while presumably remaining personal members of the SNP, they are no longer SNP group councillors.

The main eight SNP councillors remain as a distinct party-based group – for the time being at any rate. It is notable that this group contains all three leaders the group has had in the past year – although the bizarre rewinding of the clock may mean airbrushing out Sandy Taylor’s ascendancy.

This group is now the official SNP group – although  we all know how fluid is the SNP so who knows whether this will hold. Ironic as this situation is, it is incorrect to describe the SNP group as being split.

In the lists of group members given below, those who remain Lead Councillors have [LC] after their names. Councillors who remain Area Committee Chairs have [AC] after their names.

Members of the Argyll and Bute for Change Group

Duncan MacIntyre; Gordon Blair; Michael Breslin; Vivien Dance; Fred Hall; Donald Kelly [LC]; Iain MacDonald; Alastair MacDougall; Robert E MacIntyre [AC]; Donnie Macmillan; Bruce Marshall; John McAlpine; Alex McNaughton; James McQueen; Dougie Philand [AC]; Len Scoullar; Isobel Strong; Dick Walsh (Group Leader)

Members of the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group

Rory Colville; Maurice Corry; Robin Currie; George Freeman [LC]; David Kinniburgh; Robert G Macintyre; Aileen Morton; Ellen Morton; Gary Mulvaney; Elaine Robertson.

Members of the SNP Group

Mary Jean Devon [LC]; Louise Glen-Lee [LC]; Anne Horn [LC]; Roddy McCuish [LC] [AC]; James Robb; John Semple [LC]; Sandy Taylor [LC]; Richard Trail [LC];

The 8-strong SNP group support the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands group, making the overall area representation a strong one; and, at a total of 18 votes, leaving a tied council, where, as necessary, the Provost has the casting vote.

The conundrums

With no decision taken on quite what composes the administration Councillor Roddy McCuish now leads and with the entire council apparently acting as one yesterday, there is plenty of evidence that, right up t the last minute, this improbable all-in-together harmony was not what anyone intended.

One of the two new groups  – the Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group – was formed the afternoon before yesterday’s council meeting.

The second – the Argyll and Bute for Change Group – was notified to councillors only 15 minutes before the actual council meeting began yesterday morning.

These manoeuvres can only have been jockeying for position at the meeting – but the jockeying never happened and positions were never settled.

Since we cannot contemplate losing a day to attend a meeting of indeterminate and usually intolerable length, we do not know what happened to bring about the situation where the nature of an administration was not pursued and where the council simply made decisions in collegiate fashion.

We imagine that somewhere in the mix there may have been legal advice – perhaps with so recent a formation of the second major group.

On whatever pretext, the limbo in which Argyll has been left is no less than yet another dereliction of duty, with personal and group interests taking precedence over the imperative to govern.

There she was, driving past Davaar Island, guardian to the lovely Campbeltown Loch – looking brightly spick, as she forging purposefully on for the ‘wee toon’.

On her inaugural run last night, she gave Campbeltown a whole series of hoots on her way in – and the pipes of the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band responded across the water.

Berthed in the busy harbour, Davaar kept a watchful eye on her antics – from a safe distance.

There was a large crowd on the quayside to welcome her [out of sight to the left] – but for the record and from her stern – this was the first vehicle ashore.

Ruby, from Muasdale was enchanted.

Linsey, Becky and Caitlin from the consistently successful Kintyre Schools Pipe Band went off to get their pipes to safety after giving the new arrival the sound of celebration and intent known across the world.

On the other side of the pier, another life was thriving and concentrating on its own business. Wondering if the breathtaking activities on the slipway sometimes ended in a splash, it didn’t take long to learn that Daniel, Mark and Campbell are local aces at this gig – and it was easy to see why. Oh, to have the chance to start again.

Campbeltown was looking and feeling spectacular – compelling. Here, the glorious Picture House, a national gem and sitting on the grand sweep of the town’s long and elegant waterfront, twinkled warmly on its centenary. Visitors from the ferry can look forward to nights in a unique example of British cinema – living strongly in the 21st century.

The newly restored and reopened Royal Hotel glowed a welcome in the evening light – adding to the immediate hit of a strong, confident town that is visually stunning.

Argyll and Bute Council has done a simply wonderful job at Campbeltown. The new blocks of flats on the new road through to the harbour are very cleverly designed. With more than a nod to the scale and nature of Campbeltown’s astonishingly consistent architectural style [the entire town - seriously - should be listed], they are already at home here.

What the Council needs to do now is to know when to stop, to preserve the stone facades of the buildings in the town rather than plaster them, as one has already been – and not to indulge in the awful sort of kitsch street decorations that bedevil the centre of Dunoon. It might look at a classier approach to urban flowerbeds too. The traditional approach remains every colour under the sun, all in together and all of them loud.

The new flats are sited just opposite the fabulous Aqualibrium – the curving library and swimming pool on the waterfront – and another local authority initiative – with what has to be the best view from any pool in the UK. Try it.

A minute down the road is the Victoria Hall, one of Campbeltown’s centres of entertainment, almost on the harbourside – and beside Aqualibrium is a new all weather sports pitch. So here you have new  – but architecturally aligned – accommodation built virtually in the town centre and seconds away from a range of activities and first class facilities.

The Mull of Kintyre Half marathon and 10k Run and the Kintyre Songwriters’ Festival are both on this weekend – so head down the peninsula.

Now all we need is a mini-moto track, maybe at Machrihanish on the old RAF base – and with the great surfing beach at Westport, the two world class golf courses and another restored grand hotel, the Ugadale, there on the outskirts of Campbeltown.

The town is not a shopping experience – that has still to come and, with the reach of its hinterland to mid Argyll – will reward well judged investment in line with what is a simply splendid town for chilling out and being active – in whatever order you like.

Who wouldn’t jump on a ferry, hop on a plane from Glasgow or take a coach to get here?

And who would want to leave?

Back at the harbour, the Isle of Arran faced the loch, job well done, ready for the 07.30 out this morning.

There is so much that is intriguing, valuable and admirable about the quiet pilgrimage wending its way just now through Argyll to Faslane and on to London.

Described as ‘an ecumenical inter-faith act of witness for peace and economic justice’ people join, drop off and return to this little band of pilgrims in stages, although two we met on the Crinan Canal at Oakfield Bridge yesterday morning, Margery and Bob, are there for all of the long haul.

The core purpose of their witness is to focus the attention of the nation on the fact that the UK Government fully intends to replace the controversial submarine-launched Trident nuclear weapons system; and to do so at a cost of up to £100 billion.

Alongside this expense on a weapon that can only be used if we decide to take the world out with us, the same government is:

• cutting people’s benefits if they have a spare room – even if one is an elderly recent widow or widower, where their deceased spouse required a separate room for care requirements;
• cutting disability benefit and directly causing suicides of some highly disabled people who nevertheless have been classified by ATOS as fit to return to work and have lost their disability allowance, leaving them – genuinely unable to work – with no support at all;
• cutting budgets for health services – the ‘Liverpool Care Pathway’ being an obscene instrument in this cause;
• cutting budgets for education with an increasingly ill-educated population, devoid of the fundamental skills of literacy and numeracy.

The model for a pilgrimage by a small band of people continually replaced in relay was the Olympic Torch relay round Britain – a fitting beacon of hope and determination to succeed.

The Iona to Faslane legs have the relay walkers doing stages of 10-15 miles at a time – and the companionship of a yacht, the Tanera Mor.

The walkers dualled as lock operators on the two day stage through the Crinan Canal, stopping at Lochhead on the first night; and going on to the eastern basin at Ardrishaig and on to Tarbert in Kintyre last night. This morning the walkers took the ferry over to Portavadie and over to Glendaruel – and Tanera Mor headed off into the Kyles of Bute.

Friday they head to Hunter’s Quay; Saturday over to Gourock then back across the Clyde to Kilcreggan and on to Faslane. And Sunday is an all day picnic at the gates to the Faslane Submarine base. Everyone interested is welcome.

The first thing that struck us when we met the team coming through Argyll, was the white heads and their generation. That was inspirational stuff. It just said ‘Fidelity’ – not wavering off course over time on a cause that matters to them; not afraid of challenge, effort and discomfort.

Interestingly, as they walked the canal, talking to and leafleting everyone they met, they’ve found that young kids are really fascinated by them – and very admiring. It’s not hard to see why. We saw evidence of this very direct inter-generational engagement for ourselves. It was hard wired.

Judith and Jill have recently been to the International Conference Against  Nuclear [ICAN] in Oslo, with Veronika Tudhope, Vice Chair of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, who is travelliing with the team, overseeing the Scottish end of the pilgrimage. Veronika says that they were the oldest group there and brought something special to the gathering in experience, gravitas and example.

While none of those we met are formally quakers – Kath McDonald described herself as ‘a faithless quaker’ – five of the small group said that they’d  been markedly influenced in their pacifist stance by quakerism.

Three of them are retired GPs – Judith, Richard and Cath. Jill started on this road by protesting at Hunter’s Quay about the Polaris submarine base at the Holy Loch at the end of the 1950s. Margery has lived for some time in the Rhineland after marrying a German in the 1970s. At that time,  even though it was over 25 years after the end of the second world war, Germans were still Britain’s comic baddies. She says it was surprisingly tough – and for her parents whose generation made it particularly hard for them – although they always welcomed her husband and became very close to him.

Yesterday morning, while Richard, Cath and Bob moved the Tanera Mor to a convenient pontoon, the little band of walkers came through Lochgilphead to the canal at Oakfield Bridge, flying their jaunty Peace flags, being greeted by toots on the horns of the commuter traffic and waving happily in return.

The bright tatterdemalion quality of the flags, the back packs and the white Peace Pilgrimage T-shirts is appropriately gentle, non-aggressive and joyful. it brought a sense of carnival as they tramped up the slip road together from the roundabout to the canal.

Their other take on Trident and the need for them and the rest of us to do what we can do, is about making young people aware of its obscenely expensive uselessness – so that when they pass on the baton, there will be less then there might have been for the next generation to shoulder.

They have loved getting to grips with the lock gates and walking along the canal. Some of them live in cities. The tranquil green of the trees along the tow path and the water is giving them something back on their journey. And they’ve found it a natural place for people to talk to them – no one’s in a hurry.

We last saw them talking away together as they walked off on along towpath towards Ardrishaig, flags fluttering in the breeze behind them, the yacht motoring alongside with its banner and flag.

Contact with people like this, who accept responsibility, who don’t give up, who exude peacefulness – who talk of ‘a vision of a fairer, more generous future for all, based on cooperation and mutual support, rather than merely the survival of the fittest or richest’ – makes you feel better – and guilty for leaving it all to them.

Anyone can join in and walk for as much or as little as they like. This is a sort of relay of conscience, taking it up and passing it on. Details of the itinerary and dates are on the UK Peace and Justice Pilgrimage website here.

Note: With thanks to Veronika Tudhope for the photographs of the group on the Tanera Mor and crossing the canal bridge at Bellanoch.

‘Hopefully a situation has at last been reached where residents are able accept this plan as a reasonable and fair way forward.

‘This follows pressure from myself and others to get Scottish Water to take Bridge of Orchy under their wing and I am glad that despite initial prevarication they have now done so.

‘The plan will involve the residents in some cost. They are being asked to pay £600 initially with an annual payment of £300; and with the hotel and bunkhouse paying extra.

‘However, this is a lot less than original estimates from Scottish Water and I congratulate them on forging this compromise.

‘Bridge of Orchy is an expanding community which can now grow with a great deal more confidence in the future.’

All concerned in reaching this agreement are ti  be cocongrartuled in resolving a stanf off

It is due to leave Ardrossan at 18.40 and get in to Campbeltown at 21.20.

18.35 update: CalMac is still showing the boat as due to leave Ardrossan on schedule and BBC Scotland’s evening news has just broadcast that it will do so. Both say that the service is likely to suffer disruption – which may mean a longer and a lumpy trip.

But at 18.40 – the departure time, the Isle of Arran has only just gone into Ardrossan harbour, after tootling around in the waters east of Arran , so, with embarcations to be completed, she is certainly not going to leave on time.

We will post updates to the situation as it develops.

Update 19.10: She’s on her way – out of Ardrossan about 5 minutes ago, doing 14.5 knots and heading for the south end of Arran but – the routines aren’t stable yet – showing Brodick as her destination, with an ETA of 21.00 – which, since she’s definitely headed for Campbeltown, is earlier than scheduled.

First see the latest council communication – sent before the start of the council meeting, demonstrating the last minute horse trading going on – says:

From: Ferguson, Fiona
Sent: 23 May 2013 10:49
To: #All Councillors
Cc: Loudon, Sally; Sneddon, Cleland; MacTaggart, Sandy; Reppke, Charles; Fowler, Jane; West, Bruce
Subject: Changes – Composition of Council

Colleagues

This e-mail is to advise that notification has been received of the formation of a new group, to be known as Argyll and Bute for Change, the members thereof being:-

Duncan MacIntyre
Mike Breslin
Vivien Dance
Dick Walsh
Alastair MacDougall
Donnie Macmillan
Gordon Blair
Donald Kelly
Dougie Philand
Robert E MacIntyre
Isobel Strong
Jimmy McQueen
Alex McNaughton
John McAlpine
Len Scoullar
Iain MacDonald
Fred Hall
Bruce Marshall

These changes will be formally reported to the Council in due course.

Douglas Hendry
Executive Director – Customer Services

Commentary

We are told that the proposed three-up leadership of the group named above was sabotaged at the last minute when Dick Walsh, at the last minute, proposed Duncan MacIntyre alone as leader.

Since the names in the above group add up to 18 we assume that the position is a tied council between the group named above, the group named below and a council leader with no administration yet named to lead.

12.45 update

However, looking at the names in the ultra-last minute arragment announced above, it contains Councillors Breslin and Hall, whose party position remains indeterminate – and SNP Councillors Robert E MacIntyre [Bute], Isobel Strong and Gordon Blair.

This looks as if the SNP group has split along the faultline of the Russell camp, with the rest in the new, non-political group.

The fact that the widely popular Roddy McCuish has won the vote for leader does not immediately indicate the composition of the new administation  – but the apolitical Argyll, Lomond and the Isles group formed last night may well be joined or supported by 8 SNP councillors, whether in or out of that party.

That group of 8 – which has chosen not to ally itself with the Russell camp, includes – a telling insight -  all three SNP leaders of the past 12 months.

Argyll First has put itself in a strangely contradictory position for which there is no logical political explanation. As the pioneer of pan-Argyll apolitical groups in Argyll and Bute – and just when others have got that message enough to replicate it – Argyll First has chosen not to be part of that group.

13.00 update

The 18 councillors opposing the group named above and who are an equal contender to form an administration, are:

Rory Colville
Maurice Corry
Robin Currie
George Freeman
David Kinniburgh
Robert G Macintyre
Aileen Morton
Ellen Morton
Gary Mulvaney
Elaine Robertson
Roddy McCuish [Leader]
James Robb
John Semple
Mary Jean Devon
Louise Glen Lee
Sandy Taylor
Anne Horn
Richard Trail

14.00 update

Provost and Councillor Isobel Strong is indeed absent and Depute Provost Councillor Dougie Philand of Argyll First is in the chair.

We understand though that there are no other absences, which would lead the group named in the council email at the top – Alliance + SNP lite – with 17 votes.

It will now depend on how the remaining 18 votes are assigned.

14.15 update: The SNP conundrum

Council rules state that a councillor may not be a member of more than one group – hence the dissolution of the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors Group yesterday – as they merged to become the apolitical Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group.

This applies also to the group formed this morning and to the three standing SNP councillors whjo are amogst its members.

This means that the SNP grouping can have no formal presence in this group and its councillor members are now registered as part of that group – Argyll and Bute for Change.

So the remaining 8 SNP Councillors – outside the Russell camp – may either be the only remaining formal SNP presence in the chamber – if they support but do not join the Argyll, Lomond and the Isles group.

If they do join that group, the next question is whether they have been given party permission to do so.

If they join it without permission, they will be expelled from the party – which will see the obliteration of the SNP in Argyll and Bute Council.

If they are given permission to join it, it will see the SNP hierarchy – who sabotaged an SNP administration here by proscribing any coalition with the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives – approving, days later, a coalition with exactly the same individuals.

We now understand that the 8 members of the now official SNP group have not resigned from the party, so we assume that they will support but not join the Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Group – or that they have been given permission to do so.

15.00 update

It looks as if the position is that Councillor Roddy McCuish is leading a new administration of the Argyll, Lomond and the Isles group which the remaining 8 members of his party – as included in the list above, are supporting but have not formally joined.

In such an arrangement we do not know if group supporters, as opposed to members, can be given senior responsibilities – we would have thought not. BUt – who knows, We are enquiring.

15.30 update: hang on

We cannot explain this but we now understand that the ONLY change to be made so far is that Councillor Roddy McCuish has replaced Councillor James Robb as Leader of Argyll and Bute Council.

Quite who or what Councillor McCuish is leading gets more opaque by the minute.

When Councillor Robb stood down, the entire SNP group had, in two stages, left his administration, the first lot as a faction and an individual party resigneee; and the last batch on party orders.

Argyll First and Councillor Iain Macdonald had also departed.

Two SNP resignees [Hall and Breslin], three of the SNP departures from the Robb administration [Blair, Robert E Macintyre and Strong], the three Argyll First members and Councillor Macdonald are all in the Argyll and Bute for Change group – and we’re getting more change than we know what to do with.

Today’s Oban Times describes Councillor Semple as Lead Councillor for Development and Infrastructure – but he was one of the group forced to leave the administration – so he cannot hold that position. Or can he? Is someone about to wind back the clock and pretend the walkouts never happened? Or what?

If the council, on whatever pretext, leaves Argyll and Bute tonight in some sort of limbo while they do more horsetrading, it will  be disgraceful irresponsibility. They have had more than enough time and have done nothing else but move the chess pieces on an increasingly meaningless board.

16.10 update – clarification?

Lead Councillors are apparently still in position – which we do not understand since most had walked out on the administration. Normal straightforward voters – like ourselves – are going to be further alienated by bizarre formulations of this order.

Decisions are apparently being taken by all councillors together. Is Councillor McCuish leading a 100% inclusive  government of local emergency?

The text of Jackie Baillie’s motion is:

‘That the Parliament congratulates the pupils and teachers at Luss Primary School on achieving their fifth green flag from the Eco Schools programme; understands that the pupils have been working hard to continue to commit to the Eco Schools ethos by reducing the amount of throw-away materials in lunch boxes and eating more fruit and vegetables each day; notes that parents are encouraged to ensure that the pupils bring a fruit or vegetable to school and drink fruit juice from  reusable containers where possible; acknowledges that the school was recently recognised for its conservation work at the British Animal Awards by helping to save the baby powan in Loch Lomond; commends everyone at the school on their eco efforts, and encourages other schools to follow what it sees as the lead of Luss Primary School.’

This prestigious award is given in recognition that Argyll Adventure is one of the top-performing 10% of all businesses worldwide on TripAdvisor – and is given to businesses that consistently earn high ratings from TripAdvisor travellers.

Needless to say, John and Dilla Patrick and the staff at Argyll Adventure are absolutely thrilled with the award – although they work very hard and inventively to deliver the best possible visitor experience.

They are offering a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to their partner, Argyll Estates and to all their supporters.

John says: ‘We could not have done this without you.’

Dilla says:  ‘We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into a lot of positive reviews on TripAdvisor.

Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business, says: ”TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience.

‘The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.’

About Argyll Adventure

Argyll Adventure is a based on the shores of Loch Fyne, three miles south of Inveraray on the A83. The centre is part of the Argyll Estates – which includes the award winning Five Star Argyll Caravan Park and the lovely Inveraray Castle.

Argyll Adventure offers horse riding, paintball, bungee trampolines, bouncy castle, climbing walls, laser blast and crossbows. Its accreditations are:

• British Horse Society Highly Commended Centre
• Visit Scotland Four Star Activity Centre

Council email

From: Ferguson, Fiona On Behalf Of Hendry, Douglas
Sent: 22 May 2013 15:58
To: #All Councillors
Cc: Loudon, Sally; Sneddon, Cleland; MacTaggart, Sandy; Reppke, Charles; West, Bruce; Fowler, Jane
Subject: Changes – Composition of Council
Colleagues
This e-mail is to advise that notification has been received of the formation of a new Council group, to be known as “The Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Group, the members thereof being:-
Rory Colville
Maurice Corry
Robin Currie
George Freeman
David Kinniburgh
Robert G Macintyre
Aileen Morton
Ellen Morton
Gary Mulvaney
Elaine Robertson
The notification also confirms that the group members have dissolved their previous groupings (where applicable) which now cease to exist.
These changes will be formally reported to the Council in due course.
Douglas Hendry
Executive Director – Customer Services

Commentary

The wording of the communication would indicate that the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors Group have each now dissolved their previous identities in favour of this new amalgamation.

Other councillors are  said to be likely to join this group – and if they do, is is even more of a game changer than is already apparent – in what looks like the first time anything like this has happened in Scotland.

With the dissolution of the identities of the former groups concerned, this could not indicate more strongly that party politics in local government in Argyll and Bute is finished.

Indeed the group is making that stance explicit – inviting to join it ‘all councillors who want to put Argyll & Bute first before their own self interests and narrow political views’.

With ten members already, if others likely to join it do so, this will be the biggest group in the council and will lead any new coalition administration.

The SNP has already demolished its own SNP-led administration by proscribing any coalition with Liberal Democrats and Conservatives – but with the dissolution of those former politically-aligned groups, it cannot be impossible that this new group leads a coalition administration with the SNP as a junior partner.

What next?

Seven options are listed which range between the extremes of a three-up merger in a single new school on two possible sites; to all three being refurbished where they stand; and embracing a variety of 2+1 permutations in new build, upgrading and refurbishment; in some cases, based on alternative sites.

Two forms of estimated costing are given for the delivery of each of the seven options, both based on estimations of Net Present Value [NPV]. One estimate is from the Scottish Futures Trust, the government agency; and one is from a firm of consultants employed by the council – and is routinely higher. A third costing is provided, giving a total cost for each option by adding its estimated annual maintenance costs over a 25 year life-expectancy period.

The matter is complex, involving a longlist of seven costed options for upgrading the schools and providing good physical circumstances for the education of their respective current and future pupils, with a care for the viability of their respective communities.

On this agenda item alone councillors are required to:

• Agree, from the longlist of seven, a shortlist of an unspecified number for further and detailed appraisal before any are taken to consultation with the communities concerned.
• Agree a complex scoring method for council officers to use in appraising the shortlisted options. Aspects of the proposed appraisal method are unclear and would require interrogation before secure decisions on the adopted system could sensibly be taken.
• Agree that the Executive Director of Community Services should report back to council on the  conclusions of officer’s resulting appraisal of the shortlisted options.
• Agree that the detailed arrangements for any public consultations on a preferred or alternative options should be delegated to the same Executive Director of Community Services – who would consult with the Lead Councillor for Education.
• Agree a proposed timescale for this process – which gives officers around three months to do further appraisal on the options the council shortlists tomorrow; and gives only one month for consultation amongst three communities.

Can the council in its current state take adequate decisions?

This is one agenda item for tomorrow – amongst fifteen, with the first substantive item the one they’re all waiting for: the appointment of a council leader, following Councillor James Robb’s politically enforced standing down.

Many councillors have done little else for a considerable time than sink each other, dive for personal advantage, try to stay afloat in ‘political’ currents of ever-changing direction – and struggle to decide whom to raft up with in the hope of survival.

Tomorrow ought to see some outcome to all of this manoevering.

Whatever happens, this is the only game in town for councillors – because it determines whether each single one of them is in power or in opposition; and is on the basic salary or in receipt of the coveted senior allowances.

Then there is the  question of the leadership of whatever administration emerges – which may even be a three-headed short term arrangement in a body of people with no culture of team work and no preparation for such a shared role.

It is inconceivable that, with a very few and predictably responsible exceptions,  councillors will have read, considered and analysed the strengths and weaknesses of any of the papers in front of them.

This particular matter is of real concern in Dunoon, an area excluded by dictat from the 2010-11 school closure proposals that convulsed other areas – on the grounds that this very issue would  be coming up later.

Decision taking tomorrow

What will happen tomorrow is that some shortlist for the seven options will have been agreed in advance by all three Dunoon councillors – and that will be nodded through the chamber.

The other issues required to be agreed will be similarly nodded through on officers’ recommendations without any serious questioning – because councillors’ minds have been on other matters – the ones they really care about.

This ‘process’ will cede authority yet again to council officers – including what was, last time out, a highly controversial and conflicted community consultation process.

This is not the fault of the officers – although they may welcome, use and on occasion misuse the latitude they get.

Our system of local government is largely based on its working in this way – with officers doing what they can or what they want and with distracted and often unable councillors just signing up their areas to whatever comes along  – provided it does not affect their own constituency vote.

While there is historical reason to be concerned about the leeway this situation offers to senior officers, we ought also to sympathise with officers who almost always have to shape their work to protect it from incompetent, self-interested and politically motivated interventions.

The way we do local government has nothing to commend it. It is, in every way, in urgent need of reform – and that will not happen in the lifetimes of most of us.

The paper for council tomorrow, on the Dunoon schools, is here.

This weekend, 25th and 26th May, sees the sixth eatBute extravaganza of tastes, food to see and food to go, locally sourced produce, entertainment, activities and some novel challenges and treats for kids.

Let's start by assuming we're six - plus or minus a bit. What's eatBute got to offer?

You can leap in Bouncy Castles and get your face painted pretty well anywhere now - but a major innovation at eatBute 2013 is the Slow Food Taste Adventure.

This is for 4-10 year olds and we think it would be hard to find an adult who would not be tempted to dress down for the occasion.

It's free. It takes kids on an inspirational food journey through five interactive zones, each with a focus on one of the five senses: taste, sight, touch, smell and sound.

Councillors Gordon Blair and Robert E MacIntyre [Bute] are personally going with the proposed new almost-all-in-together administration at Argyll and Bute Councillor.

The action of the two councillors is being billed as ‘a breakaway’ – which is far from the case. They may be taking no account of their new leader but they are not acting without a travel permit.

These two councillors are in the ‘Russell camp’, the chess-piece-Councillors moved around the board by local MSP, Michael Russsell – and both are members for Bute and Cowal, the MSP’s home patch.

Moreover, to retain their party membership, they would have had to have their intentions approved in advance by Mr Russell and Constituency Convener, Robert Allan.

The minutes we published last night of yesterday’s selective meeting of most members of the proposed mega-coalition showed a state of utter disarray amongst the SNP councillors – none of whom could commit to anything and  almost all of whom seemed desperate to  escape from the meeting.

We have now seen:

• SNP Councillors literally ordered to leave an SNP-led administration under threat [?] of being expelled from the party.
• The deployment of a less than capable ‘negotiating team’ of three to talk to the Alliance of Independent Councillors about a way forwards.
• The failure yesterday of one of that team, Councillor Taylor – leading his group [?] – even to stand by what had been agreed by the negotiating team of which he was a member.
• Two SNP councillors, not the sharpest, given permission to commit to the new coalition whose shape, membership and leadership remains unknown and which may or may not contain their SNP group leader.

No line can join the dots between these four known positions.

All of this speaks loudly of a single unarguable fact: the SNP party locally has no strategic direction, just a series of contradictory ‘smart wheezes’. Chaos at this level is unprecedented in local politics – never mind in a party-based group. There is no shred here of coherence or of internal discipline.

Nationally, the SNP party’s continuing failure to stabilise the local internal situation amongst its Argyll and Bute cohort is  hard to believe and has seen it take heavy collateral damage.

Yet its incessant and mischievous interventionism with its councillors here has left the party unelectable in Argyll and Bute. The core tribe will support it regardless because that’s what tribes do – but the crucial mass of those who think before they vote will shudder and go elsewhere.

There is no alternative. Argyll and Bute has been unforgettably let down by those to whom non-tribal v0ters trustingly gave a chance to ‘govern’.