What’s It To Me?

Your council

Argyll and Bute: what’s happening where you live

What the council itself has published on the five things it most shapes for a household: homes, getting about, the bill, the local environment and schools. Each line is quoted from the council’s own document, with the link. This page says what was decided or proposed; it never says whether it was right.

Read on 25 September 2026. Councils publish at different rates and in different places, so “nothing found” means nothing found, not nothing happening.

Council plan · Budget · Meeting papers · Councillors · Register of interests · Consultations

Housing

Argyll and Bute's Local Development Plan 2 sets a Local Housing Land Requirement of up to 3,000 homes over 10 years.

“The National Planning Framework 4 (as adopted in February 2023) establishes a 10 year minimum all-tenure housing land requirement of 2,150 and the council has translated that to a Local Housing Land Requirement of up to 3,000 homes.”

Argyll and Bute Council, 28 February 2024. Read 25 September 2026. LDP2 adopted 28 February 2024 (per https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/local-development-plan-2). Table 6 is titled 'Argyll and Bute Local Housing Land Requirement 2020-2029'. The plan excludes the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area.

Transport

The council held pre-application consultation events on 8 and 9 September 2026 on ferry works at Gigha and Tayinloan for a new hybrid ferry.

“Argyll and Bute Council, through Tetra Tech, plan to submit Marine Licence applications for dredging and construction works at Gigha and Tayinloan.”

Argyll and Bute Council, 24 August 2026. Read 25 September 2026. Page heading 'Update 24 August 2026'. Consultation events 8 and 9 September 2026 (now past as of 2026-09-25); online survey for queries linked from the page.

Council tax

The council approved a 2026-27 Band D council tax of £1,783.33, a 9.7% increase.

“Council Tax to be paid in respect of a chargeable dwelling in Band D of £1,783.33 representing a 9.7% increase.”

Argyll and Bute Council, 25 February 2026. Read 25 September 2026. Quote is from the Administration Budget Motion (Appendix 1 to the minute); minutes record 'The Motion was carried by 21 votes to 11, with 2 no votes'. Council tax page https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/council-tax/your-council-tax-bill-explained shows Band D 1783.33 (2026/27) vs 1625.64 (2025/26), 9.70%. Excludes Scottish Water charges.

Environment

Argyll and Bute Council aims to become a net zero carbon emissions organisation by 2045.

“We are investing more than £1.2 million in action to save energy and deliver progress in becoming a net zero carbon emissions organisation by 2045.”

Argyll and Bute Council, undated. Read 25 September 2026. Page also links the Decarbonisation Plan 2022 and updates approved Dec 2022 to Aug 2024.

Education

The council is consulting on a proposal to relocate the Tobermory 2-18 Campus on Mull.

“Argyll and Bute Council is seeking views on a Proposal to relocate the Tobermory 2-18 Campus.”

Argyll and Bute Council, undated. Read 25 September 2026. Same page: 'The consultation exercise commenced on 24th August 2026 and will close on 2nd October 2026.' Agreed by Community Services Committee on 4 June 2026; statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

Who runs the council

36 seats in 2026. Run by: a coalition or arrangement of SNP, Liberal Democrats, independents, Labour and Greens. Open Council Data (public domain).

Councillors by party: Scottish National Party (SNP) 13, Independent / Other 8, Conservative and Unionist 7, Liberal Democrats 4, Reform UK 2, Labour Party 1, Restore Britain 1.

Next scheduled council election: 6 May 2027.

Elections here now: Mid Argyll ward (29 October 2026).

All 36 councillors, by ward
  • Gordon Blair (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Cowal
  • William Sinclair (Liberal Democrats) — Cowal
  • Yvonne McNeilly (Conservative and Unionist) — Cowal
  • Audrey E Forrest (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Dunoon
  • Daniel Hampsey (Reform UK) — Dunoon
  • Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrats) — Dunoon
  • Gemma Penfold (Conservative and Unionist) — Helensburgh and Lomond South
  • Math Campbell-Sturgess (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Helensburgh and Lomond South
  • Paul Donald Kennedy (Liberal Democrats) — Helensburgh and Lomond South
  • Fiona Howard (Labour Party) — Helensburgh Central
  • Gary Mulvaney (Conservative and Unionist) — Helensburgh Central
  • Graham Archibald Hardie (Liberal Democrats) — Helensburgh Central
  • Ian MacQuire (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Helensburgh Central
  • Liz McCabe (Independent / Other) — Isle of Bute
  • Peter Wallace (Conservative and Unionist) — Isle of Bute
  • Reeni Kennedy-Boyle (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Isle of Bute
  • Alastair Redman (Independent / Other) — Kintyre and the Islands
  • Anne Horn (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Kintyre and the Islands
  • Dougie McFadzean (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Kintyre and the Islands
  • Mark Irvine (Independent / Other) — Lomond North
  • Maurice Corry (Conservative and Unionist) — Lomond North
  • Shonny Iain Paterson (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Lomond North
  • Dougie Philand (Independent / Other) — Mid Argyll
  • Garret Corner (Conservative and Unionist) — Mid Argyll
  • Jan Brown (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Mid Argyll
  • Andrew Vennard (Conservative and Unionist) — Oban North and Lorn
  • Julie McKenzie (Independent / Other) — Oban North and Lorn
  • Kieron Green (Independent / Other) — Oban North and Lorn
  • Luna Martin (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Oban North and Lorn
  • Amanda Hampsey (Reform UK) — Oban South and the Isles
  • Andrew Kain (Independent / Other) — Oban South and the Isles
  • Jim Lynch (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Oban South and the Isles
  • Willie Hume (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — Oban South and the Isles
  • Jennifer Kean (Independent / Other) — South Kintyre
  • John Armour (Scottish National Party (SNP)) — South Kintyre
  • Tommy MacPherson (Restore Britain) — South Kintyre

Each councillor’s register of interests is on the council’s own site, linked rather than summarised, because summarising means choosing. Councillors from Open Council Data as recorded after the May 2026 elections; a by-election since then may have changed one seat. Attendance and allowances are not shown.

This council’s meeting papers could not be read automatically (the site blocks or did not answer), so decisions and motions are not listed here; the meeting papers hold them.

Cite this page

Harvard style. Every figure on the page also names its original source, which is usually the better thing to cite.

Every council page has the same five headings in the same order. Sources are the council’s own publications and official statistics. Corrections: hello@whatsittome.org.