Mythical status it may have but while Land’s End got the full monty as the start of the passage of the Olympic Flame on its drop-in passage around  the UK’s major population centres, John o’ Groats is getting a flame from the second division.

Some sort of reserve flame is to visit the headland and all that was planned was that someone unknown would hop  out and trot about a bit with it before vanishing again.

Staff at the Caithness Heritage Centre in Thurso and local folk refused to let the occasion pass in so perfunctory a manner.

They’re stuck with the reserve flame – but they’ve organised a procession with a pipe band, school children and Vikings – who really do know something about the processing of flame.

This is another instance where the dignity and will of the disregarded at the edge demonstrates the blindness of the neglect inflicted upon them.

All this has made us wonder why the points of visit of the flame at Stornoway in the Western Isles, Kirkwall in Orkney and Lerwick in Shetland (and Douglas in the Isle of Man) are grey flames on the Olympic Route Map where the rest of the UK, including Northern Ireland,  are shown as orange?

John o’ Groats is not shown at all so perhaps its actually  a third division flame. It’s certainly not worth a place on the flame map.

WEATHER for Argyll and the Isles

Bright, sunny, warm or very warm despite the moderate or fresh E wind. Max temp day: 25 C.

Tonight: Clear skies with some mist or fog patches in the glens, especially where there is shelter from the E breeze. Min temp night: 9 C.

Tomorrow – 27th May: Dry, settled, sunny. Warm or very warm with gentle winds. Max temp day: 26 C.

ROADS

• A85 at Saulmore west for fortnight from 28th May:  Transport Scotland resurfacing roadworks on the A85 at Saulmore west (between Connel and Dunbeg) start on Monday 28th May for approximately 2 weeks. Work will be carried out during the day, Monday to Friday, between 06:00 and 16:00. A signal controlled convoy system will be in operation and, while traffic flow will be maintained, drivers are advised to allow for some delay in journey times.

• A83 operating with usual traffic lights at landslip danger area. Hazard warning of 13th May removed.

Transport Scotland’s webpage specifically for the A83 at Rest and Be Thankful. is reviewed weekly and will be updated in the event of any new landslip.

Deer Warning: A83 between Dunderave and Strone Point – deer have being seen on this section of road, in numbers, nightly, for the past fortnight.

FERRIES

Week from 28th May: Advance warning of refit timetable from Argyll Ferries: With the scheduled annual refit of MV Argyll Flyer during this week, Argyll Ferries will be operating a reduced timetable with hourly departures. On 1st and 2nd June (Friday and Saturday) the 0100 and 0125 sailings are also cancelled.

Fortnight from 28th May: Advance warning of roadworks on A85 on approaches to Oban: Transport Scotland roadworks on the A85 at Saulmore west (between Connel and Dunbeg) start on Monday 28th May for approximately 2 weeks. Work will be carried out during the day, Monday to Friday, between 06:00 and 16:00. A signal controlled convoy system will be in operation and, while traffic flow will be maintained, drivers are advised to allow for delay in planning journey times to the port of Oban.

• Western Ferries, Hunter’s Quay (Dunoon) -McInroy’s Point (Gourock): Sailing as schedule.
• Argyll Ferries unoon-Gourock (passenger only) : Sailing as schedule.
• SPT-Clydelink: Kilcreggan-Gourock (passenger only): Clydelink are back to full capacity on the Gourock to Kilcreggan route.Sailing as schedule.
• CalMac, (West coast ferry operator): Sailing as schedule, except for notifications below.

CalMac route notifications

• Oban-Coll-Tiree: 26th May -  For technical reasons the 07.00 sailing for Coll and Tiree has been delayed until 16.30. The following timetable will operate: Leave Oban 16.30 ETA Coll 19.25. Leave Coll 19.35 ETA Tiree 20.35. Leave Tiree 20.50 ETA Oban 00.30 27th May, Sunday morning.
• Kennacraig-Port Askaig: Due to major reconstruction works, Port Ellen Pier, Islay, is currently closed to ferry traffic. All sailings on the Islay service are therefore operating to and from Port Askaig for the foreseeable future. This is outwith CalMac’s control,  A revised Summer timetable will be published which reflects this and will operate until June 30, 2012.

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
• 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 and Colonsay)
• 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 should be emailed to centralvalidationteam@argyll-bute.gov.uk

The swimmer had been taken aboard the Inverlussa Mussels’ boat Margaret Sinclair and was transferred to the lifeboat, which was met by the Police on return to her berth.

The lifeboat was  ready for service again at 22.30.

Everyone is welcome to come and find out what all the different people involved are doing – and why.

This is a very rare opportunity to see cutting edge topical science in action.

It will also be an occasion to discuss the various options for dealing with excessive CO2 in our atmosphere – a matter of now familiar and widespread concern, as recent press articles demonstrate:

• Carbon-capture-leak-simulated? (The Guardian)
• Science-environment (BBC)
• Can help to solve global warming. First carbon capture-experiment in place on Scottish seabed. (Daily Mail)

The Ardmucknish Bay project was also recently covered by Reporting Scotland and BBC Alba.

And while you’re there -  don’t forget that the Tralee Bay Fish and Chip Shop is officially one of the best in the UK – a regular festival of the sea all by itself.

The Scottish Food Champions initiative, announced by Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, will recognise businesses which offer quality, fresh seasonal produce as well as promoting where their food comes from.

The scheme is a joint venture between the Scottish Government and VisitScotland and will cover hotels, B&Bs, food outlets and visitor attractions. It will assess 2,500 businesses over the next three years, with the ambition of getting at least 1,000 accredited by 2015.

In a speech at last night’s Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards, Mr Lochhead said that the intention is for the accreditation scheme to celebrate achievements, drive up standards and increase awareness of the provenance of food.

Beppo Buchanan-Smith, who runs the Isle of Eriska Hotel and chairs VisitScotland’s Quality Advisory Committee with responsibility for food and drink, says: ‘The promotion and use of fresh food in season has long been a cornerstone of what we do at Eriska, something that has been helped greatly by the improved quality and range of fresh local produce now available through Scottish suppliers. So I am delighted to support the ambitions of this exciting project, aimed at ensuring that this great message is spread to the widest possible audience.’

Background

The total project cost is £920,000, with £450,000 coming from the Scottish Government and £470,000 of support in kind from Visit Scotland.

A steering group is being established to take forward the project, set the criteria and the scheme is expected to be operational within six months.

Scottish Food Champions will be incorporated into the existing VisitScotland Quality Assurance schemes for serviced accommodation (hotels and B&Bs); stand alone food outlets and visitor attractions, including tourist shops. Businesses that meet the set criteria, they will be awarded a Scottish Food Champions symbol for display and use on promotional materials.

As part of the Scottish Biodiversity Week festivities, SNH is encouraging Scots to enjoy nature by capturing their favourite natural places and wildlife.

The sixth annual Nature Photography Competition is open to both amateur and professional photographers – and the deadline is 31st July.

• First prize is a one-to-one tutorial with one of Scotland’s leading professional nature photographers, Lorne Gill;
•  Second prize is a Nikon D5100 Digital SLR camera with a tripod;
• Third prize is a Panasonic Lumix LX5 Digital Camera and a tripod.

This contest is part of Scottish Biodiversity Week, which includes 120 events across Scotland taking place from May 19-27 – full information on the week is here at the SNH website.

Scottish Biodiversity Week organiser, Zeshan Akhter, says: ‘We’re so pleased that so many people enjoyed Scottish Biodiversity Week events this year, and we want to keep encouraging people to get out and enjoy Scotland’s nature.

‘Taking pictures is a great way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of our countryside. I’m looking forward to seeing what inspires people about Scotland’s nature this year; we always get plenty of amazing shots.

‘And you don’t have to have an expensive camera – last year’s winner took her picture on her mobile phone.’

How to enter

Entrants should email their pictures of animals, plants or landscapes to bit@snh.gov.uk by 31st July 2012 – as an attachment with ‘Photo Contest’ in the subject line.

Entries must be original, have a title, indicate where in Scotland the photo was taken, and the entrant’s name and contact details.

Each person may submit up to two entries.

Entrants must be residents of Scotland.

SNH will notify winners in September and the winning entries will be posted on the website and highlighted in the Scottish Biodiversity Forum’s quarterly newsletter.

The school has been selected as one of those nationwide who will cook for the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year.
They’ll be off to Buckingham Palace on 28th June with the recipes for the range of Argyll-focused goodies – including the one everyone wants to try: Tablet Cheesecake.

Pupils, teaching staff and assistants have worked hard for this hugely well earned success which will see the  carry the flag for Argyll and for Scotland south to show what they can do.

Congratulations all round.

Responses to the news (25th May update)

Michael Russell MSP, said of the news: ‘I look forward to tasting the school’s menu as soon as possible.  I met some of St Columba’s pupils last week and the excitement was fever pitch. I am sure it will be a trip to remember and the Queen will be delighted with every bite. I am delighted with the news.’

Louise Glen-Lee, Councillor in  Oban North and Lorn, said:  ‘Brilliant news. The Queen has long been associated with foods from the west coast and this menu shows it off to its best – what a  great accolade for this wee school from Oban and for Argyll and Bute.’

These include data on production, imports and exports of roundwood (logs) and wood products for the UK for the calendar years 2007 to 2011.

The key points from the latest release are:

Removals (harvesting) of UK roundwood in 2011 comprised:

• 9.9 million green tonnes of softwood; a 7% increase from 2010; and
• 0.5 million green tonnes of hardwood; a 1% increase from 2010.

UK roundwood deliveries to industries and others in 2010 saw total deliveries of 10.3 million tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood); a 3% increase from 2010. Of this:

• deliveries to sawmills totalled 5.9 million green tonnes; a 4% increase from 2010;
• deliveries to wood-based panel manufacturers totalled 1.4 million green tonnes; a 3% increase from 2010;
• deliveries to integrated pulp and paper mills totalled 0.5 million green tonnes; a 6% increase from 2010;
• other uses, including round fencing, woodfuel, shavings and exports of roundwood, took 2.5 million green tonnes; unchanged from 2010.

UK production of wood products in 2011 included:

• 3.3 million cubic metres of sawnwood (a 6% increase from 2010);
• 3.4 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (unchanged); and
• 4.3 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (a 1% increase from 2010).

Imports included:

• 4.9 million cubic metres of sawnwood;
• 2.8 million cubic metres of wood-based panels; and
• 7.5 million tonnes of pulp and paper.
• The total value of wood product imports was £6.8 billion, of which £4.7 billion was pulp and paper.

Exports

• The total value of wood product exports was £1.9 billion, of which £1.7 billion was pulp and paper.

The full statistics release is available here at the Forestry Commission website.

Note: These statistics will next be updated on 27th September 2012, which will be the final results for 2011; and on 16th May 2013, which will be the provisional results for 2012.
 


Timber Price Indices

Forestry Commission Scotland also released last week the latest National Statistics on Timber Price Indices.

These are based on Forestry Commission sales and consist of the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and the Softwood Sawlog Price Index.

They present data to March 2012 for Great Britain.

The key points from the latest release are:

• the average price for coniferous standing sales was £14.10 per cubic metre overbark standing in nominal terms in the year to March 2012;
• the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index for Great Britain was 1.9% higher in real terms in the year to March 2012, compared with the previous year;
• the average price for softwood sawlogs was £37.83 per cubic metre overbark in nominal terms in the six months to March 2012; and
• the Softwood Sawlog Price Index was 4.5% higher in real terms in the six months to March 2012, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

Full information is available here on the Forestry Commission website.

Note: These statistics will next be updated on 8th November 2012, with data to September 2012; and on 16th May 2013, with data to March 2013).

There is live music n he Sports Field at Ellenabeich for half an hour from 11.00 before outdoor workshop for the Festival of the sea at 11.30  at Seil Island Hall.
This is led by Kilbrandon and Kilchattan Churches, with ‘Super Sunday’ activities for children of all ages in the small hall.

In the afternoon there are sea-centred talks in the hall:
▪    1300 – 1400 hrs “Lorn Marine Life” by Trevor Davies
▪    1400 – 1500 hrs “Swimming blind – A man in a hurry” by Dean Dunbar
▪    1500 – 1600 hrs “Diving St Kilda” by Graeme Bruce
▪    1600 – 1700 hrs “Seaweed as a Fuel” by Ian MacFarlane

From 13.00-17.00 live music in the small hall with local singers and musicians is accompanied by the availability of tea, coffee, soft drinks, biscuits and home baking for those .

From 14.00-16.00 there is a Slate Painting and Sculpture competition for children of all ages

Seafari Adventure are also running boat trips around Easdale Island.

There are open displays in the hall and at the  Slate Islands Heritage Trust Museum.

The proposed plans and our analysis of them are here in an earlier article we published on 23rd April.

All three options will be put to an informal referendum and informal consultation before the Council proceeds with the contract procurement process.

This move is to be celebrated by anyone who cares for Helensburgh and for its future.

The proposed redesign was architecturally ignorant, brutalist and unsympathetic. It was being railroaded through regardless of public disquiet and opposition. This pause for the development of alternatives and for informed reflection has the capacity t0 be a literal face saver for Helensburgh.

A date has been set from the outset for the taking of the final decision on this, following the results of the informal referendum.

Councillor James Robb, whose motion to council  – given below – led to the suspension, says:

‘It was a commitment of the SNP Council Group that if we led the new Council Administration there would be a review of the design of Colquhoun Square within the Helensburgh Public Realm Improvement (PRI) Project under the CHORD Programme. A promise made and a promise kept.

‘The process has now been suspended to offer the residents of Helensburgh and Lomond a genuine choice on the design of Colquhoun Square. Informed by the results of an informal referendum the Council will take the final decision on the way forward on the 28th June.

‘I believe we should embrace this final opportunity to resolve significant differences of opinion and secure greater support and consensus for this investment in our town. ‘

Text of Motion to Co0uncil

Whilst the Public Realm Improvement (PRI) Project in Helensburgh under the CHORD Programme is generally welcomed there has been considerable disquiet, concern and protest regarding the design of Colquhoun Square. There is evidence of a public desire to remove the road bend, to increase the proportion of green space and to re-locate the bus stops. To achieve better community support for the Project as a whole the Council agrees to suspend the tender process and not issue any Intent to Award until this matter is brought back to the Council at a later date for a decision.

Council officers are instructed to bring forward to an informal referendum and informal consultation at least three alternatives: the current proposed design and at least two other alternatives incorporating the three issues above. The final design will take cognisance of the opinions expressed through the informal referendum and consultation which shall take place at a central location in Helensburgh on a date that allows the outcome to be reported to the Council meeting on 28th June 2012 to inform any decisions at that time.

The detail procedures for the informal referendum are delegated to the Director of Customer Services in consultation with the Chair and Depute Chair of the Helensburgh PRI Project Board. The arrangements with regard to providing the alternative design options and any measures which should reasonably and prudently be taken to minimise delays should an alternative become the preferred option are delegated to the Director of Development and Infrastructure Services in consultation with the Chair and Depute Chair of the Helensburgh PRI Project Board.

Proposed by Councillor James Robb
Seconded by Councillor Richard Trail

Responses

Councillor Ellen Morton  is quoted in today’s (24th May) Helensburgh Advertiser as saying: ‘I don’t know what an informal referendum and informal consultation is. It’s just another delay and I don’t know what it is going to achieve. It is going to put the money at risk and there is no guarantee of resolution at the end of the delay.’

Councillor Robb is quoted as saying: ‘Council officers gave a very clear explanation of why “informal” was necessary; to avoid the delay and expense of a statutory referendum.

‘The Council Leader gave a complete assurance on behalf of the Administration during the debate, which was also confirmed by officers, that this decision would not affect the allocated funding.

‘Whilst raising concerns is helpful input into enacting the Council decision, raising completely erroneous concerns is not.

‘I think all our local councillors should accept the Council decision and move forward together to progress this project and the town’s aspirations as quickly and efficiently as possible.’

For Argyll imagines – hopes, perhaps -  that the notion of an informal referendum and an informal consultation are designed to establish a form of community impact on decision taking that will be distinct from the almost wholly discredited formal consultations that have been a cynical blight on our political life.

They are less taking issue with the Lloyd’s List Article they quote than they are clarifying their joint position on the heart of the matter.

The article, of 21st May 2012 – ‘Legal challenge could delay Serco ferry takeover’ dealt with the legal challenge to Transport Scotland issued by freight company, Streamline Shipping, over the award to Serco of the contract to supply passenger and vehicle ferry services to the Orkney and Shetland Isles.

The letter from the two general secretaries is unequivocal in declaring where they stand, as the verbatim text below demonstrates.

Tex of Nautilus /RMT letter to Lloyd’s List

‘Your report on the current fiasco over the contract for the lifeline ferry services to the Scottish Northern Isles (‘Legal challenge could delay Serco ferry takeover’, 21 May) states that Nautilus and the RMT have both publicly opposed the award of the work to Serco.

‘For the record, it is important to make clear that this is not an issue about Serco and we do not inherently oppose the contract being awarded to that company. Our concerns are much wider – and reflect our fundamental belief that the tendering process is unnecessary, unwanted and unhelpful.’

‘Nautilus and the RMT question the very need for these essential services to be put up for tender every six years – a process that creates uncertainty amongst staff, shippers and passengers alike. It is a costly and time-consuming process that denies these vital routes the stability that they need if they are to receive the investment required.

‘Sadly, the process also exposes these services to risk of damage being caused by those who wish to cherry-pick the best routes or to cut costs by operating with cheap crews from outside the Scottish community or under flags of convenience. In this connection, the challenge by Streamline – which runs under the Cyprus register, with eastern European and Filipino seafarers – highlights the competitive pressures that tendering can unleash. Given the utter confusion which appears to exist within government circles over the work permit requirements for these seafarers, is it any wonder that Nautilus and the RMT have grave concerns about where the tendering process may lead us?’

Mark Dickinson
General secretary
Nautilus International

Bob Crow
General secretary
RMT

The question of stability

This letter raises and establishes the validity of the key issue of stability in lifeline services – for users and for those who provide and staff the services alike.

There is no doubt that the regular tendering of such services is destabilising. The point that this process and its consequences are out of kilter in the specific context of recognised lifeline services is well taken.

We find particularly compelling the view that: ‘It is a costly and time-consuming process that denies these vital routes the stability that they need if they are to receive the investment required.’

Events may well resolve this situation.

The imperative of tendering such services has been imposed by the European Commission. It is mnore rather than less likely that in the fairly near future, there will be no European Union, since the troubles of the euro are structurally irredeemable outside effective political union.

This change to the global political landscape, though likely soon, is not, in shipping forecast terms, imminent. The meantime will see some conclusion to the Northern Isles ferry services contract. Whatever that decision is, it will embed the sort of destabilisation warned of by the two maritime unions.

This has to be inspirational entrepreneurshiip at its best – private sector risk and an imaginative, intelligent reading of opportunity.

A new £2million vessel which aims to tap into Scotland’s growing renewable energy market was launched on Saturday, 19th May.

The Helen Burnie, built to a unique design at Macduff Shipyards in Moray, will create up to 12 new jobs once she is working to capacity.

The workboat is equipped with the latest technology to allow it to tackle specialist offshore windfarm and tidal survey work, as well as the more traditional workboat contracts.

At a time when many companies are laying people off, the venture represents a huge leap of faith in Scotland’s renewable energy market by Inverlussa Marine Services, a small family business based on the isle of Mull.

The company, which has two other vessels, has already carried out some tidal exploratory work off the islands of Skye and Islay.

And Ben Wilson, Inverlussa’s Operations Manager, speaking at the launch of the Helen Burnie in Oban, said he believes renewable energy opportunities have a lot to offer far-flung communities.

He said: “We think it’s a good time to invest in the renewables sector and the boat has been built completely with renewables in mind, because we do feel it is a sector with vast potential.

‘This is a state-of-the-art vessel, a total one-off design. It’s got the latest winch system and the latest crane.

‘It is a general purpose coastal supply vessel, available to assist with all the traditional marine service tasks which are the backbone of our business such as fishfarm feed deliveries and dive support work, but it is also kitted out to work on the construction stage of tidal and offshore wind farm sites.’

The company, evolved from a one man operation started by Mr Wilson’s father, Douglas, the company’s Managing Director, over 20 years ago, has employed 15 people in recent years.

As the Helen Burnie sailed off on her first delivery contract to the Shetland Isles, Mr Wilson said: ‘The new boat has already created six new jobs, all local jobs, but there will be up to twelve jobs created on the island, depending on the contracts we secure’.

The boat will be available for all logistical marine services, including cargo transport, general dive support, fuel and fresh water transfer, cable laying, container transport, plough dredging, anchor handling and towing work.

But Mr Wilson, whose company has received the backing of the Clydesdale Bank for the project, said: ‘Due to her versatility and high manoeuvrability we expect that Helen Burnie will be in great demand for a variety of renewable energy projects – from offshore wind farm work to tidal energy surveys.

‘There is a lot of money going into these windfarms and I think it is a great opportunity for the West Coast to be involved in an industry which is attracting investment.’

Argyll SNP MSP Michael Russell said: ‘It is great to see such a significant investment being made by a local company and it shows the huge potential of renewables in this area. I wish them every success with this exciting step forward.’

• 22 year old Arlene Robbie, (left, below)  founder of Arlene’s Coffee Shop at Craignure on Mull won the Economic & Community Impact award and a £1,500 cash prize.
• Lesley Smith (right, below) who owns The Honey Pot, an accessories and nursery wear boutique in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, won the Excellent Customer Focus award and £1000.
• 28 year old architectural glass designer Kathryn Neale (right, below) from Fife, who supplies 200 shops and galleries throughout the UK with her glass giftware. was winner of the Personal Growth & Development award and a £1000 cash prize.

The awards, now in their fifth year, are run by The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) thanks to generous support from The Moffat Charitable Trust which has pledged almost £300,000 to support young people demonstrating outstanding talent in the Scottish tourism and travel industry. All three winners launched their businesses thanks to funding and support from PSYBT which helps 18-25 year olds start up and continue to grow their own businesses.

Congratulating the winners, PSYBT Director, Geoff Leask, said: ‘Thanks to the Moffat Charitable Trust we are able to support young people and help create a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise in the Scottish tourism industry.’

Speaking on behalf of The Moffat Charitable Trust, Mr Jamie Moffat said, ‘We are delighted to be able to continue funding and recognising young people in Scotland who have a passion for business and who are striving to make a positive impact in their local communities.’

The award won’t make Arlene’s coffee shop at Criagnure any better than it is but it may make more people realise how rewarding a visit to it can be – and we speak as confirmed users at either end of the ferry journey from Oban to Mull.

The works will  start on Monday 28th May 2012 and last for approximately 2 weeks. Work will be carried out during the day, Monday to Friday, between 06:00 and 16:00 -  to minimise disruption by avoiding the evening peak periods of traffic flows.  No works will be carried out on the 4th and 5th of June, which are public holidays.

The works will be carried out under a signal controlled convoy system working to maintain through flow of traffic with no diversion being required.

Motorists should allow extra time for their journeys and pay attention to any advisory signs which will be in place throughout the works. For real time journey planning information visit the Traffic Scotland website here.

The Guardian on Monday published their monthly poll conducted by ICM. As readers will be aware, UK wide polls only provide a small sample of Scottish opinion.

Even the sample at UK level drops significantly once those who are not certain to vote (9%) do not know who they will vote for (23%) or refuse to answer (8%) are excluded.

In order to obtain a more significant sample I have averaged the Scottish sample over the last five months from the beginning of the year. This helps iron out what otherwise are results that appear out of context with recent actual election results.

The average Conservative support turns out at 14.4% which is close to their result in the recent local elections (13.31%). It places the March finding of Conservative support at 22% and the latest poll finding of Conservative support at 9% in a more likely context..

In every monthly poll this year the SNP leads and as the question is about how Scottish voters would vote in a Westminster general election held at the time of each survey, the outcome is in marked contrast with actual previous UK general election results where Labour has been the largest party.

The SNP lead over the Labour party averages 9.6%.

This poll of 2012 Guardian polls puts Scotland’s political parties on the following percentages, figures in brackets are the actual percentages in the recent local government elections.
SNP                 41.6%                        (32.32%)
Labour            32.0%                        (31.39%)
Con                  14.4%                         (13.31%)
L/Dem              6.4%                         (  6.59%)
Green                 2.2%                        (  2.20%)

How close the average of Guardian polls this year is to the local election results provides a degree of validation for the methodology adopted in this analysis.

The SNP were the only party to achieve a share of the vote in the local elections well below the Guardian poll of polls.
Discounting around 2% in the local elections in Scotland for minor parties, independents standing in areas that the SNP did extremely well in the 2011 Holyrood elections achieved 11.86% of the vote across Scotland in May.

It would be simplistic to conclude these voters had largely voted SNP in 2011 but it is also not an unreasonable hypothesis.

Another point to note about May’s local elections is the lower turnout, even although that has not seemed to affect the other partiy’s comparable share of the vote.

An additional factor that has not received much comment is perhaps a reluctance on the part of the electorate to allow the SNP to sweep all before them at every election.

This degree of containment in the local elections could serve the SNP well enough come the referendum. The electorate likes to have options and democracy is better served even if Labour hegemony has been a past feature of Scottish politics.

The analysis of Scotland’s voting intentions in a UK general election does not tell us much about how people will vote in the Independence Referendum other than indications that voters are continuing to place their faith in the SNP as the party most likely to further their aspirations.

Indeed, thinking about the next UK general election raises some interesting constitutional issues that have had no coverage. If we vote YES? – what happens in regard to a UK general election due to be held around 8 months after the referendum?

Independence negotiations are expected to take around 12 months with a Scottish general election taking place in May 2016. Until Independence Day, and yes, we are getting ahead of ourselves here, Scotland remains entitled to representation in the UK Parliament.

In this situation it is unthinkable that England and RUK would have Scottish MPs sitting around Westminster for a full five-year term.

Their exit on Independence Day no doubt would be part of the Independence negotiations and involve a compensation settlement as they become redundant and surplus to requirement.

The implication of this is that all Scottish MPs, except SNP MPs, will be manning the No campaign barriers.

Might there be exceptions?

Maybe there will be some with an eye to a future in an Independent Scotland.

The challenge for all the parties, including the SNP, is that their support will be split in the Independence Referendum. Most of all those who have in the past been Labour voters.

But more interesting are the continued rumblings in the Conservative party by those like Peter Fraser who knows there is no return to their past as a major political party in Scotland.

For those who believe there should be a future for a moderate right of centre party in an Independent Scotland they have a difficult decision to make:

• to break away and form a pro independence centre right group in advance of the referendum, to which some credibility might be attached
• to remain staunch unionists and go down fighting with a Damascene conversion in the event of a YES result.

Russell Bruce

The previous convention – ‘Spokesperson’ – always seemed to describe a councilor sent in to present someone else’s script, which was largely the case in clearly officer-led administrations. This is not the way a competent council should run anyway and with the current senior officers at Argyll and Bute, it has been emphatically damaging.

‘Lead councillor’ sounds like the driving seat as far as offices are concerned are we can only hope that this becomes the case.

‘Lead councilor’ is also more collegiate in that it suggests that other councillors are expected t be part of the evolution of policy and decision taking. This is top be welcomed and already signals a move away from the squirreling of power to the few which has been the recent modus operandi.

The responsibilities

• Leader: Councillor Roddy McCuish
• Deputy Leader:  Councillor John Semple
• Provost: Councillor Isobel Strong
• Depute Provost: Douglas Philand

• Lead Councillor for Human Resources and Sport: Douglas Philand. (Deputy: Robert MacIntyre)
• Lead Councillor for Strategic Finance and European Affairs: James Robb. (Deputy: Gordon Blair)
• Lead Councillor for Planning and Regulatory Services: Sandy Taylor. (Deputy: Mary-Jean Devon)
• Lead Councillor for Energy, Development, Infrastructure and Tourism: John Semple. (Deputy:  Louise Glen-Lee)
• Lead Councillor for Adult Care and Learning Disabilities: Anne Horn
• Lead Councillor for Roads and Amenity Services: Donald Kelly. (Deputy: Robert G MacIntyre)
• Lead Councillor for Children and Families: Mary Jean Devon
• Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong learning: Michael Breslin. Deputy: Richard Trail)
• Lead Councillor for Community, Culture, Customer and Communication: Louise Glen-Lee
• Lead Councillor for Housing: George Freeman. (Deputy: Iain Angus MacDonald)
• Lead Councillor for the opposition: Dick Walsh. (Deputy: Ellen Morton)

Area Committees:

Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Islands

• Lead Councillor: Anne Horn. (Deputy: Donald Kelly)

Oban, Lorn and the Isles

• Lead Councillor: Louise Glen-Lee (Deputy: Elaine Robertson)

Bute and Cowal

• Lead Councillor: Robert MacIntyre (Deputy: Gordon Blair)

Helensburgh and Lomond

• Lead Councillor: James Robb. (Deputy: Richard Trail)

Chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee and Chair of the Licensing Board

• Sandy Taylor. (Deputy:  Mary-Jean Devon)

The front line

Council Leader Roddy McCuish has intelligently left himself free to focus on the business of leading and overall management.

This could not be more important.

His is the key role from where a new, transparent, inclusive, confident corporate culture, fuelled by integrity, can be born. This, arguably, is more than anything what Argyll badly needs.

He has a new and diverse team to keep together, working purposefully and collaboratively.

He will need to apply the ‘common sense test’ to all proposals before they get too far down an expensive road – as with the 26 school closures pantomime of recent and notorious history.

Roddy McCuish has all of the skills necessary to do these things and everyone will welcome the changes only he can bring.

Specific responsibilities

The changes here from the early announcement of responsibilities seem to have produced a more realistic sense of workloads. We had concerns here from those first indications since some of what was proposed would have broken the back of a legion, never mind an individual.

Having posts of Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition  – both presumably paid – looks like an unnecessary and inflationary move. (Clarificationt: The post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition is unpaid. Post and remuneration details below in 24th May update.)

In general,where the active responsibilities are involved, these dispositions looks like the right people in the right jobs; and with some sound strategic thinking offering hope for better than we have had.

The creation of a post of Lead Councillor for planning and regulatory services and linking that to the Chair of the relevant committee signals that this area is going to be taken in hand. It needs to be. In any council, planning is where procedural stability  and the control of actual as opposed to apparent interest must be transparently virtuous.

We would have liked to see the social services area have a deputy as well as a lead councillor to share the workload in an area of social responsibility that has been neglected and needs serious strategic thinking. It might be possible to assign one deputy to this and to the related Children and Families brief?

James Robb at Strategic Finance is a good appointment who should make his presence felt where it counts. (European Affairs – the other part of his brief, is likely  just now  to require little more than the services of an undertaker.)

John Semple at Energy, Development, Infrastructure and Tourism looks very much like a policy-centred brief; with Donald Kelly leading on the specific drive to get the roads in Argyll and the Isles back up to being fit for purpose and ambition. This looks like a positive and well conceived management of potentially growth-producing and growth supporting sectors.

Housing – an area in need of substantial attention, looks like it will get it from the highly capable and energetic team of George Freeman and architect Iain Angus MacDonald.

The cultural sector will be delighted to see two briefs and not one, with Dougie Philand leading on sport and Louise Glen-Lee on culture – good appointments on both counts. These have often been lumped together in a single brief that devalued both. Each is centrally important fort Argyll and the Isles. We look forward to seeing real change and imagination leading development in these sectors.

Seeing Michael Breslin at Education will be widely encouraging. Coming from a background of high level education management, as opposed to being an educationalist as such, is exactly the skillset needed here. It is unlikely that busker-extraordinaire, Education Director Cleland Sneddon, will any longer get away with the empty sleights of hand he has been used to playing.

An early matter for Mr Breslin must be addressing the sheer cost and lack of utility of the many and growing number of posts of ‘Quality Improvement’ officers and managers in the Education Department. If these are to stay, the electorate must be shown exactly what these people have specifically ‘improved’ in the quality of education here.

We would all need to be convinced that whatever might be said to have developed under these posts has justified the substantial cost – and the opportunity cost of what might alternatively have been done with that money.

The future

Argyll and Bute (please can we have Argyll and the isles?) now has a new team and the possibility of a new era of local politics in front of it.

The promise and the expectation of better in this carries very real responsibility.

In WB Yeats’ poem, Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven, there’s a line that says it all:  ‘Tread softly for you tread on my dreams’.

NOTE: Update 24th May – Councillor posts and remunerations

Provost                                                                                                     £24,353
Leader of the Council                                                                            £32,470

Lead Councillors                                                                                     £24,353

Area Leaders                                                                                           £20,293
Lead Councillor – Opposition                                                             £20,293

Chair – Protective Services and Licensing
Committee (and Leader of Regulatory Cohort)                              £24,353

If an elected member holds more than one post, they are not, as we understand it, paid both salaries.

For 2012, nothing in this has changed.

The new programme sees short films, sculpture and works on paper located within the historic interior and collections at Mount Stuart.

These focus on contemplation and exploration, working together to bring into play the natural refuge of ‘islandness’  and the cultural diversity of Mount Stuart House.

Until we have experienced the specific works for ourselves we can say nothing about them independently, but they include:

Peninsula – by Ian Bourn conjuring changing ‘coastlines’ visually and symbolically. Ian Bourn is also creating a unique video installation specially designed for Mount Stuart and specific to its island location.

A Dance of Ownership, a Song in Hand – is a newly edited version by Skaer for Mount Stuart of the quite wonderful film commissioned by Siobhan Davies Dance, and made in 2011 on St Kilda and in Mount Stuart in collaboration with the late dancer and choreographer Gill Clarke. The work is inspired by the Mount Stuart family’s close relationship with St Kilda, which Lord Dumfries, later 5th Marquess of Bute, bought in 193, after the 1930 evacuation – and subsequently left to the National Trust for Scotland.

Communion – a short film by Nina Danino – a portrait of a young girl in the style of  Billy Williams, BSC Oscar winning cinematographer in 35mm and reminiscent of the photography of Hollywood stars.

What is the work of love today? – by Kate Davis, inspired by documentation recording the brief transformation of Mount Stuart to a naval hospital, offering care and sanctuary to military patients during the First World War.

We will be reporting on these exciting works when the new programme is launched in the third week of June 2012.

One of the passengers onboard had taken ill.

The lifeboat met up with the cruise-ship in the Firth of Lorne where crew-member, Dr. Colin Wilson, went aboard to attend the patient.

The lifeboat then returned to Oban, refuelled and was ready for service again at 15.40. All in a day’s work.

Reports that the Alliance of Independent Councillors, the Conservatives and the Libdems had cobbled together a majority came to nothing and the Coalition for Progress which includes SNP, Argyll First and Independent Councillors have swept into power and formed the new administration. The voting was as follows:

• Roddy McCuish was elected Leader by a 20-16 majority against Dick Walsh
• Isobel Strong was voted Provost 20-16 majority against Len Scoullar
• Douglas Philand was voted Depute Provist unopposed
• John Semple was voted Depute Leader 20-16 majority against Ellen Morton