All 36 councillors have met for the first time after the local government elections in Argyll and Bute. Members have now been appointed in key positions in the council. The Leader is Councillor Roddy McCuish and the Deputy Leader is Councillor John Semple. The new Provost is Councillor Isobel Strong and the Depute Provost is Douglas Philand.

Council leader Roddy McCuish said: ‘I am honoured to be the elected leader of Argyll and Bute Council and am delighted to get the opportunity to help form a new administration. Only by all 36 Councillors working together can we make Argyll and Bute the place it deserves to be.”

Provost Isobel Strong said: ‘It is a great honour to be Provost of Argyll and Bute and I’m delighted to be elected. Billy Petrie will be a hard act to follow but I will represent the people of the area as best I can and treat all councillors fairly.’

Other appointments include:

Lead Councillor for Human Resources and Sport is Douglas Philand

Deputy Lead Councillor is Robert MacIntyre

Lead Councillor for Strategic Finance and European Affairs is James Robb

Deputy Lead Councillor is Gordon Blair

Lead Councillor for Planning and Regulatory Services is Sandy Taylor

Deputy Lead Councillor is Mary-Jean Devon

Lead Councillor for Energy, Development, Infrastructure and Tourism is John Semple

Deputy Lead Councillor is Louise Glen – Lee

Lead Councillor for Adult Care and Learning Disabilities is Anne Horn

Lead Councillor for Roads and Amenity Services is Donald Kelly

Deputy Lead Councillor is Robert G MacIntyre

Lead Councillor for Children and Families is Mary Jean Devon

Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong learning is Mike Breslin

Deputy Lead Councillor is Richard Trail

Lead Councillor for Community, Culture, Customer and Communication is Louise Glen – Lee

Lead Councillor for Housing is George Freeman

Deputy Lead Councillor is Iain Angus MacDonald

Opposition:

Lead Councillor for the opposition is Dick Walsh

Deputy Lead Councillor for the opposition is Ellen Morton

Area Committees:

Mid Argyll Kintyre and the Islands – Lead Councillor is Anne Horn

Deputy Lead Councillor is Donald Kelly

Oban, Lorn and the Isles – Lead Councillor is Louise Glen-Lee

Deputy Lead Councillor Elaine Robertson

Bute and Cowal – Lead Councillor Robert MacIntyre

Deputy Lead Councillor Gordon Blair

Helensburgh and Lomond – Lead Councillor James Robb

Deputy Lead Councillor Richard Trail

Chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing Committee and Chair of the Licensing board:

Councillor Sandy Taylor

Deputy Councillor Mary – Jean Devon