- What do you wish they knew about your community?
- What would you like to tell them about the place where you live?
- What do you think are the big issues, the key questions, for your community?
- Is there anything you’ve always wanted to talk about, but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
The Here to Hear You community conversations programme will see people all over ߣsirƵ and Bute invited to do all of this and more – to spend some time in conversation with Cllr Jim Lynch, Leader of ߣsirƵ and Bute Council, and Pippa Milne, the council’s Chief Executive.
Jim and Pippa will visit communities across ߣsirƵ and Bute and its islands over the remainder of the current council term, which ends in May 2027. This fulfils a commitment made by Jim when he became Leader of the Council in 2024 and which plays a significant part in the strategic Priorities of ߣsirƵ and Bute Council.
Upcoming Events
- Isle of Bute, Bank of Ideas, Rothesay – Wednesday 14th May – book your space at
- Dunoon, Queen’s Hall – Thursday 15th May – book your space at
Doors open 5.45pm, conversation starts at 6pm and aims to finish at 7.30pm.
Pippa is also passionate about engaging with communities at grassroots level and using the knowledge shared to help make local life and services better. They will be looking to visit as many corners of ߣsirƵ and Bute as they can.
“Communities and their council have a couple of key things in common. We’re both adapting to considerable challenges and changes, and we’re both committed to ensuring local life is as vibrant and successful as we can make it,” says Jim.
“There are areas of common ground as we consider together in conversation the places where we all live. There will be ways of working together we’ve not yet thought of. We believe that hearing straight from you is one of the best ways for all of us to make the most of what we have in common.”
Pippa adds: “All of this is why we’re committing to coming to meet with as many communities as we possibly can across the whole of ߣsirƵ and Bute. We’d like – we need – to hear from you, first and foremost.”
Here To Hear You community conversation events for 2025 will be listed below with sign-up links. The aim of each conversation is to talk with the people who live there and focus on that particular community at that time. More sessions in more places will be planned once the current series is concluded, so if you don’t see your community listed yet, please keep an eye on this page and also on the council’s social media channels for updates.
Jim concludes: “We particularly want to hear from people who may not otherwise have a chance to speak up but who have plenty to share. Hearing directly from you is the priority for us. What you have to say will help us shape our services, meet other priorities and, we hope, find ways of working together and adding our voice to yours where it counts. We’re looking forward to good, constructive conversations with as many people as possible.”
Want to know more about Here to Hear You? Get in touch at workingtogether@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Past Events
- Soroba Community Centre, Oban, PA34 4HX - Monday 17th March.
- Isle of Coll, An Cridhe, Arinagour, Wednesday 2nd April.
