0:00:02 > 0:00:05The council - the organisation we love to complain about.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09All they want to do is tell you how much of a knob-end you are.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11You're right.As quick as you can.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15I'll give you five minutes.You get quite a bit of abuse now and again.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18People shouting at you as they drive past, as if it's our fault.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23Councils across Scotland have endured challenging budget cuts
0:00:23 > 0:00:27while demands for public services have increased.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29The pressure has never been greater.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32I'm not really one normally for doing house clearances,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35but this is by far one of the worst ones I've seen.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39The resources out there have just not been there for them.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44There's nobody to help me, nobody, you don't understand at all.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Argyll and Bute's council on Scotland's West Coast
0:00:49 > 0:00:54delivers those crucial services to some of the UK's most remote areas.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58A wee bit of West Coast liquid sunshine.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59He's not coming.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02You're joking me. Because of the weather.What?!
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Get the clothes on now.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11From island staff working up to six jobs to keep those services going...
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Started off, I was just doing the roads and then
0:01:14 > 0:01:18they added the grave-digging, and the grass-cutting at the school.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21..to those dedicated to reaching clients
0:01:21 > 0:01:24hundreds of miles from the nearest cities,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27these are the staff on the front line.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Argyll and Bute on the West Coast of Scotland
0:01:46 > 0:01:49is home to a rugged and coastal landscape,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52made up of over 2,300 miles of coastline,
0:01:52 > 0:01:5523 inhabited islands
0:01:55 > 0:01:57and the terrain is divided
0:01:57 > 0:02:01by several beautiful, but long sea lochs.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Almost 80% of the population live within a mile of the coast,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09in or near the main waterfront towns.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13And with the area attracting millions of tourists every year,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15the council face a challenge
0:02:15 > 0:02:19to preserve and improve the seafront areas.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Across Argyll and Bute,
0:02:27 > 0:02:31there are 12 amenity wardens who deal with everything
0:02:31 > 0:02:34from ticketing abandoned cars, dog fouling
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and fly-tipping to pest control.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Covering the areas of Cowal and Bute
0:02:39 > 0:02:43is one of the council's most experienced wardens, Jim.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I really enjoy working with people.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49And I'm also sympathetic towards people's situations.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52And if I can find a way to help them, I'll help them.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56So this is us driving along the promenade.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Lovely...and nice weather.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It's unfortunate it's raining today.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Today, Jim is responding to a complaint from residents
0:03:06 > 0:03:08in a block of flats in Rothesay
0:03:08 > 0:03:12that an empty property has a trapped pigeon inside.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15We're going to go and have a look and see what the flat's like.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18This'll be a first visit, I haven't seen it before.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20So let's go up the stairs and see what we see.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Pigeon droppings can cause respiratory problems.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29So we will go up with our mask on and a white suit.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36When I was younger, I could do this no problem.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47I think it's pretty obvious we've got a problem in here.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Put my mask on here.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I don't know if you want to come in here, but...
0:03:57 > 0:03:59..it's something else.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03The flat has been lying empty for over ten years.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Well, if you've got an abandonment situation
0:04:06 > 0:04:10and you're next to a seaside, you've got a lot of pigeons...
0:04:11 > 0:04:14..and there's a big hole there they're using as their front door...
0:04:16 > 0:04:19..and it goes on for a long, long time...
0:04:19 > 0:04:21..to be honest, it can't get much worse.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23But we can't have the pigeons coming in, just...
0:04:25 > 0:04:27INTERVIEWER: Is this a council house?
0:04:27 > 0:04:31No, it's most likely to be a private landlord or has been owned
0:04:31 > 0:04:36by somebody who might have passed away or who might have moved away.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Maybe had no next of kin. A whole range of things.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42There is an occupied flat next door.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45You can understand why the other residents would complain.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49There is a department within the council that looks at these,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52trying to bring properties back to occupancy
0:04:52 > 0:04:56because...we need properties for people.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00There are almost 3,000 people across Argyll and Bute
0:05:00 > 0:05:02on the housing list awaiting a home.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07And this flat is one of over 1,000 long-term empty properties.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Hopefully, one day, this will be a nice flat.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I'm sure, as time goes on...
0:05:14 > 0:05:17..it'll come back to life again.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25A lot of the things that we do today require follow-ups,
0:05:25 > 0:05:31so that's just their nature. Some you can close on the first visit.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34But a lot of things...
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Anything we go to see regarding rodents requires a follow-up.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Although not a council property, the pigeon infestation
0:05:43 > 0:05:47is causing a risk to health for the neighbouring flats,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50so Jim calls in an environmental officer.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Richard here is going to do an assessment for works required.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57So we'll head up now.OK.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I work a lot with Jim...
0:06:02 > 0:06:04..looking at nuisance -
0:06:04 > 0:06:10from smells, accumulations, rubbish, smoke, that sort of stuff.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Oh, my goodness. What's actually happened here? Pigeon carcasses.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22Three or four down there. And lots of droppings.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Yeah, the carpet's going to have to come up.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30We're in the position now where we're going to need to serve notice.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32At the moment, we don't have an owner.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35And we've got a name, but not anyone that's willing to come forward
0:06:35 > 0:06:40and do any of this work, so I think it's, yeah,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43the only option is for the council the come in, serve notice.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46If the work's not done, we'll do it in default,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50get a contractor to come in and clean it up as much as possible.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54This would be a very nice flat for someone.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58I think it's a shame that places are abandoned like this,
0:06:58 > 0:07:00and particularly seafront.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03It impacts on all the businesses around.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09The clean-up will cost the council £3,500.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13The bigger picture here is the council are working hard to get
0:07:13 > 0:07:17this tenement block up into a good standard, so all the neighbours have
0:07:17 > 0:07:21got together, they're all looking at investing in their property.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24So if you've got something like that sitting in the middle of it,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26that really holds everything back.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29I think it's important to get rid of the nuisance,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32but really important to make sure that that place is cleaned up
0:07:32 > 0:07:36and the neighbours can get on with doing this place up and, you know,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39using what is a really lovely property on the seafront.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Across Scotland,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55there are 26,000 supported adults with learning disability.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00In Argyll and Bute, the adult learning disability team
0:08:00 > 0:08:04is spread out over four bases throughout the council's territory.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08And its staff have to travel long distances to see their clients.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Argyll and Bute. Wild and lovely.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Always raining.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21But then you get one sunny day and everything sparkles
0:08:21 > 0:08:22and you forgive it.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Occupational therapist Pamela has been working with
0:08:26 > 0:08:30the adult learning disability service for the last 14 years.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33I'm off to see Christopher.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40Christopher and I are going to be doing some bereavement counselling.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45Christopher's... I think Christopher is 39 and he has Down's syndrome
0:08:45 > 0:08:47and a learning disability.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49And he lost his mum...
0:08:49 > 0:08:53..I think it must be about four years now.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57It was quite a sudden death and quite a shock for all of the family.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00People with learning disabilities,
0:09:00 > 0:09:04it's difficult for them to process grief like you or I would.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Here we are.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Christopher's house.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17I hope he's got the kettle on.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20How are you today?I'm fine.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21Good, good.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25I don't often see you in a suit.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Well, you have now.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31I wear it for my funerals.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34For your funerals?Funerals.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Well, I hope it doesn't feel like a funeral today.No.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41I've got some pictures here for you.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45I know you like working in pictures, don't you?I do.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52So, a funeral, you know what a funeral's about, don't you?
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Oh, yes, I do, actually.Also, we might sing songs and say prayers.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Well, I don't do that.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01You don't do that? You don't sing? No, I just...
0:10:01 > 0:10:03HE HUMS
0:10:06 > 0:10:07You just hum.I just hum.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I do a bit of that as well, yeah.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I mean, the reason I'm doing this with you is because of,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19you know, the difficulties that sometimes you feel with,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21you know, when you think about Mum.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Yes, I have.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27And how are you feeling about that now?
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Sometimes OK, but sometimes I don't.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Sometimes not.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Sometimes I miss her.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Sometimes you miss her.Yeah.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Yeah, but that's natural, isn't it?Yes, yes.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Have you got a picture you can show me or a little album of you and Mum?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48I have. That's my album.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I'll just show you, me and my mum.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57This is my mum with the two dogs.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58Oh!
0:10:58 > 0:11:01A lot of things have been lost.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03A lot of things have been lost.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Sometimes I don't get it.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10You don't understand why all these things have happened?
0:11:10 > 0:11:14I'm just wondering if you ever have any of these feelings.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16You know.Well, sometimes I feel...
0:11:17 > 0:11:20What do you think that picture, what do you think he's saying?
0:11:20 > 0:11:23Upset.He's upset.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Uh-huh.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Lonely and upset. Lonely and upset, yes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Sometimes you feel lonely and upset.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33It's OK to have all these different...to feel angry,
0:11:33 > 0:11:39to feel sad, to feel upset, to cry, it's OK, it's natural
0:11:39 > 0:11:41to feel like that.Yeah, I know.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Yeah, you know that.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Not enough to do. You'd like more to do in your life.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Uh-huh.Like practise a gig.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Something to do with myself. A gig.Mmm.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02I think part of the sense of loss is that he doesn't have...
0:12:02 > 0:12:06..really something that he knows is going to happen
0:12:06 > 0:12:08that's really positive in the future.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11You know, most of us can make plans for a holiday or a new hobby.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15But, you know, he doesn't have anything to look forward to
0:12:15 > 0:12:18at the moment, and I think he needs that.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21That's my plans.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31INTERVIEWER:Do you want to be a DJ or a musician?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Yes.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35What would your DJ name be?
0:12:36 > 0:12:38Wolf.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39Like Wolf.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42DJ Wolf?Mm-hm.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48I think I'm going to do this, a gig...for myself.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Copying music and put it on my laptop.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56And we make a list.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59And we go and practise.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06But sometimes I like to do things for myself
0:13:06 > 0:13:08by learning my gig practice.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Number four is a big step.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Um...I'm going to put on this big performance...
0:13:14 > 0:13:16..put on my gig.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22I want to do it myself. A big crowd of people. A big crowd.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Christopher thinks big, you know, he's got big ideas.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Quite often, people with a learning disability
0:13:31 > 0:13:34can't fulfil their dreams on their own.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36By the very nature of their disability,
0:13:36 > 0:13:41they just usually can't organise these things themselves.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44So they need us to kind of help them...
0:13:46 > 0:13:50..realise their dreams, ambitions, hopes.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01The town of Oban is the gateway to the Hebridean islands -
0:14:01 > 0:14:05one of Argyll and Bute's busiest tourist destinations
0:14:05 > 0:14:09where the population triples during the summer season.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15OK, folks, can I ask you to stand back from the side there?
0:14:15 > 0:14:17We're going to be pushing ropes across in a minute.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19You're welcome just to stand a few paces back.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Do you want it on the bollard?
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Oban harbour's North Pier is managed by the council.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30What are you doing there, mate? Jumping in the water.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32No, you're not. No, you're not. I was in earlier on.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Not now, we've got activity going on.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Just take him away with your clothes.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Why don't you go and sit down over there?
0:14:38 > 0:14:41You're not going in the water. You're not going in the water.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Look.Do you know this chap?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Whay-oh! I think he's best taken away.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Get his clothes on. Get your clothes on.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Do you want me to call the police? Get the clothes on now.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57What do you think you're playing at? Sorry, who are you?
0:14:57 > 0:14:59I'm the harbour master. Are you actually?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02And there's vessels here and it's dangerous.Sorry.Right.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07You need to get yourself off the pier now.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08Get him out of the water.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20The pier is now undergoing a major new development...
0:15:21 > 0:15:25..a brand-new berthing step-ashore facility
0:15:25 > 0:15:29to allow leisure boat passengers easier access to the town.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38Have you asked them to leave?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40No pooping!
0:15:40 > 0:15:42There's a pound for a dinghy,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44I don't know what it is for a seagull.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47The council's project manager, Kirsteen,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51has been overseeing the development for the last 18 months.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55We're complete and we're fully operational.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58The contractors had opened and signed off ahead of time,
0:15:58 > 0:15:59which is fantastic.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03There's been a big team of us trying to get this in the water
0:16:03 > 0:16:05and get it delivered, as per planning
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and all the regulations you have to go through.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11So it's been good to get to this point and feel we've really
0:16:11 > 0:16:14achieved something for Oban, which they've deserved it for so long.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16More and more people want to come here on holidays
0:16:16 > 0:16:18and you can see that just by the amount of boats
0:16:18 > 0:16:20that have appeared out of nowhere.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23We haven't even advertised it as open yet and it's already full.
0:16:25 > 0:16:26This is only a transit place.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28You only come in here for up to three days.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31And the idea is that people will like it so much
0:16:31 > 0:16:32they'll want to base their boats here
0:16:32 > 0:16:35and then they'll go and populate all the local marinas
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and get all their services done there,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39which grows the business for everybody,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41which is what we were after.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I hope you're not making me look wobbly from behind.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55If I wobble in that...
0:17:01 > 0:17:02Today is quite an exciting day.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05As you can see, we've got really big private yachts in.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08We've also got the lifeboats coming in, they've got to come in
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and do some checks, so it's all coming together at the same time.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13We've got a big cruise liner arriving which means
0:17:13 > 0:17:16we'll be unloading 1,000 passengers through this gateway.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19One of the other reasons we did this new facility
0:17:19 > 0:17:21is to be able to have cruise liners come in
0:17:21 > 0:17:23and because of the age of some of the passengers,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26they were a bit uncomfortable coming in to the former arrangements.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29So with these ones, because it's all more compliant and wider walkways
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and there's railings and stuff, it means even more people
0:17:32 > 0:17:35can come ashore and enjoy Oban and its surrounding areas.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44The council estimate that the project will generate
0:17:44 > 0:17:48up to £20 million in income for the local economy.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53But at a cost of £2.5 million, the development has also been
0:17:53 > 0:17:56subject to resistance from some local parties.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58You're always going to get people who think
0:17:58 > 0:18:00that the council is stealing all the people's money
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and not doing things properly and are being a bit rubbish at stuff
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and you have to answer their questions as well
0:18:06 > 0:18:08and answer them to the best of your ability
0:18:08 > 0:18:10and when they're not satisfied with the answers,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12it gets escalated cos I have to get on with my job.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I know that the majority of people
0:18:14 > 0:18:17that are negative about these projects, I think
0:18:17 > 0:18:20I've got a professional outlook that lets me look past it,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23but I wouldn't say I've got thick skin because I do go home,
0:18:23 > 0:18:24read some of the stuff on social media,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and it is upsetting because when they're saying
0:18:27 > 0:18:28that the project manager is stealing the money
0:18:28 > 0:18:31or the project manager's actions are verging on criminal
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and she should be fired and it's not like
0:18:33 > 0:18:35I can't pretend it's someone else they're talking about.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37So I wouldn't say I had a thick skin,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39I'd just say that it's part of the job.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42That's why I get paid £15 million a year...
0:18:42 > 0:18:43..plus tips.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49It's a fantastic thing to see -
0:18:49 > 0:18:51to have that right in the middle of your town centre.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It's starting to look as good as some of the continental ones,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56so, Costa del Oban.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Every local authority has a statutory duty
0:19:09 > 0:19:11to prevent and reduce homelessness.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Last year, more than 34,000 people
0:19:15 > 0:19:18were registered as homeless across the country.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21In Argyll and Bute,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Oban has one of the highest numbers of homeless applications.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Area housing officer Ailsa has been working with the council
0:19:30 > 0:19:32for the last 12 years.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37I'll never be a local. No.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41I've lived here for more than 17 years and I'm not a local,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44not for a while yet, if ever.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48I've got to drop the Campbeltown accent before that happens.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53We're going to see a girl who's got a baby, about a year old now,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57she was living with family and they asked her to leave,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00just because of the issues with sort of space,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02having the wee one as well in the house.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06We don't tend to get many who are entirely roofless
0:20:06 > 0:20:09and have no fixed address or whatever.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12We do get people who apply from the family home, saying that it's
0:20:12 > 0:20:15overcrowded or they've fallen out with Mum and Dad.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19That is quite a common occurrence.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23A lot of the applicants are between 18 and 25.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25You can apply as homeless from 16.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Anyone assessed to be homeless is entitled to be
0:20:33 > 0:20:35housed in temporary accommodation.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39The council's overall budget to provide that accommodation
0:20:39 > 0:20:42is just over £1 million a year.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Get my exercise in for the day.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Hiya, how are you getting on? Hello, how are you?I'm all right.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57How's things?
0:20:57 > 0:21:0120-year-old Niamh has been living in temporary accommodation
0:21:01 > 0:21:04for six months until a permanent home can be found
0:21:04 > 0:21:06for her and her daughter Isla.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15I'm not here to check. I'm not here to check the dust on your telly.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Hiya.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19What are you saying?
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So, what happens, when the housing associations are looking
0:21:23 > 0:21:25at you for a house, they will contact you.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28So you'll get a phone call from either Acha or from West Highland.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31So they'll be looking at the fact that it's you and Isla
0:21:31 > 0:21:34in the household and you need a two-bed. Once they've done that,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37you will then be notified in writing what the offer is to you.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40OK? And it tells you on the letter that you get three days
0:21:40 > 0:21:44to get in touch with them to say if you're going to accept or refuse it.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47You'll hear before we do if you're going to get an offer.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50They'll phone you. Get back to them as soon as you can.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Have that mobile on. Okey-dokey. Right, I'll be in touch with you.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58And as I say, let us know if there's anything, erm...
0:21:58 > 0:22:01And I'm starting to save a bit of money.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04I'm trying to put money aside for it.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05I know, because it is expensive.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Because the likelihood is that the housing association property
0:22:09 > 0:22:11will not have anything, not even carpets.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13So it's something you need to think about.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Are you going to come and say bye?OK.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Off jumping off the couch. Don't hurt yourself.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Are you coming up? Come on.OK.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25Ta-ta, see you soon. You have a nice day with Granny.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29OK, no bother, see you later. Goodbye.Goodbye.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Here we go. What's the matter? Mummy's making dinner.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40Look, we're going to have pasta and dinosaurs and peas.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44After I had Isla, we were struggling in my mum and dad's house
0:22:44 > 0:22:47and it was just getting a bit cramped.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51So my mum said that she wanted to make me homeless.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53So she wrote a letter to Ailsa, to the council.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56INTERVIEWER:And who was it in with your mum and dad at the time?
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Was it just you and Isla?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01No, there was me, Isla, my brother Kieran
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and sometimes his girlfriend Laura would come and stay.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05And that was it.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08And two cats and a dog. It was a pretty busy house.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Me and her dad separated.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13It's just me and her, better that way, I think.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Do you want some milk as well?
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Niamh is desperate for the council to find her a permanent home,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23following an attack by her previous partner
0:23:23 > 0:23:27whilst living in the temporary accommodation.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30He was agitated and we just started arguing about Isla
0:23:30 > 0:23:34and he was saying... He went upstairs and he was holding Isla
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and he was saying, "Mummy's bad, Mummy's bad."
0:23:37 > 0:23:39He was just being really nasty.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42So we came into the kitchen and I asked him to leave
0:23:42 > 0:23:44and he kind of towered over me.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47I actually was standing here in this position
0:23:47 > 0:23:51and then he was walking towards me and I was screaming at him
0:23:51 > 0:23:54to get out of the flat cos he was quite intimidating.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55He's six foot nearly.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57So it's quite intimidating.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Obviously, I'm just under five foot, so I asked him to leave
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and I was raising my voice which probably made him more angry.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08And then all I felt was him grabbing my arms and then he put them
0:24:08 > 0:24:12behind my back and then he grabbed my mouth and my nose
0:24:12 > 0:24:13and restricted my breathing.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16And wouldn't let go. Then eventually my brother got him off me.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Eventually. And then they left and I phoned the police.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23So I think it's probably more making new memories, better memories
0:24:23 > 0:24:27because there's not many good memories in here, obviously,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29because the assault happened in here.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32So I kind of want to move somewhere to make better memories with Isla.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I want to know that I'm in somewhere secure
0:24:35 > 0:24:40and I kind of want to be somewhere that he doesn't know where I am.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Good girl. We have got a really good bond, me and Isla.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45You know, she's my wee bestie.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48What are you doing?
0:24:48 > 0:24:52She's had a lot on her plate recently, but she's doing fine.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55She keeps her flat really nice. The wee girl is immaculate.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Don't have any concerns about the tenancy or the child
0:24:58 > 0:24:59that I would be passing on.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01It's just a case of we'll keep her in the loop.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04But in an area like Oban, I think
0:25:04 > 0:25:07most people appreciate that there's no empty homes sitting
0:25:07 > 0:25:10waiting on someone coming along who needs it that day.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13There has to be some form of waiting system for it.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16You can't let it get to you because if you took all the stuff
0:25:16 > 0:25:18you hear and all the people you deal with
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and the issues they have home with you, you couldn't cope with it,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25you have to develop a sort of thick skin in that respect.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28You have empathy for the situation that they're in, but you have to
0:25:28 > 0:25:32deal with it professionally and everyone is treated the same.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35I feel the same about me getting a house as I do about the next person
0:25:35 > 0:25:38on the list getting a house because they all need to get settled.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40And we are part of that process.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Nearly half of all Argyll and Bute's population
0:25:54 > 0:25:57live in remote and rural areas,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00meaning the mains water supply does not always reach them.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Private water supplies taken from local lochs,
0:26:05 > 0:26:09wells or rainwater collection are vulnerable to contamination,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13so the council must annually test them for all commercial properties.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24On an early morning ferry is council regulatory officer Ian
0:26:24 > 0:26:28on route to the island of Coll to run some private water supply tests.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34We do have to cover the islands and they are remote, some of them,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37three or four hours on a ferry to get there, certainly.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40The thing about the samples I take is that they have to be
0:26:40 > 0:26:43back in the labs in Glasgow within 24 hours.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47So, yeah, a bit of a rush to get them back tonight.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Coll has got a main village of Arinagour.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55It's got water which is... Scottish Water look after them.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58As soon as you're out of the village, that's it.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Everywhere is on private water supplies.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02The best-tasting water will come from a spring.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05The worst, probably a lochan, I would think.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Lots of wildlife in it, growing and breeding,
0:27:09 > 0:27:12it doesn't bear thinking about sometimes.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16And that's what we get involved in, trying to make it safe
0:27:16 > 0:27:19for the people that live in the houses to drink.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25It keeps you fit as well, get on the bike as well.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33The commercial businesses on the island
0:27:33 > 0:27:35that are on private water supplies
0:27:35 > 0:27:40have to use the local authority to get their water tested yearly.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43They can't go anywhere else to get it done.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Because basically we police and enforce.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48The water from the tap's got to be drinkable.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51And to make it drinkable, we have to treat it.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55All the private water supplies that aren't treated
0:27:55 > 0:27:58will contain bacteria and that's what you've got to get rid of.
0:28:07 > 0:28:13First to be tested today is a small B&B run by local Fiona.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Do you have guests in today at all? I do.OK.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18I've explained that you're coming. OK.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19I just don't think it's right.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22I think when somebody's lived in a property and they've had
0:28:22 > 0:28:25perfect water, why start mucking about with everything now?
0:28:25 > 0:28:28And of course there's also the added expense of it all
0:28:28 > 0:28:31because they don't do it for nothing,
0:28:31 > 0:28:33you have to pay to have your water tested.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35OK.It automatically comes on.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Automatically comes on, so that's fine. So that's it, perfect.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39All right?Yeah, very good, perfect.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42But Ian's department and Ian himself have been very good.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45They've helped and guided me on what I should have.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56Well, we're heading about six miles, 10K, to the Hebridean Centre.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59It's probably the biggest employer on the whole island here,
0:28:59 > 0:29:01but it actually failed last time.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Hopefully the situation has been rectified.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Good to see you, mate.Not bad at all.All right. Good stuff.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14It's good to see that you've taken advantage of your...
0:29:14 > 0:29:17..of the boiler notice that we served you here.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20And you've got your sign up there basically telling people here
0:29:20 > 0:29:22not to drink the water unless it's been boiled.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I'll scrub the entire tap to make sure there's no germs on it
0:29:25 > 0:29:26whatsoever.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30Because cross-contamination in the water can be a huge problem.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40And that is the sample taken.OK.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43OK, John, thanks for that.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51Last on the list is a holiday home off the beaten track.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55So Ian must abandon his bike and make it there by foot.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58The ferry is at six,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02so if I haven't reached that house by an hour, we ain't going.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04And we'll come back. So I'm going across here.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06This is going to be really slidey.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08And I mean really horrible.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14In Argyll, the council, we've got a policy of when we're
0:30:14 > 0:30:18working remotely like this that we've got a contact number
0:30:18 > 0:30:22we can phone and say I'm going to be away for three or four hours.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24If you don't hear from me, send the troops out.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30The owner wants to sell, so has asked for the water to be tested.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33But Ian is on a deadline.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38We'll get in there, get a sample and then get ourselves out of here.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Because we're cutting it fine. I don't want to miss that ferry.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44That would be the worst thing in the world to do for us,
0:30:44 > 0:30:46because it would mean being stuck here tonight.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01We've made the ferry. Going to get home tonight eventually.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Yeah, it's quite a long day.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06And I probably cycled today... I think it's about 17 or 18 miles
0:31:06 > 0:31:08cycled today.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10So, yeah, good day, thoroughly enjoyed it
0:31:10 > 0:31:11and I will sleep well tonight.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23A few days later and the results are in.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26For two of those tested, it is good news.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30But for the owner of the holiday home, it is less straightforward.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Hello, it's Ian Campbell here from Argyll and Bute Council.
0:31:33 > 0:31:34How you doing?
0:31:34 > 0:31:39Just to let you know that the chemical results have come in, OK?
0:31:39 > 0:31:42Right.Now, they're actually worse than I thought.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It's failing on lead, which is very high.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48You've got lead pipes somewhere in the house.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51The iron rate is at five times what it should be.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54The pH is one of the lowest I've seen ever.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59I would advise not to drink the water just now.Yeah.OK.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01This is the worst one because there's
0:32:01 > 0:32:04so much stuff in that water which it would be hard to get out.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08So I think it's going to have to be a borehole.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12Probably a borehole will cost him about £5,000, £6,000, £7,000.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15If he chooses not to do anything, I don't know, he can reduce
0:32:15 > 0:32:18the price of the house and hope someone buys it.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21We in the council can't get involved by saying
0:32:21 > 0:32:23yeah, you must do this or that,
0:32:23 > 0:32:25ie, you must do a borehole or you must do whatever.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Because if it doesn't work, who's going to get the blame?
0:32:41 > 0:32:45Occupational therapist Pamela has been working with Christopher
0:32:45 > 0:32:47for the last five years.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53Part of our job is to support, you know, in the very daily things
0:32:53 > 0:32:57that need done, like shopping, personal care and budgeting.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00But, you know, I think we need to go beyond that,
0:33:00 > 0:33:02so people have something to look forward to,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05that they have a sense of identity.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Yeah. I think we all have our hopes and dreams.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14They're deserving as much as anyone else.
0:33:17 > 0:33:18We are about to meet Ruth.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Ruth is our care manager,
0:33:20 > 0:33:24one of our colleagues working on the social work side.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Actually, Ruth's known Christopher
0:33:27 > 0:33:30for a very long time, many, many years.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37He spends a lot of time talking about things that are not
0:33:37 > 0:33:40happening in his life, things that he wants to have happen in his life.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44The biggest one he keeps talking about is doing a gig.
0:33:44 > 0:33:50What I'd like to see happen is, you know, him working towards
0:33:50 > 0:33:56that goal, to see that possibility of him being a DJ and having a gig.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59My fear is that I'm setting him up for, you know,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01something that might not happen.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I think that's the general feeling, uh-huh.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Cos I won't be able to do it on my own.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10You know, I would rather people that he's involved with,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13who he's already been working with, were involved with it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17So he always has these ideas, very grand ideas, and some of these ideas
0:34:17 > 0:34:22are excellent but it's about scaling it down to what's manageable.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23It's just the fear of...
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Cos I see this lone person up, you know, with, whatever,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30his machine, his decks...I know that. I didn't visualise that.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33I always visualise him having support.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37All of those people coming in and you just think...mm.Yeah.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Possibly not. Possibly not.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48Ruth may be worried that we're setting him up to fail,
0:34:48 > 0:34:53that maybe in the pursuit of this, him being this big DJ,
0:34:53 > 0:34:57doing this big gig, somewhere along the line we'll fail.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00You know, that's a legitimate concern, I think.
0:35:02 > 0:35:07But, you know, maybe, if Christopher isn't willing to accept a...
0:35:07 > 0:35:12smaller version of his dream, then he might want to abandon it himself.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24I'd like to put on this gig.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Now I'm thinking I'm not ready to do this.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32I'm thinking it's a bit too much.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35But it's not too much.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55In Oban, housing officer Ailsa has been working
0:35:55 > 0:35:59with 20-year-old Niamh, who was made homeless ten months ago.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11The waiting time just now is relatively short.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14I know it may feel to the people that are waiting on a house
0:36:14 > 0:36:17that six, seven months is quite a long time.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19It has been as high as two years.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22I'm on the way to see Niamh today.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24She was offered a house last week,
0:36:24 > 0:36:26through West Highland Housing Association.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28And so she's in the process of moving into that, so we're
0:36:28 > 0:36:32going up to see her today, to see how she's getting on with her move.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36They'll both be very excited, but moving home is stressful,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39cos there's a lot of things that she may well not be familiar with
0:36:39 > 0:36:41from not having had her own tenancy before.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49Hello!Hiya, how are you?Fine, how are you?Oh, I'm all right.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Are you getting on OK or are you very stressed?Very stressed.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55Very stressed. It's not easy moving house.No, I know.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58That's when you realise all the stuff you've accumulated.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03So, this is it.Oh, very nice. It's massive. My kitchen's the best.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06And how's Isla?Oh... Is it a bit strange for her?
0:37:06 > 0:37:08No, she's been all right, actually.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11I thought she would be a bit unsettled
0:37:11 > 0:37:14but she seems to know what's going on, so...
0:37:14 > 0:37:17That's a nice size too, very nice. I'm very pleased with it.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21So who's this out in the garden with Isla?Billy. This is my new man.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25He's lovely. From Edinburgh.I'll go out and say hello.Aye, that's fine.
0:37:29 > 0:37:30Hiya, how're you getting on?
0:37:30 > 0:37:32I'm just getting the low-down on you,
0:37:32 > 0:37:33that's what I was getting there!
0:37:33 > 0:37:36All good, I hope?It was all right, yeah! Sure it was, eh?
0:37:38 > 0:37:41Is that good? So you know where we are if you're ever stuck.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43We don't mind you phoning up and asking something.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45We can put you on to somebody.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49You know, rather than get into any difficulties here, because what
0:37:49 > 0:37:51we want is for you to be here and this is your permanent home now.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58And we don't really want anybody back! That's the truth!
0:37:58 > 0:38:00You don't want me back. No, it's nothing personal.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02No, I know, I won't be back, don't worry.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07We're all about getting somebody a permanent home and, you know,
0:38:07 > 0:38:09we don't want setting you up here to fail, or anything like that.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12We know that you're at a stage when you're ready to do it.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And it's nice when people keep saying permanent. My permanent home.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17It's great, I love it. It's exciting.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Can't wait to get in here and cook. Oh, right, OK.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24I just want to cook, cook, cook. Oh, no, I'm not cooking tonight.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Carryout.That's a carryout or a takeaway.Takeaway, no cooking.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Yeah, that's a good excuse. But, no, that's magic. That's magic.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Right, I'll see you next week. Yes, it was lovely to see you.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Thanks for popping round. See you later.Right.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Good girl. Right, in you go. Go on, then.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45It's nice to see people getting housed.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49The be-all and end-all of what we do is getting people a permanent home.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51People are so happy at that point.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53That's what you want to see, them getting settled.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55A lot of people start to think,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58"Well, what else do I need to sort out? Can I get a job?
0:38:58 > 0:39:00"Will I go back to college?"
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Because not having a home is a big thing that hangs over people
0:39:04 > 0:39:06and once they get that sorted, they can look at what
0:39:06 > 0:39:10they want to do in the future as well, so it's nice, it's good.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13It's the best part of the job, is seeing someone get a house.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26There are around 2,000 planning applications made in Argyle and Bute
0:39:26 > 0:39:29every year and each one of them
0:39:29 > 0:39:33has to be assessed by a council planning officer, like Rory.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Today is going out to Islay, which is
0:39:37 > 0:39:40one of the areas I'm sort of nominally responsible for,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43and doing the site visits for these applications.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50Economical development can be a precious thing where we are,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52so we really do our best to facilitate that,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55but it has to be the right thing, in the right place.
0:39:59 > 0:40:00Most of the area I cover, there is
0:40:00 > 0:40:03a real traditional character to the buildings in the built
0:40:03 > 0:40:08development and that is not always necessarily compatible with
0:40:08 > 0:40:12modern needs and development so there can be a tension, definitely.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16So sometimes this is, like, a crucial bit,
0:40:16 > 0:40:19is standing out on the ferry as you approach or as you leave.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Sometimes there are just views that are really
0:40:21 > 0:40:24important from the ferry that are going to affect how this
0:40:24 > 0:40:26place is experienced and you don't get it from anywhere else,
0:40:26 > 0:40:29so it can be an important part of how you look at things.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Once on Islay, Rory wants to assess the development plot
0:40:36 > 0:40:40from a distance to see how it will fit into the landscape.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45So what we've got is a house that's under construction
0:40:45 > 0:40:48and someone looking to put up a couple of timber cabins
0:40:48 > 0:40:50in the garden ground for holiday letting.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55You can see at least that there's a significant backdrop to the
0:40:55 > 0:40:58development, which is good. It's sort of got a setting around it.
0:40:58 > 0:41:03I think to have two timber cabins in there, in what will probably look...
0:41:03 > 0:41:05You know, will look OK in the landscape.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09When I'm looking at these things,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11I have a logical process that I go through and it starts off with -
0:41:11 > 0:41:15is the principle of this thing broadly consistent
0:41:15 > 0:41:18with our development plan policy? So the answer to this one is yes,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20small-scale tourism development.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24So then we just have to look at the specifics.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Immediately here, we have a bit of a problem.
0:41:27 > 0:41:32There's a separate road opening permit consent process that
0:41:32 > 0:41:35needs to be gone through before you can create new accesses onto
0:41:35 > 0:41:37the public road and I don't think that's been done.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Not something we deal with, but something we'll pass on.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43So the two cabins are proposed to go up on that...up on this ledge here.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47There's not really much to see, in terms of getting up there
0:41:47 > 0:41:49but I like to just go and have a walk around anyway, you know,
0:41:49 > 0:41:51where the things are actually going to be.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01The application says "part retrospective"
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and I thought that was because the access was in
0:42:04 > 0:42:08but it turns out the cabin's already there, one of them.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12Is that allowed?No.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17I wasn't expecting that.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Fundamentally, this is a development
0:42:20 > 0:42:23that should have planning permission that doesn't.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28It's well hidden, anyway, because I didn't notice it!
0:42:30 > 0:42:32It is what it is. I've got an application in
0:42:32 > 0:42:33to assess this and I'll assess it.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40And then, based on the outcome of that assessment,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43we'll either need to take some action or we won't.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46We won't view it any more positively because it's already there
0:42:46 > 0:42:48so there may well be consequences.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52Obviously this is one. The application's for two,
0:42:52 > 0:42:55so I need to have a think about the other one as well,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57which is just going in this area of trees over here.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03Next steps for this one will be to go back to the office -
0:43:03 > 0:43:06I'll probably have a chat with my manager, my colleague,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09the enforcement officer, about the fact this is already here
0:43:09 > 0:43:10and we'll take it from there.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Rory's boss, back in Lochgilphead,
0:43:15 > 0:43:19is principal planning officer Richard.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23That's it.Why do people do this? It's just annoying.
0:43:23 > 0:43:28You know, it makes life difficult for us, it's a risk for him,
0:43:28 > 0:43:30councillors hate it. Retrospective applications.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32You know, if anything's going to push their buttons,
0:43:32 > 0:43:35it's a retrospective application. But there's nothing going on now?
0:43:35 > 0:43:37He's stopped? No, there was no-one there.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40Something's happened, because he's got halfway through
0:43:40 > 0:43:43and then applied for the two, sought to regularise it.
0:43:43 > 0:43:44We didn't intervene.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47We have a massive geographical spread
0:43:47 > 0:43:49and a limited amount of staff, really,
0:43:49 > 0:43:51and we're not everywhere at all times,
0:43:51 > 0:43:55so we do rely to a certain extent on people complaining, you know,
0:43:55 > 0:44:00on local residents noticing things that haven't got planning permission
0:44:00 > 0:44:02and informing us about it,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06so people aren't typically shy about that and it's really helpful
0:44:06 > 0:44:09because we sort of do need the help to see these things.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11But you couldn't see this till you got actually
0:44:11 > 0:44:13physically on the site, so you wouldn't see it,
0:44:13 > 0:44:16if you were driving past or whatever, you wouldn't see it.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18He's possibly done this in good faith and not realised,
0:44:18 > 0:44:19but we'll figure it out.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23We need to address what he has to do for the house.
0:44:23 > 0:44:25Yeah, I totally agree.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28If we can get all that sorted out satisfactorily,
0:44:28 > 0:44:34then my feeling is it's something in principle
0:44:34 > 0:44:35that we can support.OK.
0:44:35 > 0:44:37I did my site inspection sheet. Good man.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42Following the rules. As always.It is useful, though.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45It's always great to run things past Richard.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47He essentially has the same thoughts that I do.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51I think this one is lucky that, I think,
0:44:51 > 0:44:54ultimately it's going to be a positive outcome.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57Something of this scale that's retrospective,
0:44:57 > 0:45:02if it's the wrong type of thing in the wrong place, can go badly wrong.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16Look, the sun's coming out.
0:45:18 > 0:45:19Optimism.
0:45:19 > 0:45:24In Oban, Pamela and the adult learning disability team have
0:45:24 > 0:45:28decided to help Christopher take his first steps to becoming a DJ.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34So, today, I'm hoping to be able to say to him
0:45:34 > 0:45:36that I'd like to support him
0:45:36 > 0:45:40and find out from him exactly what his vision is...
0:45:42 > 0:45:45..so that we can try and accommodate it as much as possible.
0:45:47 > 0:45:48Potentially, it could be great.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57Hello!
0:45:57 > 0:46:01Christopher, can you remember I was talking to you
0:46:01 > 0:46:05about the DJing people... Yes...that I've come across?Mm-hm.
0:46:05 > 0:46:10They are a small company who are experts
0:46:10 > 0:46:13in training people up to be DJs. Yes.
0:46:15 > 0:46:21And one of them in particular is a really well known DJ
0:46:21 > 0:46:23and he's very skilled.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25Well, these people, I think, would be
0:46:25 > 0:46:29willing to come along and assess what you can do
0:46:29 > 0:46:35and give you any training that you might need to put on a gig.Mm-hm.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38I love that.Do you like that idea? You love that idea.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40Hello!Hi.
0:46:40 > 0:46:44I've got some gentlemen here... Hello!
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Christopher, good to meet you. I've heard a lot of good things.
0:46:46 > 0:46:52How are you?I'm good. I'm Steven. I'm Jack.Nice to meet you, Jack.
0:46:52 > 0:46:56So, I hear you're a bit of a DJ. Yep, it's true.Excellent.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59So, what kind of DJ stuff do you have?
0:46:59 > 0:47:01I've got lots of things.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05I've got something in my room to set up music.OK.
0:47:05 > 0:47:06I don't know how they work.OK.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09I think one of you guys will try to help me out.
0:47:09 > 0:47:11Yeah, yeah, we can certainly have a look.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14We brought some stuff with us as well, some music.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16I've got my music too.OK, OK.
0:47:20 > 0:47:26Do you remember him?Yes, I've met him.You've met him?Yeah, yeah.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29Very famous. No, he's cool.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32So you want to press play on here and push that up.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34Press play again.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36MUSIC PLAYS
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Cool.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38So what you want to do is, see the cue button?Yes.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41You want to keep on time, so you want to go one, two, three, four,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43one, two, three, four,
0:47:43 > 0:47:47one, two, three, four and then hit play.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51That's you mixed the next track in. Then you want to pull this one down.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54There we go.There you go! DJ, that's you mixed a track.
0:47:54 > 0:47:58So try and maybe cue up another one. You want to do another one?Mm-hm.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Hit the cue.Oh, sorry. Ready to hit play when it kicks in?
0:48:01 > 0:48:02One, two, three, four...
0:48:04 > 0:48:06Go. Aye, perfect.
0:48:06 > 0:48:12The guys just clicked with him and I think that he's quite excited.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15He kind of... He's much more skilled than I thought he would be
0:48:15 > 0:48:18and he's been very clear about what he needs help with,
0:48:18 > 0:48:22which is great, so I'm feeling really positive about it.
0:48:22 > 0:48:27I think he's really clearly enjoying himself there, so, yeah,
0:48:27 > 0:48:28I feel good about it.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30It went well.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32There you go!There we go. Are you hearing that?
0:48:40 > 0:48:46The economy of the area's coastal communities is driven by tourism.
0:48:46 > 0:48:50The council are hoping that £30 million of investment in the main
0:48:50 > 0:48:54seafront towns will attract more businesses
0:48:54 > 0:48:57and create jobs all year round.
0:48:57 > 0:49:01Overseeing that investment in Dunoon is project manager John.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06What do you think people think of when they think of Dunoon?
0:49:06 > 0:49:10It's perhaps, um... fond memories of their holidays
0:49:10 > 0:49:14because for Paisley, Glasgow, etc, this is where they came.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18It's a lovely place.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20There are jobs and that's good
0:49:20 > 0:49:24but there's not necessarily the high-value jobs so people, you'll
0:49:24 > 0:49:29maybe find, are working two or three jobs to keep their house going.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36One major focus of the regeneration in Dunoon
0:49:36 > 0:49:41is on the Queen's Hall, with £11 million of council investment.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43We'd the Queen's Hall looking a bit run-down
0:49:43 > 0:49:50so your initial gate into Dunoon and wider Kyle was looking a bit tired.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54But over the last 18 months, we've done phase one.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59So we're changing the whole front of the building.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03We're actually probably about four months into a 12-month build.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06So the first stage of it was the demolition works of the
0:50:06 > 0:50:09existing building we had to tear down before we do the new building.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13And then we've got a new build structure along here which is
0:50:13 > 0:50:15two storeys high.
0:50:15 > 0:50:16Come this way.
0:50:19 > 0:50:23This is the main auditorium. It got used for lots of different things.
0:50:23 > 0:50:24It got used for boxing matches,
0:50:24 > 0:50:28come as you are dances back in the sort of '50s and '60s.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30It gets used a lot for ceilidhs and highland dancing.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34"Why, at a time when budgets are being cut,
0:50:34 > 0:50:37"are you investing in a building?
0:50:37 > 0:50:40"Aren't there other things that are more important?"
0:50:40 > 0:50:44But if you look at the combination of investment around the town,
0:50:44 > 0:50:47it's small steps which, added together,
0:50:47 > 0:50:50make a sea change in how people view this town.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57At the end of the day, hopefully when you hand the building over
0:50:57 > 0:50:59and people can look at it and say,
0:50:59 > 0:51:01"Actually, it is beginning to make a difference."
0:51:01 > 0:51:06And even if that difference is only a change in perception or
0:51:06 > 0:51:07a change in attitude,
0:51:07 > 0:51:10people starting to believe in their town a bit more and say,
0:51:10 > 0:51:15"Why shouldn't Dunoon be trying to get that employer to come to
0:51:15 > 0:51:17"this town and set up business?"
0:51:17 > 0:51:21And then that just opens up the door for the young people
0:51:21 > 0:51:23across a number of fields where they can say,
0:51:23 > 0:51:27"Hey, I can go away to university and I can go and get my degree,
0:51:27 > 0:51:30"but if I want to, I can come back and live in Dunoon and work."
0:51:30 > 0:51:34As opposed to having to go in live in Glasgow or go
0:51:34 > 0:51:37and live in Edinburgh.
0:51:37 > 0:51:41While restoring the Queen's Hall to its former glory,
0:51:41 > 0:51:45John and his team unearthed an unexpected piece of the past.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49What we found when we started opening up the building was
0:51:49 > 0:51:52this time capsule. It's quite a simple construction.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55We ourselves don't actually know what's in it
0:51:55 > 0:51:58but we believe it's from about 1956, 1958.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00It's brilliant. Right, ready for this?
0:52:03 > 0:52:04Oh, a letter in a bottle.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09And some old coins.
0:52:09 > 0:52:14Alex F Dobie, the town clerk for the borough of Dunoon. Provost EF Wyatt.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17That's their business cards.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20It's a copy of the Dunoon Observer
0:52:20 > 0:52:26and Argyllshire Standard from Saturday 4th August 1956.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29There's a picture on the front page of this one of the provost
0:52:29 > 0:52:37actually inserting the capsule into the wall of the solum.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41We're off to Kirn Primary School.
0:52:41 > 0:52:46The fact that we've uncovered a time capsule from the Queen's Hall
0:52:46 > 0:52:49gives us a nice opportunity to go up and meet the kids
0:52:49 > 0:52:53and sort of stimulate discussion with them.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56The opportunity when you're doing projects like these to come in
0:52:56 > 0:52:58and work with the schools, the primary schools
0:52:58 > 0:53:00and the secondary schools, is great for us
0:53:00 > 0:53:03cos we all work for the council but we're in different parts of it.
0:53:05 > 0:53:10John is meeting Miss Wilson, teacher for the P5 class at Kirn Primary.
0:53:10 > 0:53:13That's one of the things we are keen on exploring with them, because
0:53:13 > 0:53:15of these types of projects, it is
0:53:15 > 0:53:17career opportunities that they might not normally
0:53:17 > 0:53:19see in a town as small as Dunoon,
0:53:19 > 0:53:22so when you've suddenly got big construction firms in
0:53:22 > 0:53:24and architects and mechanical engineers
0:53:24 > 0:53:26and all that kind of thing, it sparks their interest.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30These are potential careers that these children can go into
0:53:30 > 0:53:32and if you plant that seed at an early age,
0:53:32 > 0:53:35it can inspire them for the rest of their journey.
0:53:35 > 0:53:40Morning, boys and girls. My name's John Gordon. I work for the council.
0:53:40 > 0:53:45The reason I've been asked along today is we've uncovered this
0:53:45 > 0:53:47box here, a time capsule.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50So this is a chance for you to see what's gone into it
0:53:50 > 0:53:54and perhaps think about why those things went in.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57There is a bottle of Old Mull. What's that?Whisky.
0:54:00 > 0:54:04But I won't be having any! I don't think we will!
0:54:04 > 0:54:05It's a newspaper.
0:54:05 > 0:54:10Right, so that newspaper is six times older than you.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14What year is that?Um, 1956?
0:54:14 > 0:54:171956, so this is when the Queen's Hall was built
0:54:17 > 0:54:19and that's what I used to use
0:54:19 > 0:54:21to go down to the shop and buy my sweeties.
0:54:21 > 0:54:25Haribo?They didn't have Haribo when I was a boy.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27CHILDREN GASP
0:54:25 > 0:54:27Oh, I know!
0:54:27 > 0:54:29We didn't have mobile phones,
0:54:29 > 0:54:31there was only three channels on the television...
0:54:31 > 0:54:32CHILDREN CLAMOUR
0:54:36 > 0:54:37This one's good.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Huge thank you once again, John, that's been amazing.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00Pamela from the adult learning disability team has been
0:55:00 > 0:55:04continuing to support Christopher with his dream of being a DJ.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09So, great news.
0:55:09 > 0:55:14Christopher's first debut has been booked for his DJing event,
0:55:14 > 0:55:19which is brilliant and it's going to be in a pub in Oban.
0:55:19 > 0:55:26So that's really exciting news. A little bit of trepidation about it.
0:55:26 > 0:55:29Christopher's always talked about having this massive gig,
0:55:29 > 0:55:33you know, like a lot of the big DJs have, with hundreds
0:55:33 > 0:55:37and hundreds of people and the whole deal,
0:55:37 > 0:55:42and it's... Quite frankly, it won't be like that.
0:55:42 > 0:55:44I don't have much doubts about him himself,
0:55:44 > 0:55:48because he's so keen to do it. He's so motivated.
0:55:48 > 0:55:50You know, he's going to do something.
0:55:50 > 0:55:51He's going to give them a show.
0:55:51 > 0:55:55Jack and Steven are actually going to be supporting
0:55:55 > 0:55:57Christopher on the night.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00I mean, I'm hoping that he'll have a big enough crowd that he
0:56:00 > 0:56:04feels that it's a proper gig, in his eyes.
0:56:06 > 0:56:08It's part of what we do is -
0:56:08 > 0:56:13how do we keep people healthy and happy and help them
0:56:13 > 0:56:16to do what they need to do to feel good about themselves in life.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18That's an important part of our work.
0:56:24 > 0:56:29So tell me what you're feeling about tonight.I feel good tonight.
0:56:38 > 0:56:43Lovely! I'm ready to go! Shall we?
0:56:47 > 0:56:48Come on.
0:56:51 > 0:56:55Are you nervous at all?Aye. I am.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57What does this mean to you, to do this?
0:56:57 > 0:57:04It means I love to do it because... it's my life, it's my future.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07It's the way I have to get better.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11Tonight, I'll try my best.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15Lovely jubbly.
0:57:19 > 0:57:21My friends!
0:57:22 > 0:57:25Good to see you again.Jack. How're you going, how are you?
0:57:33 > 0:57:37So, will we get kicked off, then?
0:57:37 > 0:57:39So, fader up.
0:57:37 > 0:57:39MUSIC STARTS
0:57:39 > 0:57:41AUDIENCE MEMBER:Here we go!
0:57:42 > 0:57:45Ooft, here it comes. Mix it, man.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47You're going to concentrate on the faders.
0:57:51 > 0:57:53Well done. Nailed it.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09CROWD:One more tune! One more tune! One more tune!
0:58:17 > 0:58:21CROWD:DJ ROCK! DJ ROCK!