THE new provost of Argyll and Bute has described it as “an absolute privilege” to hold the office...and has admitted he has some big shoes to fill.

Councillor Dougie Philand (Independent, Mid Argyll) was elected to the post after power at Argyll and Bute Council switched to the group of councillors now known as the Strategic Administration Partnership.

The roles of Provost and council leader both changed hands in dramatic fashion in April following two cuts of the cards after SNP, Labour, Green and independent councillors challenged the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and other independents for control of the authority.

And having lived in the area for more than 50 years, the 62-year-old says he is ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

Councillor, or rather Provost, Philand follows in the footsteps of some well-known faces in local government in Argyll and Bute, and particularly in Helensburgh and Lomond – not least his immediate predecessor, Helensburgh resident and Lomond North councillor Maurice Corry, and 'Mr Helensburgh', the late Billy Petrie, who had the unique distinction of being Provost of three different authorities during his 45 years in local government.

Mr Petrie, who died in 2022, was Provost of Helensburgh Town Council, Dumbarton District Council and finally Argyll and Bute Council, and was made a Freeman of Argyll and Bute in 2012 in recognition of his service to the area.

For the latest occupant of Argyll and Bute's top civic role, though, the focus is very much on the future.

And while many of Scotland's councillors will use this month's summer recess to catch up on case work or to enjoy some much-needed summer 'down time' with family, for those who now hold the reins of power in Argyll and Bute it's set to be very much a 'working summer'.

The new Provost will be part of meetings of administration councillors who will hold meetings during council recess over July and August to set priorities for the future.

He said: “It is an absolute privilege. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be Provost, following the guys who were there before me, like Billy Petrie.

“I know the circumstances are somewhat different, but I was elected fair and square, and it is amazing to be in that position.

“So far it seems to be really good. I had a really good Gaelic gathering event in Oban, which went really well, and an Armed Forces Day in Inveraray.

“I was depute provost a number of years ago, and that has certainly helped me settle, and I have a number of other events coming up.

“People ask me if I will come with the chain of office on, so it is quite touching.”

He continued: “I am independent, but everybody within our group is very like-minded and wanting to move forward. I have said at our meetings that there is a different feeling about it.

“It was a bit formal before and had a bit of a hierarchy, which I am not saying does not happen here, but the ways of working and communication are different.

“My own working life was as a psychiatric nurse by trade. I did training between Lochgilphead and Paisley before doing general nursing in Aberdeen. I then did community nursing at Glasgow Polytechnic and went into community mental health services in Argyll and Bute.

“At the very end of my career, I was in children and adult mental health services, and for a time I was working and serving as a councillor.

“The health board was really keen to have somebody within the council that one of their employees, and I did condensed days.

“I also served on Lochgilphead Community Council before becoming a councillor. I cannot even remember what the issue was, but somebody said I should stand as a result of it.”

As part of the change of administration, Councillor Jim Lynch (SNP, Oban South and the Isles) became the council’s new leader.

The provost said: “Jim is going to get us together during the recess period to work out what the priorities are.

“Although we are not having any formal committee meetings, we will discuss what has to be taken forward. So that is a work in progress.

“If you take politics out of it, Jim is a leader and I have admired that. He is very good at talking to people and does not avoid things – he wants open and honest debate.

“He accepts that if we make a collective decision, that is what we will do. Sometimes we have been told what to do, but I have absolute confidence in himas a leader.”

Born in Glasgow, Councillor Philand was one of the first residents at the iconic Red Road flats in the city when they were built in the mid-1960s, before moving to Ardrishaig at the age of eight.

He added: “People say that it is great to see a boy from Ardrishaig in the post, and it is great to hear that from people you grew up with.”