At a meeting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Policy and Resources Committee held in Vatersay Hall on 24 April 2024 Comhairle members were presented with 3 options for delivering the education and leisure elements of the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus Development.
Last year the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care announced that the Hospital element of the Barra and Vatersay Campus Project would not go ahead. This move presented a major setback to the project that had promised to provide much needed health, education, and leisure facilities to the area.
It is the Comhairle’s view that the integration of public services is the optimal means of service delivery in these challenging financial times. The Barra and Vatersay campus represented a model of delivery that promised to pull resources to deliver solutions for a community in desperate need of them.
Following the announcement of the Scottish Government’s decision Comhairle nan Eilean Siar communicated plans to progress with the project without the hospital element.
At the meeting in Vatersay Members were presented with three options for the education and leisure elements of the revised campus project. These options can be viewed in full on the “Your Council” section of the Comhairle website.
Following a discussion Members noted the update and authorised the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Officers for Education and Children’s Services, and Property and Infrastructure, to explore the 3 options further. Following this exploratory work a report will be presented for further consideration, hopefully at the June 2024 meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee. Members also agreed in principle to hold a special meeting if necessary so that progress can be made as soon as possible.
Speaking following the meeting, Cllr Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said:
“The delivery of improved education, leisure and social care facilities to Barra and Vatersay remains the Comhairle’s priority capital project. After years of discussion and several setbacks it is positive to see the campus plans progress to this point. The Barra community have waited long enough to see these improvements and the recommendation agreed at P&R will allow us to move forward with further development on the options for the project as soon as is possible.
“These options need to be developed further so that the most positive outcomes for the community can be delivered within the constraints of available budgets. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar held this meeting in Vatersay to allow the community to observe the democratic process in person. It is now important that the same communities are consulted on the detailed options so that we can move this much needed project forward. Once again, it is very regrettable that the Comhairle and community find themselves in this position, but we must do the best we can in the circumstances which face us.”