Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 December 2025
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 10 December 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN, LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 10 December 2025 XX MARCH 2021 JOHN OF LORN BEQUEST AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS 1.0 APPLICATIONS 1.1 This report gives Members information regarding a number of applications that have been received and processed for support from the John of Lorn Bequest. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee are asked to consider the number of awards made since September 2025. 3.0 DETAIL 3.1 The Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on 09 September 2020 agreed new distribution arrangements for the John of Lorn Bequest, which had been established to support ‘poor persons resident in the Burgh of Oban’. In order to be considered for an award applicants must: 3.1.1 be in receipt of a qualifying benefit (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, or Universal Credit) and for those people who are employed/self-employed, they must be in receipt of some amount of Universal Credit as well (a nil payment due to deductions for earned income would mean they do not qualify); 3.1.2 live within the Burgh of Oban; and 3.1.3 be over the age of 16. 3.2 Furthermore, it was agreed that successful individual applicants would receive £50 while those applying on behalf of their family would receive £100. 3.3 The Area Committee on 14 September 2022 agreed to delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support or officers nominated by him, in consultation with the Chair, the authority to make awards from the John of Lorn Bequest using the criteria agreed in September 2020 and that reports be submitted to subsequent Area Committees to update trustees on awards made under this delegation. 3.4 Prior to this delegation those in need of support could wait up to 14 weeks for payment. Applications are now processed on receipt with payments made once applicants submit their banking details.
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3.5 A total of 2 applications have been received since the September 2025 meeting of the Area Committee. Officers, in consultation with the Chair have confirmed awards for 1 family application, with a total of £100 being awarded to an individual living within the Burgh. A single application was refused as the applicant had received an award within the last year. 3.6 The total funds available for distribution from the John of Lorn Bequest at the time of preparing this report is around £1.4k. It is anticipated that the fund will soon become exhausted at which point Trustees will be asked to place a moratorium on it. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 Members are asked to consider the applications that have received support from the John of Lorn Bequest. 5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy - None 5.2 Financial - None, the Council acts as trustee for the Fund, it does not represent assets of the Council. However, there is a risk that the Council would have to repay the Trust if an objection was raised as to the use of the funds. 5.3 Legal - Area Committees, as Trustees, must ensure that the distribution arrangements comply with the terms of the funds, failure to do so would result in the Council being liable. 5.4 HR - None 5.5 Customer Service - None 5.6 Risk - None 5.7 Climate Change - None 5.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - None 5.9 Equalities - protected characteristics - None 5.10 Consumer Duty - None 5.11 Island Communities - None 5.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing - None Douglas Hendry - Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support
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Policy Lead – Councillor Mark Irvine November 2025 For further information contact: Stuart McLean, Committee Manager Tel. No: 01436 658717 Email: Stuart.Mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES: Appendix 1: Table of applications (exempt)