Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders - Review of Charging and Advertising
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 18 December 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 18 DECEMBER 2025 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS – REVIEW OF CHARGING AND ADVERTISING 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee at its meeting held on 11 September 2025 agreed to a consultation with event organisers and community councils regarding the charges related to Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs). 1.2 The consultation ran from 7 October 2025 to the 24 November 2025 and received nine submissions. 1.3 While the number of submissions is lower than expected, several valid points have been raised which bear further evaluation. 1.4 This report provides Members with an update on the consultation with event organisers and community councils regarding TTRO charges 1.5 This report provides a summary of the limited submissions and proposes a new recommendation. The recommendation considers the responses, the cost of running the service and mindful of the potential £10-15M budget gap that has been identified for 2026/27. RECOMMENDATIONS 1.6 The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee are asked to: i. Note the substance of the consultation responses. ii. Recommend to Council that Option 3 is taken forward from 1 April 2026. iii. Recommend to Council that the Fees & Charges would apply for events held after this date; early submission for event after 1 April 2026 will not be charged at current fees (s16A TTRO fees are suspended at present until 31 March 2026). iv. Recommend to Council that, should the above be agreed, the Service will write to the known Event Organisers and Community Councils advising of the new charges and minimum application timescales.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 18 DECEMBER 2025 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS – REVIEW OF CHARGING AND ADVERTISING 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides Members with an update on the consultation with event organisers and community councils regarding TTRO charges 2.2 The consultation ran from 7 October 2025 to the 24 November 2025 and received nine submissions. 2.3 This report provides a summary of the limited submissions and proposes a new recommendation. The recommendation considers the responses, the cost of running the service and takes into account the potential impact of the predicted £10-15M budget gap for financial year 2026/27. 2.4 The consultation did not garner a substantial volume of responses. However, several points made in submission have been used to shape the recommendations alongside the cost of running the service. 2.5 In conjunction with the above, the potential budget gap for 2026/27 has also been considered. As a result, the council will need to ensure that it provides TTROs on a cost neutral basis. 2.6 To that end, Option 2 has been reviewed and amended creating a further Option 3 (Appendix 4). The Committee is asked to consider and recommend to Council Option 3 for its consideration at its next meeting. 2.7 The Committee is also asked to recommend to Council that Option 3 is taken forward from the 1 April 2026 and the Fees & Charges would apply for events held after this date; early submission will not be charged at current fees (s16A TTRO fees are suspended at present until 31 March 2026). 2.8 Finally, the Committee is requested to agree to proceed with Option 3, the Service will write to the known Event Organisers and Community Councils advising of the new charges and minimum application timescales.
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3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee are asked to: i. Note the substance of the consultation responses. ii. Recommend to Council that Option 3 is taken forward from 1 April 2026. iii. Recommend to Council that the Fees & Charges would apply for events held after this date; early submission will not be charged at current fees (s16A TTRO fees are suspended at present until 31 March 2026). iv. Recommend to Council that, should the above be agreed, the Service will write to the known Event Organisers and Community Councils advising of the new charges and minimum application timescales. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee at its meeting held on 11 September 2025, under Item 7, consider a report on Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders. The Committee: i. agreed to the outline options as the basis for consultation with event organisers and community councils; ii. agreed that the questionnaire attached in Appendix 2 to the submitted report is used to gather the organisers and community councils’ views on these options; iii. agreed that the consultation period is a minimum of six weeks; iv. noted that the results were expected to be reported to the Committee by March 2026; however, subject to analysis being completed sooner, may be reported to the Committee by December 2025; v. agreed that the minimum timescales for application for TTROs or Temporary Restriction by Traffic Notice are those listed in the end columns of Appendix 3 to the submitted report; vi. agreed that the list below are the newspapers which will be used to advertise the notice of TTROs: a. Argyllshire Advertiser b. Dunoon Observer c. Helensburgh Advertiser d. Oban Times e. Campbeltown Courier; and vii. noted that the means of advertising the notice of TTROs are determined by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Procedure Regulations 1992 and The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. 4.2 This report provides an update on the consultation with event organisers and community , and sets out recommendations to the Committee for its consideration and agreement.
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4.3 The consultation (refer to Appendix 1 for the questionnaire) was sent to all active community councils (54, with 2 currently lying dormant) and 36 contacts for known events. The consultation ran from 7 October to 24 November 2025, slightly more than the minimum 6-week period. The consultation received nine responses. Although the responses may not be representative of all end users, those who responded have done so in full and have made their views on each of the questions clear. Option 1 and 2 are summarised as a precis to the consultation as below: Option 1 Maintain the current suite of charges (refer to Annex 1) with clarification that no events are exempted, and media advertisement fees are in addition to the Councils Fees & Charges. Option 2 Introduces a tiered structure for charges, separating out events with or without commercial elements. This option highlights preferred and minimal timelines and introduces an increase per week for less notice to encourage early engagement. This allows the workstream to be better managed within a limited staff resource. The increase per week has been set at 25% (on baseline not subsequent weeks) but is an indicative figure at this point. Full detail is laid out in Annex 2 4.4 Questions 1 and 2 sought information on the number of total events and those held on our roads. The remainder of the questions were to draw out support for each of the options and to seek views on these. It is a small return and the views on the options do not provide a clear way forward for the council. The comments added to the questionnaire are varied. Table 1 below provides a summary of both the support for each of the options and the associated views. Members may wish to read the responses in full. These can be read in Appendix 2. Table 1 Q3 Do you agree that Option 1 is the best way to manage TTROs for events? One in favour, eight against Summary of comments: • Excessive cost • Overly simplistic approach • Advertising should be absorbed for charity and community events, or set £100 to provide a degree of offset • Unfair that repeat events are charged the same as one-off events • It shouldn’t cost the same each year to administrate • Moved to closure by the Council and now charged for a TTRO • Event managed on behalf of the Council, not fair for the Council to then charge for a TTRO • Fear that funding may be lost if funders see that the money is being used to pay for TTROs • There should an exemption for charities and communities Q4 Do you agree that, under Option 1, all events should be charged? One in favour, eight against Summary of comments:
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• Community & charity events shouldn’t be charged • Fees are too high • Events often benefit local economy • Some events encourage outdoor activity and associated health benefits Q5 Do you agree that Option 2 is best to manage TTROs for events? Four in favour, five against Summary of comments: • Option 1 allows for better budgeting for events • It spreads the workload • Charities should not be charged for TTROs or advertising • It is too complicated • A fee for late application would be better • Fees too high • Charities and small community events should not be charged Q6 Do you agree that increasing charges per less week of notice to the Council is fair, bearing in mind the limited staff resource in the team that manages TTROs? Six in favour, two against Summary of comments: • Too complicated, a late fee would be better • Too expensive • Difficult for small community groups or charities to manage Q7 Do you agree that events which are commercial or partly commercial should pay more than events that are solely community benefit? Eight in favour, one against Summary of comments: • “part commercial” is confusing • What is “commercial”. Some events use commercial elements to offset costs. • Events which generate income should pay the full fee which should then be used to fund free events for charities. • Charities and small community groups should not be charged in the same manner Q8 Is there anything else you would like to add? Varied responses but concerns about cost, loss of events and community benefit noted. Q9 Are there any events you would expect to be exempt from requiring a TTRO? • Motorfest Oban • New Year Fireworks display McCaigs Tower • Reindeer Parade Lights Switch On • Charities Day • Any event that brings the community together in a positive and health enhancing way. • The Bute Highland Games • Babcock 10K • Helensburgh’s Christmas Lights Switch On Q9a Can you provide your reasoning for the above? • Community benefit • Cost • Loss of events • Health benefits
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4.5 Of those who responded, Option 1 is clearly not favoured. Option 2 was also not supported by the majority although it was the most favoured of the two options with some noting that they felt it was too complicated. Notwithstanding this, the general layout of Option 2 may offer the best way forward, albeit with amendments to the proposal which is reflected in our proposed Option 3. 4.6 Under question 7, the responders queried what would be defined as “partly commercial”. Similarly, it can be difficult to define a “community” event. 4.7 It is proposed that, for the processing of s16A TTROs, “community” or “community benefit” means “an event run by local residents, or a group thereof, acting on behalf of its local area, and to improve the local community or social cohesion. This could include, for example, Xmas light switch-on or fireworks night, whose events may have a small commercial input such as food & drink stalls.”. 4.8 Several responders have highlighted that charities should be exempted from charges and advertising costs. As highlighted in the previous EDI report, the breadth of what may be considered a charity is excessively broad and would make it likely that no event would pay for a TTRO, leaving the cost and staff burden wholly with the Council. The Charity Test & Purpose has been added under Appendix 3 for ease of reference. To meet the Charity Test an organisation must: • Have only charitable purposes • Provide public benefit • Use their funds and property only for charitable purposes • Allow fair access to the benefit they provide • Not be, or exist to advance, a political party. It should be noted that advertising costs are currently passed onto to applicants at cost. There is no percentage increase added for the Council. 4.9 Question 9 sought views on which groups should be exempt from requiring a TTRO. The responses received suggest that the question may have been poorly framed; however, the majority of responders have proposed their events are exempted. The question though does highlight that some events on road could be considered as exempt; for example, a road race that does not require, at any time, traffic to be stopped or diverted by Event Marshalls or Police Scotland personnel. 4.10 It should be noted, however, that any event that takes place within the road corridor which requires traffic diversions (including pedestrian diversions), removing parking bays or other restrictions, or has any kind of traffic control (e.g. lights, stop & go or constables or stewards stopping traffic) does require a TTRO. Police Scotland do have powers to stop traffic temporarily, used, for example, for Remembrance Parades or other processions.
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4.11 Within the responses, a view was offered that rather than a sliding scale of charges up to the 12-week notice period, it would be better to have a late fee instead. It should be noted that, for events, the 12-week notice period is the final point where an application would be accepted. Any application submitted after that point would be refused. This was agreed at the Committee meeting held on the 11 September 2025, under Item 7, in paragraph 5 of the decision. 4.12 Noting the limited return from the consultation, the need for the Service to recover costs, and in the forecast budget gap for the council in future years, the Service propose that a varied version of Option 2 (now Option 3) is taken forward from 1 April 2026/27. It is further proposed that the Fees & Charges would apply to events held after this date, early submission will not be charged at the current fees (s16A TTRO fees are suspended at present). Option 3 can be viewed under Appendix 4. 4.13 Within the Traffic Service team, there are two officers who deal with TROs, TTROs and TRTNs. The cost of this team, including Employers Superannuation and Employers National Insurance but excluding the departmental overhead, is £104,250 per annum. The suggested Option 3 revenue stream is estimated to be £100,400, almost covering the staff costs. 4.14 It is worth noting that the demand for Temporary Restriction by Traffic Notice (TRTN) and TTROs has risen significantly; in 2016/17 the service dealt with 14 TRTNs and 19 TTROs, this rose to 110 TRTNs and 65 TTROs by 2024. This rise in demand has been the significant contributory factor in the difficulty and delay in progressing TROs; for which demand is also increasing annually. For the sake of clarity, the rise in demand for both TRTNs and TTROs has meant that the Service is only able to cover the day-to-day demands (temporary closures/restrictions) but is not able to progress the longer-term requirements (permanent restrictions/controls via TRO). 4.15 The last column in Appendix 4 for each type of Order/Notice is the last week an application will be considered. Late applications will be refused (i.e. applications with less than less than the minimum applicable notice). The only exception to this is the Restrictions required for Emergencies, which can be issued after closure (e.g. gas main leak, landslip) and is defined in legislation. 4.16 Should the Council agree to proceed with suggested Option 3, the Service will write to the known Event Organisers and Community Councils advising of the new charges and minimum application timescales. 4.17 The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, makes provision for events to be held on- road under Sections 16A-16C. However, it does not create a duty to do so. That is, the Council could take the view to not allow any event within the road corridor, preventing a large number of events across Argyll and Bute from taking place. This would have a significant negative impact on our communities, and is provided for information only.
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5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The consultation did not garner a substantial volume of responses. However, several points made in submission have been used to shape the recommendations alongside the cost of running the service, which have been captured in Option 3. 5.2 In conjunction with the above, the forecast budget gap for 2026/27 has also been considered. The measures outlined in this report are aimed at providing TTROs on a cost neutral basis for the council. 5.3 As a result, Option 2 has been reviewed and amended creating a further Option 3 (Appendix 4), and the Committee is requested to consider and recommend Option 3 to Council at its next meeting in January 2026. 5.4 The Service further requests that the Committee recommends to Council that Option 3 is taken forward from 1 April 2026 and the Fees and Charges will apply for events held after this date. Early submission will not be charged at current fees (s16A TTRO fees are suspended at present until 31 March 2026). 5.5 Should the Committee agree to proceed with Option 3, the Service will write to the known Event Organisers and Community Councils advising of the new charges and minimum application timescales. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – No current policy for TTROs or TRTNs. 6.2 Financial – The cost of providing TTROs to event organisers is approximately £0.104m. The measures in this report are aimed at providing this service on a cost neutral basis to the council. Fees are currently suspended 6.3 Legal – none at this time, however, future changes may face legal challenges 6.4 HR – None 6.5 Customer service – Fees & Charges, events guidance and websites will need to be amended following the conclusion of the review 6.6 Risk – current resources are not sufficient to provide a fully effective TTRO service. This has resulted in an unacceptable reputational risk through, for example, late applications from event organisers. The measures proposed in this report will help to address this. 6.7 Climate change – n/a 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – none known 6.9 Equalities: protected characteristics – none known 6.10 Consumer duty – none 6.11 Island communities – None.
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6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – none known Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services: Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services: Councillor John Armour December 2025 For further information contact: Stuart Watson, Assistant Network & Standards Manager stuart.watson@argyll-bute.gov.uk Hugh O’Neill – Network & Standard Manager hugh.oneill@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Questionnaire Appendix 2 – Responses Appendix 3 – Charity Test & Purposes Appendix 4 – Option 3
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Appendix 1 - Questionnaire Argyll & Bute Council Roads & Infrastructure Services Review of Fees & Charges for Events The Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee, at its meeting held on 11 September 2025 agreed to review the fees & charges structure for events (charges for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs)). The report and decision can viewed under Item 7 at this link. This questionnaire seeks to gather views on the options outlined below and your response is vital to allow a thorough and robust exercise to be completed. Note – the charges outlined below are based on the published Network Management Fees and Charges for 2025/26 (Network management and public transport fees and charges | Argyll and Bute Council) Option 1 Maintain the current suite of charges (refer to Annex 1) with clarification that no events are exempted, and media advertisement fees are in addition to the Council’s Fees & Charges. Option 2 Introduces a tiered structure for charges, separating out events with or without commercial elements. This option highlights preferred and minimal timelines and introduces an increase per week for less notice to encourage early engagement. This allows the workstream to be better managed within a limited staff resource. The increase per week has been set at 25% (on baseline not subsequent weeks) but is an indicative figure at this point. Full detail is laid out in Annex 2 Organisation responding: Address / area: Name of representative: Telephone Number: Email: Q1 How many events does your organisation hold per year in the Argyll and Bute area? Q2 How many of these events are held on the road or otherwise require a TTRO? Q3 Do you agree that Option 1 is the best way to manage TTROs for events? Yes / No If no, please set out your reasons for this:
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Q4 Do you agree that, under Option 1, all events should be charged? Yes / No If no, please set out your reasons for this: Q5 Do you agree that Option 2 is best to manage TTROs for events? Yes / No If no, please set out your reasons for this: Q6 Do you agree that increasing charges per less week of notice to the Council is fair, bearing in mind the limited staff resource in the team that manages TTROs? Yes / No If no, please set out your reasons for this: Q7 Do you agree that events which are commercial or partly commercial should pay more than events that are solely community benefit? Yes / No If no, please set out your reasons for this: Q8 Is there anything else you would like to add? Q9 Are there any events you would expect to be exempt from requiring a TTRO? Q9a Can you provide your reasoning for the above?
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Appendix 2 - Responses
Organisation Q1 Q2 Q3 Q3 comments Q4 Q4 comments Q5 Q5 comments Q6 Q6 comments Q7 Q7 comments Q8 Q9 Q9a
Mull Car Club 2 2 yes n/a yes n/a No Option 1 allows for much better budgeting for
events. yes n/a yes n/a
As an organisation we are content with either option as the
timescales involved with both Mull Car Club events means it is
easy for us to meet the maximum notice period.
Not organised by Mull Car Club n/a
BID4Oban Ltd. 10-
15 5+ no
Many events that we organise will be non-viable if we introduce additional charges. At present, the charges
that were introduced were with no consultation or notice. We are happy to cover advertising costs of
closures and pay a minimal contribution to enabling the closure. Most of these things we do at our own
expense.
no
No. Many events are NOT commercial and indeed charity or
community based. Were the council seen to be supporting local
groups and organisations they would gain greater support and
better PR across the area.
yes n/a yes n/a yes n/a
The majority of these TTRO’s are for community and charity
based events. They contribute to wellbeing and improve the
communities mental health not to mention attracting visitors to
the area.
Motorfest Oban
New Year Fireworks display McCaigs Tower
Reindeer Parade Lights Switch On
Charities Day
Any event that brings the community together in a positive and
health enhancing way.
As an organisation that funds and organises events, TTRO’s are
now crippling some of our events. We will have to cut some events
going forward to ensure TTRO’s are afforded.
Helensburgh
Winter
Festival/Summ
er Festival
2 1-2 no
The Helensburgh Winter Festival is a charity with limited funds and any alternative option which reduces
the costs and more importantly spreads the work of applying for events over a longer period as so often all
of the required application paperwork falls at the same time which given we are all volunteers can be
restrictive given some volunteers run their own businesses.
no
I believe charities which rely on the goodwill of volunteers and rely
on donations or grants should be exempt as a gesture of goodwill
by local authorities as it is only in the last three years that charges
seem to have been applied. On two separate occasions we were
charged for the TTRO plus the advertising costs which we should
not have been given we are a charity to the point of you taking legal
action against myself personally.
yes
It spreads the workload and the costs but I still
inherently believe small charities should not
be charged even advertising costs.
yes n/a yes n/a n/a
Where a road closure is required a TTRO by a small
community based charity as long as you are assured that a
road closure will be in place that should be sufficient but a
appreciate the H&S considerations. Key for myself is that you
recently required a qualified Traffic management Operative to
place diversion signs and some traffic cones seems a bit
excessive
My rational is that if we confirm a Road closure will be in place you
can inspect it on the day of the event if required.
Helensburgh
Community
Council
25 0 no
Option 1 is a simple structure but the fees are too high. It is not realistic to compare Argyll to Glasgow and
Edinburgh re meeting 11/09/25 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS REVIEW OF CHARGING
AND ADVERTISING.pdf Dumbarton would be a more accurate comparison where they charge £500.
They have a different charge between closures of less than 5 days and longer closures.
A fee of £800 in the first year and £600 thereafter would be more realistic for local community groups and
charities to fund.
The hidden cost of advertising on top which you estimate in Helensburgh to be £240 is acceptable for
commercial but needs to be absorbed by the council for charity and community events or set at £100 to
offset these costs.
no
We would support charging a fee for community events to offset
council expenses and discourage regular road closures.
However these fees are too high for Community and Charity
Groups. They are organising the events for the benefit of the
community which often results in economic for the area as people
attend the event and use local services and businesses.
Having a thriving community which holds regular community
events will result in the area being a popular place to live.
no
It is too complicated for people to understand
the price in the event of a late notice
application.
It would be easier to have a fixed price with a
deadline for applications and then a fee for
applications submitted after the deadline.
i.e an earlybird discount to encourage people
to apply early but two prices is enough.
no
It would be easier to have
a fixed price with a
deadline for applications
and then a fee for
applications submitted
after the deadline.
A sliding scale of prices is
too complicated and event
organisers are also busy
people with limited
resources.
no
Commercial yes
But partly is open to confusion,
community and charity events often
use commercial elements to
lessen their own costs or as part of
the event, bouncy castles, ice
creams, craft stalls.
n/a no
We would support charging a fee for community events to offset
council expenses and discourage regular road closures.
However these fees are too high for Community and Charity
Groups. They are organising the events for the benefit of the
community which often results in economic for the area as people
attend the event and use local services and businesses.
We support charging a transparent and reasonable fee to offset
costs etc.
A thriving community that holds regular community events brings
more people to the area and promotes that community as being
an attractive place to live.
Bute Highland
Games 1 1 no
We currently pay a TTRO administrative fee of nearly six hundred pounds every year for the council to
process the identical application each year. Our TTRO simply covers No Waiting restrictions on the
approach to the area we use as a car park by the shinty club, the section of the High Street along which our
10k Road Race takes place and which our marching pipe bands later parade. The car park always
operates all day, the road race always starts at 3pm and the pipe bands always march at about 5:30pm.
The only thing that changes each year is the precise date of the event which itself is always the penultimate
Saturday in August (22nd August 2026 next year).
This identical annual application has never been refused and I cannot believe that it requires the same
amount of administrative consideration that a brand new and “one off” application would require. Yet we
are charged exactly the same rate as any commercial organisation applying for a one off TTRO. This is
unfair on an annual community event.
no
Events requiring TTROs will inevitably be of very different types.
When a fun fair or travelling circus comes to town their aim is to
make money out of the local community and then move on
elsewhere but they may very well cause disruption requiring a
TTRO whilst they are here. They should pay an appropriate fee for
the administrative work that their event causes.
The Bute Highland Games is a community event, run entirely by
volunteers that does not seek to make a profit but simply to be able
to pay its many bills {including TTRO fees}. The Games bring
enormous benefits to the island; every hotel room, Bed and
Breakfast establishment and self catering accommodation are
booked up months in advance. Every pub and bar does a roaring
trade on the night of the Games. The shops in town have
increased footfall and CalMac services run to capacity. The Games
have advertised this island to a national audience {viz. BBC Radio
2} showcasing what a wonderful and vibrant place this island is to
visit and indeed to live on. We are the largest event of the year on
the island, we boost tourism, we underpin community pride and
cultural heritage and we work hard to keep gate prices as low as
possible to make the Games as accessible as possible whist all
the while Argyll and Bute Council normally charge us over £591 to
process an identical TTRO application every year.
Because we bring enormous benefits to our community we should
be supported by the council, not charged.
yes n/a yes n/a yes
I do agree with the proposition but
would ask you to consider carefully
the definition of “commercial”. The
Bute Highland Games has many
bills to pay, not just to Argyll and
Bute Council for the hire of the
grounds, the hire of the
grandstand, clearing the litter etc
but also for the private ambulance
and team of event first aiders
required, the hire of marquees,
private security to help manage the
crowds, sound systems, prize
money for the numerous
competitions, travelling expenses
for judges etc, etc. It costs us over
£40,000 to stage the Games. We
have to charge gate entry prices to
pay our bills but we do not aim to
make a profit. We just aim to pay
our bills in order to stage the event.
The organising committee are all
volunteers. We certainly regard
ourselves as being a “community”
event and not a “commercial”
event.
As I understand your tables in Annex 1 if things remain the same
under Option 1 we would be charged £591 plus advertising
costs to make the identical application every year and under
Option 2 if we are categorised as a community event with no
commercial elements our fee would fall to £400 plus advertising
costs – a saving of £191.
If under Option 2 you categorise us as a “commercial or partly
commercial” event you will increase our application fee to £700
a year plus advertising – an increase of £109 for doing exactly
what you are doing now, which is simply processing an identical
annual application.
Why cannot the council just support an event like the Bute
Highland Games that brings enormous benefits to the island
that are economic, social and cultural? What would really help
us to survive would be for the council to waive these fees and
simply ask us to pay any external advertising costs that you
incur.
If you continue to regard us as a revenue opportunity and pile
increasing charges upon us in the end we will collapse.
Something very valuable will have been lost.
The Bute Highland Games Please see above.
Helensburgh
Amateur
Athletics Club:
Babcock
Helensburgh
10K
2 1 no
We specifically moved to a road closure at the Council’s request which incurs, aside from any charges for
a TTRO, around £2,000 in traffic management costs for a specialist contractor. We also leaflet all homes
on the course and publish a map and detailed road closure times in the Community Advertiser which has
over 13,500 copies compared to less than 1,500 copies produced for the Helensburgh Advertiser which is
totally ineffective for communicating with local people and businesses. The advertisements are buried on
page 38 and seen by no one. We also erect advance warning signs a week before the Babcock
Helensburgh 10k.
All surplus funds are spent on grassroots and junior athletics. Helensburgh AAC is a SCIO SC 048176 and
is therefore a registered charity.
no
Please see my response to Q3. The costs are disproportionate for
any officer input. The advertising costs are exorbitant and have
absolutely no effect. The Babcock Helensburgh 10k is run by
volunteers for the benefit of the local community and is easily the
largest mass participation event in Argyll and Bute. The event is
now 42 years old.
yes n/a yes
We typically apply six
months before our event
but only receive the TTRO
around a month before.
yes n/a
Many local authorities promote their own mass participation
running events in Glasgow, Stirling and Paisley. We do the job
free of charge for Argyll and Bute, with no meaningful support.
We promote three events as part of the Babcock 10K Series,
in Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh. Only Helensburgh
requires a TTRO. We are happy to apply for a TTRO but
believe in recognition of our voluntary work in the community
and as a registered charity there should be no charges and
that our promotion in the Community Advertiser clearly
satisfies any legal requirements to advise local residents.
In addition to my answer to Q9. The athletics club are major
contributors to the Council’s drive to encourage active and healthy
lifestyles and in turn we use any surplus to provide opportunities
for children and adults in our local community. This includes
addressing childhood obesity.
Helensburgh
Festive Lighting
Charitable
Trust
3 1 no
Option 1 introduces charges that our charity has never paid before as we have always been supported by
Argyll and Bute Council in true partnership terms for our Christmas Lights Switch On (the one event where
we need a TTRO). We are contractors to the council to supply the Christmas Lights Display and together
we have managed to provide an outstanding spectacle in Helensburgh since the new arrangement was
formalised in 2016. We organise the Christmas Lights Switch On which is the biggest single event in
Colquhoun Square, attracting in excess of 8000 people to the town centre in the middle of November.
This display is then maintained by us until January with the trees in the square remaining lit until the end of
March.
We raise all the funds to cover costs and last year in cash terms alone we raised £25,000 with substantial
donations in kind amounting to thousands of manhours to ensure this much acclaimed voluntary project
actually happens.
The question you need to ask is will the public give our charity money that they know will be paid to the
council for doing what is in essence a bit of paperwork. This is the same public that knows our volunteers
work throughout the year for nothing and spend hours on the streets installing over 150 lights as well as
putting in place all the organisation needed for Santa to come to Helensburgh to meet hundreds of
families and boost the local economy for weeks by bringing visitors to the town to see the “Best Lights in
the West”.
Some of our group have been volunteering in Helensburgh for fifty years and we know the answer to the
question of what the public response will be when we go out to fund the TTRO costs (in most cases the
responses will have to be edited out!)
The local community funds the repairs and installation of the lights and all work directly attributable to our
volunteer elves. We know they will not fund a council invoice for the TTRO so it is obvious to us that if you
charge our charity for this supporting task the event could not go ahead. It would not be our decision as
Trustees, but a decision forced on us by the public because they feel that such a charge would be grossly
unfair given that we are only trying to work with the council to make our town better for businesses,
residents and visitors during the winter months. Our work is greatly appreciated and we enjoy doing it but
we, like councillors and officers, have to ever mindful of public opinion and they will consider this new
charge to be beyond the pale.
no
The Council seems to have forgotten to include in their charging
principles an exemption for charities which bring economic benefit
to Argyll and Bute. In our case the charity does not benefit from
any income it is all ploughed back into Helensburgh and helping
the town to prosper both in financial terms but also in reputation
terms. Always remember to apply the “Bang for your Buck” test
against any decision you are taking.
no
Do not believe in bringing in new charge for the
reasons stated already and if you do so it will
be the death knell of our contribution to
Christmas in Helensburgh
no
Do not believe in the
introduction of any new
charge.
No income at all from our
charity will not offset any
resource cost and you will
lose income such as all
the car parking income
you get when 8000 people
hit
Helensburgh for the
switch on.
Also, if you are going to
charge for TTRO
processing are you next
going to charge for the
team that processes the
event application for the
square. This is a much
bigger task and also has
resource implications but
that department seems to
value economic benefit
whereas as Roads seem
resource driven only.
yes
Any event where the organiser
makes money should be charged
the full amount and you can then
continue with the status quo for
charities such as ours where the
council acts like a true partner
Look at the big picture and get your crystal ball out. Ask
yourselves, if we do this what will be happening in Helensburgh
on the third Saturday in Helensburgh in 2026 compared with
what has happened there every year since 2010. Do we want to
be responsible for that loss to our biggest town?
Yes Helensburgh’s Christmas Lights Switch On because of
its tremendous economic and feel good factor on our biggest
town.
Yes, as detailed above. Our charity volunteers work in true
partnership with officers and front line staff of Argyll and Bute
Council, we could not do what we do without their support.
Together we achieve a great success story for Helensburgh and
Argyll and Bute, why would you want to spoil this for a measly
£590? Currently both the council and Helensburgh Festive
Lighting Charitable Trust enjoy a mutually supportive way of
working, we are all aiming for the same goal and we get there
year in year out and we all get a big uplift from the project and
seeing thousands in our town centre cheering and waving at a guy
in a red suit who makes a magnificent entry to the town to meet
and greet everyone and thank the 600 community entertainers
who have been on stage in the afternoon.
Why would you think of losing such goodwill from your
Helensburgh residents for £590. Your covering paper does not
answer this question which is the core matter that needs to be
considered. For every action there is a reaction so please be
mindful of what this will be for Helensburgh in 2026 if you
proceed with either of your flawed options.
I would be pleased to discuss with any of your officers involved in
this consultation a solution which would protect the integrity and
reputation of both parties, Argyll and Bute Council and
Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust.
Tighnabruaich
District
Development
Trust
1 1 no There should be an exemption for small charitable and community events. no
Local charities should be exempt from the council charge. The
2025 Kyles10Miles race went ahead with a TTRO because, not
only was the customary charitable exemption withdrawn, we were
charged retrospectively for a previous year when the council
charge had not been applied. The TTRO charge alone would
account for 10% of our revenue from the 2025 race. We don't aim
to make a lot of money from the Kyles10Miles as the primary
purpose is to attract visitors to the area and enhance Argyll's
reputation for beautiful scenery and health outdoor activity. On the
other hand, our resources are limited and we can't afford to pay the
council this amount of money, given that the TTRO is nothing more
than a piece of paper unless we enforce it ourselves by race
stewarding. We steward the race properly in any case.
no There should be an exemption for charities
and small community events. -
It might be fair for
commercial organisations
but it is not fair for local
charities and small
community groups who
are struggling to budget
for all of their community
projects as well as events
that may need a TTRO
yes
As above, charities and small
community groups should not be
getting charged in the same way.
The application for Kyles10Miles
was always submitted months in
advance to help council officers
balance their work load. Despite
this, and despite being a small
local charity we were charged the
same as money making
organisations.
Every penny the council charges small local charities for a TTRO
is money that is prevented from creating community benefit. This
is doubly unfair given that, as a grant making body, we are
constantly approached for support with projects that should
really be the responsibility of the council. Support for
Tighnabruaich play park is one current example of this.
- -
Kilfinan
Community
Council
0 0 no
There should be an exemption for small charitable and community events.
no
TTRO charges can have a major impact on revenue
raised for small local charities and community
groups. They should be exempt.
no
There should be an exemption for local
charities and
small community events.
yes - yes -
Every penny the council charges small local
charities for a TTRO is money that is prevented from
creating community benefit.
- -Page 15
Appendix 3 Charity Test: • Have only charitable purposes • Provide public benefit • Use their funds and property only for charitable purposes • Allow fair access to the benefit they provide • Not be, or exist to advance, a political party. Charitable Purposes: a. The prevention or relief of poverty b. The advancement of education c. The advancement of religion d. The advancement of health e. The saving of lives f. The advancement of citizenship or community development g. The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science h. The advancement of public participation in sport i. The provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended j. The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation k. The promotion of religious or racial harmony l. The promotion of equality and diversity m. The advancement of environmental protection or improvement n. The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage o. The advancement of animal welfare p. Any other purpose that may reasonably be regarded as analogous to any of the preceding purposes
Page 16
Appendix 4 Option 3 Restrictions required for Emergencies (RTRA, s14) 3-weeks advance notice 2-weeks advance notice 1-weeks advance notice Temporary Restriction by Emergency Notice (21 day max. duration, can be extended once only) £600 £690 £780 Extend Temporary Restriction by Emergency Notice (21 day max. duration) £600 £690 £780 Extend Temporary Restriction by Emergency Notice by TTRO (advertising costs not included) as Temporary Traffic Regulation Order charges below Restrictions required for Planned Works (RTRA, s14) 10-weeks advance notice 8-weeks advance notice 6-weeks advance notice 5-weeks advance notice 4-weeks advance notice Temporary Restriction by Traffic Notice (5-day day max. duration) £600 £600 £600 £780 £960 Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (advertising costs not included) £1,200 £1,620 £2,040 refusal refusal Extend Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (advertising costs not included) £600 £780 £960 refusal refusal Restrictions requested for Events (RTRA, s16A) 16-weeks advance notice 14-weeks advance notice 12-weeks advance notice Note, applications submitted with less than 12-weeks notice must be refused. Commercial or partly commercial purposes (advertising costs not included), first year £1,200 £1,800 £2,400 Commercial or partly commercial purposes (advertising costs not included), second year and thereafter £600 £900 £1,200 Community benefit events (advertising costs not included), first year £800 £1,200 £1,600 Community benefit events (advertising costs not included), second year and thereafter £400 £600 £800