Argyll and Bute Council

What Argyll and Bute Council does

Argyll and Bute Council is the unitary local government authority for the Argyll and Bute council area in western Scotland, headquartered in Lochgilphead with regional offices in Campbeltown and Helensburgh. The council delivers statutory public services across a large and geographically dispersed jurisdiction that spans the mainland and multiple islands, including Helensburgh and Lomond, Bute and Cowal, Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay, and Oban, Lorn and the Isles. Services span Council Tax administration, Education and Learning, Planning and Building Standards, Roads and Travel, Waste and Recycling, Housing, Social Care and Health, Business and Licensing, and Environment. The council serves approximately 90,000 residents plus local businesses and visitors; its primary customer base is the resident population, with secondary segments comprising local business ratepayers, developers, property owners, and tourists.

The council operates a digital service delivery platform consisting of multiple interconnected portals rather than a unified product. Core systems include the online planning application portal (publicaccess.argyll-bute.gov.uk), the Civica ePay online payment portal for council tax, business rates, planning fees, parking fines, and invoices, the iPay cashless catering system for school meals, and the mygovscot myaccount single sign-on service for citizen authentication operated by the Improvement Service. GIS mapping is integrated into the planning and schools directory systems. Partnerships extend delivery capacity: Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) manages all council housing stock following transfer, LiveArgyll is a joint venture for leisure and library facilities, and NHS Highland is integrated through a Health and Social Care Partnership. The catering service holds ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Revenue is generated through four principal streams: Council Tax on residential properties, Non-Domestic Rates (business rates) on commercial properties — moved to 10 monthly instalments from April 2022 — central government grants and funding, and transactional service fees covering planning applications, licensing, school meals, parking, and waste collection. Pricing is unit-based for service consumption (e.g., £2.30 per primary school meal, £119 per minibus day hire) and multi-year subscription for licences (e.g., £285.30–£398.95 for short-term let licences). The council reaches residents through a multi-channel model combining online self-service, telephone, in-person customer service points, community consultations, local media, and a "Keep in the Loop" email newsletter. As a public sector entity it is owned and governed through democratic processes and is not subject to equity funding or acquisition.

Name

Argyll and Bute Council

Legal name

Argyll and Bute Council

Website

https://argyll-bute.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Argyll and Bute Council is the unitary local government authority for Scotland's Argyll and Bute council area, delivering statutory public services including education, social care, housing, waste management, roads, planning, and council tax administration to approximately 90,000 residents and local businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Public Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Council tax administration
• Waste management services
• Planning and building standards
• Public education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lochgilphead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Property-based tax levied on residential properties in the council area
2. Non-Domestic Rates (Business Rates): Property-based tax on business properties, with payment shifting from twice yearly to 10 monthly instalments from April 2022
3. Government Funding: Central government funding and grants to support local authority operations
4. Service Fees and Charges: Various fees for services including planning applications, licensing, school meals, parking, waste collection

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Argyll and Bute Council is the unitary local government authority for the Argyll and Bute council area in western Scotland, delivering statutory public services to approximately 5,000 employees' worth of residents, businesses and visitors. Core services include Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates administration, education (schools, meals, transport), planning and building standards, roads and travel infrastructure, waste collection and a 12-site recycling centre network, housing support, social care, business and civic licensing (including short-term lets), and environmental health services. The council also operates digital transactional portals (Civica ePay, iPay, publicaccess planning) and integrates with the Scottish government's mygovscot myaccount for citizen sign-on.

Product overview

Argyll and Bute Council operates as a local government authority providing a comprehensive portfolio of public services to residents across Scotland's west coast. The council's digital offering consists of multiple interconnected service platforms rather than a unified product: core services span Council Tax administration, Education and Learning (including schools directory and meals), Planning and Building Standards (with an online application portal), Roads and Travel infrastructure, Waste and Recycling collection and facilities, Housing support, Social Care and Health, Business and Licensing, and Environmental services. Key digital sub-services include the mygovscot myaccount integration for citizen authentication, the Civica ePay payment portal for multiple service types, the publicaccess.argyll-bute.gov.uk planning system, the LiveArgyll leisure facilities platform, and the short-term let licensing portal. The council also provides specialized services like Crisis Grants through the Scottish Welfare Fund, Bin Collection scheduling by geographic area, and the Invest in Argyll business development portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Council Tax Services Property-based tax administration service covering billing, payments, discounts, exemptions, and debt management for residents of Argyll and Bute.
• Education and Learning Services Comprehensive education service including school directory, holidays, meals, additional support needs, early years childcare, school transport, and grants for pupils.
• Planning and Building Standards Planning permission, building standards applications, Local Development Plan access, weekly application lists, and public commenting system for development proposals.
• Roads and Travel Services Transportation infrastructure services including public transport timetables, road maintenance, car parks, EV charging, piers and harbours, and winter gritting.
• Waste and Recycling Services Household and commercial waste collection, recycling centres network, bin ordering, and bulky waste collection services across Argyll and Bute.
• Housing Services Housing assistance including applications, homelessness advice, housing benefit applications, private landlord support, and Ukraine sponsorship scheme. Note: all council houses transferred to Argyll Community Housing Association.
• Social Care and Health Services Social work services, care homes, carers support, children and young people services, adult social care, and addictions support.
• Business and Licensing Services Business support, trading standards, health and safety, licensing services, short-term let licensing, and business rates administration.
• Environment Services Environmental health, countryside management, animal welfare, renewables and climate change initiatives, and flood advice services.
• Short-Term Let Licensing Mandatory licensing scheme for short-term let operators in Scotland, with tiered fees based on guest capacity and licence type (home sharing, home letting, secondary letting).
• Civic Government Licences Licensing services for animals, alcohol, commercial activities, entertainment, explosives, food, gambling, housing, and streets/transport.
• Crisis Grants Scottish Welfare Fund emergency payments for essentials like food, heating, nappies, and toiletries in crisis situations, provided as tax-free grants.
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Financial assistance for low-income residents to pay rent or council tax, with online calculator and application processing.
• LiveArgyll Leisure and Library Services Joint venture for leisure and fitness facilities, library services, and community letting bookings across Argyll and Bute.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 bins collected over 2.5 years between Arden and Tarbet, collecting over 20 tonnes of litter (97% recycled)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll council houses have been transferred to Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA), which manages housing services for residents in the council area.
• Improvement ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationOperates and manages mygovscot myaccount, the single sign-on service for accessing online public services in Scotland, including Argyll and Bute Council services.
• Ministry of Defence (MoD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoD is developing infrastructure near Loch Long and Glen Mallan to support nuclear submarines at Glen Douglas munitions depot and Coulport armaments depot. Council has ruled on their EIA screening request.
• Haskoning UK LtdminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy acting as agent for the Ministry of Defence on the proposed security development site near Glen Mallan jetty.
• Friends of Loch Lomond & The TrossachsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation charity that previously partnered with the council on the 'Keep the Banks Bonnie' litter bin scheme along the A82 tourist corridor.
• NHS HighlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth and Social Care Partnership collaboration between the council and NHS for integrated health and social care services.
• Business Gateway Argyll and ButecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness support services provided through Business Gateway, helping businesses in Argyll and Bute with advice and support.
• LiveArgyllcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint venture for leisure and fitness facilities, libraries and archives services, managing community facilities across the council area.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scottish Borders Council: Rural Scottish council providing equivalent statutory services across a dispersed population, with similar dependence on council tax, business rates, and central government grants.
• North Ayrshire Council: West-coast Scottish council with island communities (Arran) in its area, providing comparable statutory services including waste, education, social care, and short-term let licensing.
• Perth and Kinross Council: Scottish local authority with a similarly mixed urban-rural and tourism-heavy geography, delivering the same comprehensive range of statutory services including education, social care, and planning.
• Dumfries and Galloway Council: Large rural Scottish council with comparable service mix including education, social care, roads, waste, and planning, serving a dispersed population in the south of Scotland.
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles): Scottish island council providing the same statutory local government services but almost entirely across island communities (Outer Hebrides), making it a direct operational peer in terms of island service delivery economics.
• Highland Council: Largest Scottish local authority by area, also serving a vast mainland-and-islands geography with comparable service portfolios including education, social care, roads, waste, and planning. Most direct peer given similar scale and dispersed population.
• Stirling Council: Mid-sized Scottish local authority offering the same core local government services and comparable use of digital channels including mygovscot myaccount integration.
• West Dunbartonshire Council: Adjacent Scottish local authority covering the Helensburgh-adjacent Clydebank/Dumbarton area, with closely overlapping service portfolios and shared regional infrastructure including transport links.
• Inverclyde Council: Small Scottish local authority on the Clyde coast providing the same statutory services, comparable in scale and demographic profile to parts of Argyll and Bute.
• East Ayrshire Council: Scottish local authority with comparable rural-urban mix delivering equivalent statutory services including education, social work, roads, waste, and planning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/argyllandbute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/argyllandbute
• Facebookfacebook.com/argyllandbutecouncil

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Argyll and Bute Council