Cllr Dick Walsh toured the facility on Monday, along with his deputy, Bute councillor Robert Macintyre, speaking to those who live and work in the Townhead building - and though he stopped short of giving a binding commitment that the council will co
ntinue to fully fund and staff everything that goes on there, he promised to be "very protective" of the people who receive and provide its services.
The council is examining the possibility of a partnership with a private company to provide services in eight care homes across Argyll and Bute, amid concerns from Audit Scotland about the present cost to the public purse.
But after his tour of the building, which provides many different levels of support, from 24-hour care for dementia sufferers to respite and day care for people still living in the community, Cllr Walsh told us that whoever provides the service in the future, the council wants to see the present high quality maintained.
"I was very impressed with what I've seen here," Cllr Walsh told us, "and I will be very protective of the people who receive services here and those who provide them.
"It was important for me to come back here to remind myself of what happens at Thomson Court. Yes, there is an ongoing review of the service, but we are quite clear that what we want to see developed here is the 'Rolls Royce' service, which is what is happening here are the moment - and it remains to be seen whether private service providers can give the same quality of service.
"A fair bit of money is spent here, but what is being done is fantastic - we have a really good, really dedicated staff who are providing a first class service.
"I'm not here with any agenda. What I've seen just confirms my belief in the quality of service the council and its staff are providing."
During his Bute visit Cllr Walsh also saw the building work at Rothesay harbour, visited the council's social work offices in Union Street and toured the Townhead school campus, speaking to pupils in an S6 social studies class and consulting staff about issues affecting the education service.
"It's important that senior politicians get out and about around the area as regularly as we can," he said.
"I believe it's important that staff have the chance to meet with me so I can take back any concerns they may have."
The full article contains 466 words and appears in The Buteman newspaper.
