A consultation event at the Pavilion gave local residents the chance to air their views on Argyll and Bute Council's proposals for the future of elderly care on the island - and it was an invitation the public took up with some enthusiasm.
"We are
looking at ways in which the private sector can play a part in the provision of services," said Douglas Boynton, an elderly care consultant for the council.
"The private sector is substantially cheaper, so they can get more care for a lot less."
The topic is particularly relevant to Bute, since the island has the largest proportion of elderly residents in all of Argyll and Bute who use services such as home care, day care and care home facilities.
The meeting was one of a series of drop-in events being held around the area this month as the authority seeks the views of local residents on four options for the future shape of the service.
"If things do stay the same, then the council will only be able to provide a service to fewer and fewer people," explained Mr Boynton.
"The council is trying to look at the relatively long term, because it knows that in the next 20 years there will be a doubling of the elderly population they will need to take care of."
But the members of the public who attended the event raised concerns over the quality of care the private sector could provide - with many believing that quality would suffer as a result of the council's proposals.
"I'm just very suspicious of things that are privatised," said Margaret Rooney, whose elderly mother receives support from the authority, "because they need to make a profit.
"It just boils down to money."
Mr Boynton, however, said the council still had a legal duty to ensure the service was provided in the proper way.
"The council could still be held accountable and responsible although it didn't supply the service itself," he said.
"Some of the proposals might look quite radical, but they are looking at the advantages of the private sector doing more because there are cost issues.
"The council already purchases a substantial amount from private care providers."
"I can see why it's cheaper bringing in private services," Margaret told The Buteman after the meeting, "but we'll need to be really assured of their quality."
Bute councillor Len Scoullar told us the council intended to maintain the high standards set by local care services.
"This is not an effort to try and cut costs in any way," he said.
"Everyone is concerned that the same level of care is given, but in a more efficient, productive way, and in order to comply with the government's 'best value' approach.
"The council really wants to get this right, and for that reason we are not hurrying the matter. So I would encourage everyone concerned with this matter to give us their views."
The attendees were all asked to fill in a questionnaire giving their views and concerns over these plans.
Rothesay resident Elizabeth Speirs, who has a relative in a care home in Dunoon, told us she believed the council had to manage the changeover very carefully.
"I am really concerned," she told us, "because the council has withdrawn services rather rapidly at times without replacing them.
"The meeting was quite informative, but again the proof of the pudding will be in the eating."
The results of the consultation and the council's future plans are expected to be announced in the autumn.
