It would be a brave man (or woman) who dared forecast such a thing from a distance of ten years away. But that was the question Argyll and Bute's MSP, Scottish enterprise minister Jim Mather, asked islanders to think about during a discussion on the future of the local economy at Mount Stuart this week.

Mr Mather, well known as an advocate of working together in pursuit of a common goal, told the gathering: "Today is about building the brand and the economy and the life chances of Scotland, and about building the brand and the economy and the life chances of Bute.

"We have a chance to be a real model for the area. Today is going to be a process of creating a common understanding and collaboration and a basis to include yet more people.

"It's easy to be unified in opposition; it's far better to be unified in support of a worthy goal, and a process that is fair and open, where we know everyone is getting a fair deal."

Invitations were extended to many island businesspeople and to a host of public sector organisations working wholly or partly on Bute.

The event was hosted by Johnny Bute, who said: "Together we can all take steps to work towards a brighter future for the Isle of Bute."

The morning session included speeches by Sheena Stone on the role of Towards Zero Carbon Bute in promoting the 'green' side of the island's economy, and by Lorna Pearce, who briefly outlined the plans of the lottery-funded Townscape Heritage Initiative, which hopes to regenerate some of the key buildings in the centre of Rothesay.

Tim Saul spoke about the work of the Isle of Bute Marketing and Tourism Group, and Brian Hill shed light on the activities of the recently-formed Isle of Bute Food and Craft Group and his own Taste of Bute initiative.

After a question-and-answer session and a buffet lunch, the event concluded with a 'mind mapping' session - one of Mr Mather's favourite information-gathering techniques - which combined a vision for the island in 2020 with consideration of the small steps which could be taken to improve the island within the next three months.

*What's your vision of Bute in 2020 - and what can the island do in the next three months to start the process?

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