Secretary Peter Wallace told BCC's June meeting that Argyll Windfarms Ltd had suggested there might be a 'community benefit' of £64,000 a year coming Bute's way - part of an overall payment scheme for the wider area of £4.4 million over 25 years - should the scheme receive planning permission.

And island Len Scoullar warned there might be consequences should BCC decline to enter talks until after a final decision is made by Scottish ministers on the fate of the project.

"If you wait for the decision to be made," he warned, "the developers may well give you what they feel like giving you."

That warning, however, cut no ice with a number of BCC members, with treasurer Ian Hopkins suggesting that he felt the offer was "just blackmail".

Councillor Scoullar pointed out that the law states there should be a 'community benefit' of some kind from any wind farm project, and suggested it would do no harm to at least talk to the developer.

The fate of the Black Craig project currently lies in the hands of Scottish Government reporter Karen Heywood, who presided over a public inquiry in Colintraive village hall in April after Argyll Windfarms Ltd appealed against Argyll and Bute Council's refusal to grant permission to the scheme.