A NEW local gift card scheme for Argyll and Bute has been labelled 'another bit of bureaucracy' by a Helensburgh councillor - but the project has been stoutly defended by others.

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card scheme was introduced in the area by Argyll and Bute Council in October 2021 as part of a year-long pilot funded by the Scottish Government.

But Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) told a meeting on Thursday of her fears that some retailers may be put off signing up by the perception of the work that might be involved.

Her ward colleague, Conservative councillor Gary Mulvaney, insisted that signing up was easy - but asked for the scheme to be better publicised in the hope of getting more businesses to join the scheme.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the authority's policy and resources committee on Thursday, June 16.

Councillor Howard asked Fergus Murray, the council’s head of economic development: “Have you got any indication of what sort of businesses are joining this scheme?

"I suspect it is many small businesses, most of which are tourism-orientated.

“It is another bit of bureaucracy that they don’t want to handle, because it is one person doing the whole thing.

“I think there are elements that put businesses off, just because of the work involved. Maybe if we made it a bit simpler we might get a better response.”

Mr Murray replied: “The number of businesses is increasing, and 138 will shortly be part of it.

"Many are small, independent traders, and the scheme is quite simple if you are linked to a Mastercard process.

“We have also got officers going around businesses explaining what you can do. From the Lochgilphead experience, we have a delicatessen and are working to get the Co-op signed up.

“We always want to make it easier to sign up, and are awaiting feedback from businesses to see what could make it more attractive.”

Councillor Howard then said: “Just over 100 or so is not a very good showing as yet. If there was an easier way to join up, that would be much more effective.”

Councillor Mulvaney said: “Signing up is actually very easy. It is just your name and address, and the name of your business, and then you do a test transaction with your card machine, and that is it.

“Maybe it is a valid point that we need to publicise that it is an asset and is very easy to do. My business has not signed up, but having looked at the information I am wondering why not.

“It is just a case of publicising it through the Chambers of Commerce [and] ensuring members have the link for it - and having looked at it pretty recently, it cannot take longer than a couple of minutes to sign up.”