Council spent nearly £120k on legal fees over Mull school campus
BBCNearly £120,000 was spent by Argyll and Bute Council in a legal battle regarding plans to build Mull's new high school in Tobermory.
The local authority decided in March 2025 that a Tobermory South site was the preferred location for the new campus, despite protests from some parents who wanted a more central location such as Craignure.
The parents then raised a judicial review, claiming the council had failed to follow proper legal procedures but in February the Court of Session ruled in the council's favour.
A freedom of information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed the council spent £118,698 on legal fees during the process, in six separate payments.
The campus decision means most pupils in the south of the island will still have to travel to the mainland by ferry to attend school in Oban and stay overnight during the week in hostels.
The first payment by the council covered £4,638 to the law firm Brodies LLP for an invoice dated 11 July, 2025.
This covered "reviewing petition and papers; preparing and issuing instructions to counsel; consulting with client and counsel on prospects of defending judicial review."
Another invoice - dated three days later - was paid to Faculty Services Ltd, who provide support services for advocates.
This cost £7,550 and covered "advocacy service – preparation and consideration of initial detailed papers. Consultation with clients, counsel and Brodies; initial research and case review."
The next payment was £17,608 to Brodies for an invoice dated 10 September, 2025, before a further £39,950 went to Faculty Services Ltd, covering services such as "drafting affidavits" and "reviewing council meetings – minutes and broadcasts".
An invoice totalling £48,292 was raised by Brodies in November 2025 for several things including preparing for and attending hearings.
The final payment was also to Brodies and covered £659 for dealing with expenses. This invoice was dated 13 March this year.
The council said in its most recent update in May that a revised timeline was being set up for the school, with the new campus currently projected to open in late 2030.
