"...better outcomes for the people of the Highlands..."

"The purpose of the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) is to identify areas for improvement and to deliver better outcomes for the people of the Highlands and Scotland, through specific commitments made by the Council, its community planning partners and the Scottish Government."

The latest agreement between the Highland Community Planning Partners and the Scottish Government and seems to cover the period 2009-2011 and was signed on 27 July 2009.

"The Agreement covers a range of public services in Highland. It is developed by partners on the Community Planning Partnership Performance Board, namely: Highland Council; NHS Highland; Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE); Northern Constabulary; Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service (HIFRS); University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute (UHI); and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) (representing the broader land group of public sector bodies).

In addition, the Agreement relies on the contributions from other public sector bodies through alignment of strategy and delivery, namely: the Northern Community Justice Authority; Job Centre Plus; Skills Development Scotland (SDS); HITRANS; and the Cairngorm National Park Authority.

Third sector representation in the community planning process is through: direct participation of voluntary organisations in partnership groups and forums; through dialogue over services commissioned; and through the development of a Compact currently underway with the following sector representatives (the CVS network, Voluntary Action Highland and the Highland Voluntary Sector Forum). Private sector engagement is currently through the new economy forum for the region."

According to the SOA some of the local outcomes agreed by the Community Planning Partners include:

• "People across the Highlands have access to the services they need"

• "Our communities take a greater role in shaping their future"

• "Our natural heritage is protected and enhanced enabling it to deliver economic, health and learning benefits"
  

• "Carbon emissions are reduced and communities are protected from the consequences of changing weather patterns"
  

• "The impact of poverty and disadvantage is reduced"