WORKING TOGETHER FOR ARGYLL AND BUTE

Today, at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Dunoon, the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership welcomed Finance Secretary John Swinney to officially sign the Argyll and Bute Single Outcome Agreement (SOA).

Leader of Argyll and Bute Council and Chair of the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership, Councilor Dick Walsh, said: "We are pleased to welcome John Swinney to Argyll and Bute today and I’d like to express our thanks to the Scottish Government for their support and guidance in the development of our SOA. I would also like to thank all partners for their involvement and continued commitment.

“Our key challenge at this time is how to prioritise public sector spend in the current financial climate.Through the delivery of the Single Outcome Agreement, we can work together to protect and prioritise services in line with customer needs at the same time as delivering quality and customer focused services, which also contribute to the Government’s national outcomes.”

Finance Secretary John Swinney added: "I am delighted to be able to sign Argyll and Bute’s Single Outcome Agreement at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands.

"The agreements reflect local circumstances and priorities in these challenging economic times for the people of Argyll and Bute. Together, we can work towards our goal of increasing sustainable economic growth and help Argyll and Bute play its part in creating a more successful Scotland."

The SOA for 2009-2011 sees public services in Argyll and Bute delivered by public, private and voluntary sector partners working in an integrated way to improve the lives of people in the area. It is an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership, which outlines how each partner will work towards improving outcomes for local people in a way that reflects local needs and fits into the Government’s national outcomes.

Some of the main themes in this year’s Single Outcome Agreement for Argyll and Bute are building a strong economy; regeneration of town centres and waterfronts; improving the strategic transport network; focusing on vulnerable areas; responding to social and demographic change; modernising social and healthcare services; reducing alcohol and drugs related disorder and crime and improving roads and transport safety.

To see the full Argyll and Bute Single Outcome Agreement, visit www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/keydocuments