More freedom for the council after historic ‘outcome’ deal signed
Last updated 21:58, Wednesday, 06 August 2008
REPRESENTATIVES of Dumfries and Galloway community planning partnership and the Scottish government made history last week when they signed their first Single Outcome Agreement.
In Dumfries for the event, Scottish government cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth John Swinney said: “The Single Outcome Agreement we are signing signals a new relationship with local government, allowing councils and their community planning partners to deliver the services people want and need.
“This agreement gives the council more freedom than ever before to deliver for the people of Dumfries and Galloway.
“It’s an excellent example of how we can integrate the delivery of our public services, improving the quality of life for people in Scotland.”
The development of the SOA has been led by the council and it sets challenging targets for them and their community planning partners.
After the signing, council leader and chairman of the community planning joint board, Ivor Hyslop, added: “The importance of this agreement is that it heralds a new way of working across a whole range of services.
“There is a greater emphasis on local decision-making and the flexibility to direct money and resources to the priorities for Dumfries and Galloway.
“Through a series of discussions with more than 50 regional bodies between April and June this year we have identified five outcomes that we want for our region.
“All partners working with the Scottish government are committed to seeing them realised.”
