Pioneering partnership agreement promises better services for all
17/11/08
A landmark agreement was signed on Mon November 17 by Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government.
The Single Outcome Agreement lays down a series of local priorities for action in the context of the Scottish Government’s national aspirations – and spells out how the city council and its community planning partners will work together to meet agreed targets.
The commitments made in the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) represent a shared direction for all the partner organisations, based on a new concordat between the Scottish Government and local authorities. The document aims to stimulate even closer co-operation to make services more effective and deliver ever-improving results for the citizens of Aberdeen.
Targets and timescales are laid down under a range of themes, including the economy, education, health, housing, children and young people at risk, crime and disorder, sustainability, the environment, sport and culture, and public services.
The SOA lays down commitments for the next three years but will be updated in year two to ensure it is fully up-to-date with local and national improvement priorities.
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson represented the Scottish Government at the signing at the Town House in Aberdeen, which was also be attended by Aberdeen City Council leader Councillor Kate Dean, deputy leader Councillor Kevin Stewart, Grampian Police Chief Constable Colin McKerracher, Chief Superintendent Albert Donald, Scottish Enterprise strategy and planning executive Jamie Bell, Aberdeen City Council Corporate Director for Continuous Improvement Deirdre Robertson, and Ewan Robertson, Director of Performance Improvement at NHS Garmpian.
Mr Stevenson said: "This signing signals a new relationship with local government, one which will remove the bureaucracy of the past and allow local authorities to deliver more than ever before in the future.
"It is an excellent example of how we can bring together various public sector providers and encourage a united approach to delivering public services.
"These agreements put local authorities and their partners at the heart of local democracy, allowing councils and their community planning partners to give greater priority to the services local communities want and need. The give local government greater freedom to deliver more effectively and ensure that locally elected representatives are directly accountable to their electors.
"Through alignment with the National Performance Framework set out in the Scottish Budget, the 32 Single Outcome Agreements mean that national and local government are working as never before to deliver the more successful country we all wish to see."
Councillor Dean said: “We and our partners need to have shared vision in order to make Aberdeen the place we want it to be. The Single Outcome Agreement not only lays down that vision but also sets out how we will make it a reality. It commits us all to delivering on our promises.
“We need better housing and schools, less crime and anti-social behaviour, a healthier population, and a growing and diversified economy. All these aspirations can only be achieved by working together.
“Aberdeen City Council already has very close working relationships with its partners after seven years of joint community planning. We know what our communities need and the Single Outcome Agreement will help us meet those needs locally in the context of what the Government aims to achieve nationally.”
Mr McKerracher commented: “Grampian Police has welcomed the opportunity to be involved from an early stage in the planning and compilation of the Single Outcome Agreement. This formal document puts into a structured and co-ordinated context the strong and close working relationships which Grampian Police already enjoys with its partners.
“For Grampian Police, the SOA allows us to work with partner agencies to deliver visible, accessible services in key areas on both a local and national level. Ultimately our aim, along with our partners, is to enhance the quality of life of those who reside, work and travel in our area.”
Mr Robertson said: "The Single Outcome Agreement is a natural successor for existing joint planning carried out through the Joint Community Care Plan, the Joint Health Improvement Plan and the Integrated Children's Services Plan. It will ensure continued development of integrated services.
"The NHS will continue to develop our health and delivery plans to address health inequality and local health needs, using Grampian-wide targets agreed with our partners.
"The Aberdeen City Community Health Partnership is an important forum for health and social care planning and is actively discussing how best it can contribute to achieving partnership outcomes."
Grampian Fire and Rescue Chief Fire Officer David Dalziel said: "I am delighted that Grampian Fire and Rescue Service has participated in and contributed to the Single Outcome Agreement.
“The agreement is an excellent way to show how the Fire Service is already involved in a wide range of community planning activity with its public sector partners, as well as clearly demonstrating how that involvement will continue and develop in ways that are, perhaps, not considered in the traditional perception of our service.
“The signing marks only the start of the process and represents the future commitment that Grampian Fire and Rescue Service has to the agreement, its partners, and most importantly to the people of Aberdeen.”
Maggie McGinlay, Scottish Enterprise Regional Director, said: "Scottish Enterprise welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with other organisations and to play our part in delivering the Single Outcome Agreement. The Scottish Government has made it clear that they expect to see greater collaboration across the public sector, combining assets and expertise to deliver a greater contribution to sustainable economic growth. Scottish Enterprise is committed to playing its role
in achieving this.”
Community planning in Aberdeen is based on the simple and straightforward principles of listening to what local people say, agreeing on our priorities, tackling them together and striving to make real and lasting improvements for citizens.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
