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Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 09:00

Council gets priorities straight

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PHOTO: Shows (left to right) Maureen Watt, David Parker and Adam Ingram signing the SOA.

The Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) for Scottish Borders Council, which sets out the national and local priorities for the Council and its partners and how these will be achieved, was officially signed by Council Leader David Parker and Scottish Ministers this week.

Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, and Maureen Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills, arrived at Council HQ in Newtown St Boswells to officially agree the document’s contents.

Speaking at the signing, David Parker said: “The Single Outcome Agreement is part of the historic concordat between the Scottish Government and local government. The agreement takes us forward by setting out what we’re trying to achieve.

“It is similar to our community and corporate plans and, in the future, will replace those documents as a mission statement for the Council and its partners. Of course, we have worked closely with our partner organisations, such as the NHS and voluntary groups, in preparing this. I am very happy to sign this document today.”

Minister for Schools and Skills, Maureen Watt, said: “I’m delighted to be signing the Scottish Borders Single Outcome Agreement on behalf of the Scottish Government. Communities want local services to be geared to suit them and single outcome agreements will allow us to best deliver this, promoting a more effective working relationship between local authorities and the Scottish Government.

“Today’s agreement gives Scottish Borders Council greater freedom to target services to local needs, reduce unnecessary burdens and allow better delivery for people in The Borders.

“This is a fantastic demonstration of how central government, local government and community partners can pursue an agreed set of outcomes and improve the delivery of public services to local people and their local communities.”

The signing was also attended by David Gass, Regional Director for Scottish Enterprise and Catherine Duthie, Vice Chair of NHS Borders.

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