Highland Public Services Partnership

Highland Public Services Partnership (HPSP) has grown from a group formed in 1996 of five public organisations in order to express their commitment to improve the wellbeing of the people of the Highlands and to develop collaborative ways of working. More detailed information can be found at Highland Life (external link).

Legislation in 2003 required the setting up of Community Planning Partnerships across Scotland to take forward the process of community planning and the Highland Public Services Partnership, with an expanded membership, took on that responsibility for Highland. Further information on the structure of the Community Planning Performance Board can be found below.

Highland Single Outcome Agreement - connecting local and national priorities

The Highland Single Outcome Agreement (SOA2) Agreement reflects the new relationship between the Scottish Government and Local Government and one that both levels of government are committed to developing. The Agreement is based upon the Concordat between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The SOA also provides the framework for community planning in the Highlands. It has:

Re-focused partnership effort on the regional priorities, by identifying regional priorities, agreeing 15 local outcomes and identifying which to give most priority to, in terms of partnership review;
Led to a review of structures for the Highland Public Services Partnership, particularly In the creation of a Community Planning Partnership Performance Board (which has public sector accountability for the development and delivery of the SOA);
Meant an ongoing review to ensure that partnership structures and processes are fit for purpose:
- to deliver the agreed outcomes;
- to enable proper scrutiny and accountability for performance with elected members and board members using current governance and accountability arrangements;
- to support community planning processes at the local level; and
- to report performance to the public in a way that enables their views on performance and priorities to be influential.
- Enabled a formal channel for dialogue with the Scottish Government on improving public services in the Highlands, through membership of the CPP Performance Board.

Highland Public Services Partnership Performance Board

Chair, Cllr Sandy Park, The Highland Council
Highland Councillors Michael Foxley, Jimmy Gray and Ian Ross
The Highland Council, Chief Executive, Alistair Dodds
The Highland Council, Head of Policy & Performance, Carron McDiarmid
The Highland Council, Strategic Performance and Business Intelligence Manager, Evelyn Johnston
Highland & Islands Enterprise, Chair, Willie Roe
Highland & Islands Enterprise, Chief Executive, Sandy Cumming
Highland & Islands Enterprise, Charlotte Wright
NHS Highland, Chair, Gary Coutts
NHS Highland, Chief Executive, Dr Roger Gibbins
NHS Highland, Head of Community & Health Improvement Planning, Moira Paton
Northern Constabulary, Chief Constable, Ian Latimer
Northern Constabulary, Head of Operations, Bruce Duncan
Highlands & Islands Fire and Rescue Service, Chief Fire Officer, Brian Murray
Scottish Natural Heritage, Director, Operations North, Susan Davies
Scottish Natural Heritage, Amanda Bryant
UHI Millennium Institute, Principal, Bob Cormack
UHI Millennium Institute, Planning Officer, Doreen Murray
Scottish Government, Rural Director, Peter Russell
Scottish Natural Heritage, Officer, Graham Neville