To inform the public of our performance we have produced a 16-page supplement titled Representing the Highlands which has been inserted into local newspapers throughout the Highlands. It gives a flavour of the services we provide and includes a summary of our performance over the past year, highlighting results from a recent public survey.
We have a legal duty to secure best value by continuously improving our performance. We have to do this by balancing cost and quality and by taking into account efficiency, effectiveness and economy while meeting equal opportunity requirements and achieving sustainable development. The extent to which the Council meets this legal duty is audited by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission. From the Best Value and Community Planning audit conducted during 2005-6, the Accounts Commission found that the Council had significant strengths in: community engagement; joint working with other service providers; increasing public satisfaction with service delivery; and despite the high cost of service delivery, Band D council tax is below the Scottish average.
The Commission also found scope for improvement. This focuses on the need to: review political and managerial arrangements; address five areas of corporate activity (performance information to elected members, workforce planning, asset management planning, risk management and competitiveness); setting fewer priorities; and maximising opportunities for efficiency.
The Council has responded by producing an Improvement Plan which sets out the action which will make the changes required.
In addition each year the Council publishes its Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs). These are now available for 2007-08.
If you have any queries about this information, or views on how it can be improved, please contact Carron McDiarmid, Head of Policy and Performance on (01463) 702852 or by e-mail to carron.mcdiarmid@highland.gov.uk