Joint Working Between Highland and Moray Councils

The Highland Council and Moray Council are stepping up joint working to improve on and find more efficient ways of delivering services. Recent meetings have identified a number of areas where shared delivery of services can bring benefits and reduce costs.

Already, the Councils are partners in the Highlands and Islands Pathfinder Project to procure broadband services for local authorities in the Highland and Islands; in the North of Scotland Strategic Options Review with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire council on a waste management strategy; in the North of Scotland Community Justice Authority which aims to reduce offending; and in the joint provision of management development and leadership training for school staff.

Further areas of joint working being explored are: -

At the same time, the two councils are co-operating on performance management and benchmarking of service performance. Separately, similar discussions have taken place on this issue with Argyll and Bute Council.

Convener Alison Magee will welcome Moray Council Convener Eddie Coutts to Thursday’s meeting of The Highland Council when Highland Councillors will be brought up to date with joint working arrangements.

She said: "We have established over the years excellent relations with Moray Council through joint working on a number of bodies such as the Highland and Islands Conveners’ Group; and HITRANS, the strategic transport authority and we are keen to develop further our partnership.

"This recognises the Scottish Executive’s clear expectations for greater shared service provision in the future across the public sector. We have identified a number of areas for immediate consideration but there are many more opportunities for joint working which we will explore. There also may be scope for joint lobbying on issues such as improvements to the A96 and flooding issues."

Moray Convener Eddie Coutts said that neighbouring authorities should work together to save taxpayers’ money.

 He said:  “We see Highland as a natural neighbour to pursue these joint arrangements with.  It is incumbent on us to make sure we get the best value for every pound we spend on behalf of taxpayers, and these arrangements are an excellent way forward for all of us.”

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