Press Release
Highland Council visit crucial for improvement process
A delegation of Shetland Islands Council officers and members will visit Highland Council tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of the Council's improvement work.
The five-strong SIC team consists of Chief Executive Alistair Buchan, Executive Manager of Improvement and Performance John Smith, the Council's Political Leader Josie Simpson, the Chair of Social Services Cecil Smith and Vice-chair of Environment and Transport Allan Wishart.
Mr Buchan said, "This visit is designed to build on the good relations we have developed with Highland Council over the past year, as part of the Improvement programme. The Accounts Commission made the point last year that this Council has to actively seek to make better connections within the local government environment, so this is an ideal chance for some of our senior political figures to meet with their Highland counterparts to exchange experiences and share ideas."
Mr Simpson pointed out that Councils acting together - as in the successful campaign to retain coastguard cover - can pay enormous dividends.
"I think it will be a very useful trip," he said. "It's only by reaching out and making these kinds of connections that we can hope to learn. However, having undertaken a very significant change process ourselves over the past year, I would think that we will be able to pass on good practice, as well as gaining some good ideas”.