Moray CPP must lead the way if community planning is to thrive

Moray Community Planning Partnership must show stronger leadership and target resources towards agreed priorities if it is to keep recent progress on track.

A report published today for the Accounts Commission and Auditor General for Scotland highlights that Moray CPP has only begun to make important progress over the past year, despite being established more than a decade ago, in 2001.

Evidence of improved outcomes in school attainment and in diversifying the economy is highlighted in the report, but the Commission notes that less progress has been made in other areas such as levels of smoking, obesity and alcohol.

A new 10-year plan has been created that outlines a clear long-term strategy for Moray CPP, focussed on local priorities, such as economic development, and improving outcomes for individuals and communities.

Public sector bodies in Moray collectively spend around £600 million a year on services. The Commission notes that there is evidence of good partnership working in Moray, but most of these achievements have not been steered by the CPP. It needs to drive partnership working forward, and the Commission wants to see the CPP board take a stronger lead to gain more value from its activities, which will in turn help improve delivery of public services in Moray.

Douglas Sinclair, chair of the Accounts Commission in Scotland, said:

"After making limited progress in recent years, Moray CPP has demonstrated improvement over the last year. This renewed commitment is encouraging, but the partnership cannot afford to lose this momentum.

"If the CPP is to achieve its potential and realise the benefits it is capable of delivering for the people of Moray, it needs to sustain its leadership of community planning, target resources on its key priorities and hold partners to account for how they contribute."