OHCPP Publishes Strategic Priorities for the Western Isles

The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership has published its key strategic priorities for the Western Isles for the next 10-20 years.

The OHCPP’s vision is to promote and realise the full potential of the Outer Hebrides as a prosperous, well-educated and healthy community, enjoying a good quality of life and fully realising the benefits of our natural environment and cultural values

The key priorities moving forward are:

  • The Outer Hebrides retain and attract people to ensure a sustainable population
  • The Outer Hebrides have sustainable economic growth and all our people have access to appropriate employment opportunities
  • The Outer Hebrides offer attractive opportunities that improve the quality of live, wellbeing and health for all our people

The vision and strategic priorities were agreed by the OHCPP in May 2017 and provide a clear focus and reflect the areas where the partnership is striving to make maximum impact and drive improved outcomes in the face of the key challenges it has identified for the next 10 years.

Chairman of the OHCPP, Norman A MacDonald, said: "Community engagement and analysis through the’ How Good Is Our Place’ survey enabled residents in the Islands to identify their priorities and areas where they thought things could be better. Responding to this work, the OHCPP has proposed priorities which focus on improvement and these are presented in this Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP).

Involving people in the decisions that have an impact on their lives and empowering communities to help themselves is vital and whilst the LOIP is for the whole of the Islands, we have identified two areas - Benbecula and North Uist, and Stornoway West - where additional focused effort is required to improve outcomes. Whilst this is a new way of working, it is really building on the Outer Hebrides’ traditional strengths of community, local engagement and partnership and is a commitment to empower our communities in delivering the services and aspirations that they deserve.

Rachel Mackenzie, Area Manager for Highland and Islands Enterprise, said: “HIE is delighted to be chairing the Sustainable Economic Growth priority group and we look forward to working closely with our partners towards achieving greater sustainable economic growth within the Outer Hebrides."