This week I was on Arran, with the Leader of the Council, for the latest meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands (CoHI). It brings together the Scottish Government, Councils and other public bodies to enable the exchange of ideas on strategic issues affecting the people of the Highlands and Islands.
CoHI meets twice a year, in spring and autumn, and the meeting location alternates between a mainland and island setting. Meetings are hosted by the area’s local authority and are open to the public. For this meeting, North Ayrshire Council were our hosts and next time we will be hosting.
Just getting to the meeting demonstrated how much we have in common as we dealt with ferry cancellations and timetable changes. Thankfully, we all made it there and back.
The main topics for this meeting were Community Wealth Building and Health and Social Care.
While we do lots to support community wealth building in Argyll and Bute, North Ayrshire was the first Council to agree a strategy. How ever well we do things there is always something we can learn from others, and we’ll be looking to see how North Ayrshire has embedded this work throughout their activities.
Health and social care is a high profile, challenging issue. With an ageing population comes added demands on the system and financial pressures, so it was good to see this important issue on the agenda. It is also a key lobbying point for COSLA and you can read their manifesto here COSLA-Manifesto-2026v2.pdf
Finally, I’d like to highlight that next week is Careers Week. If you know someone who is considering a career with the Council or you are looking to further your own career check the page on MyCouncilWorks. It contains lots of helpful information to support you.
Have a lovely weekend.
Pippa
Pippa Milne
Chief Executive
