Award of PARD 2024-001 - Invitation To Tender - Clustering - 1 March 2024

The SG has set out its commitment to a 10-year programme of reform with the following aims:•To ensure public services remain fiscally sustainable, by reducing the costs, andreducing long term demand through investment in prevention.•To improve outcomes, which will improve lives and reduce demand.•To reduce inequalities of outcome among communities in Scotland recognising theneed not just for improved outcomes, but a focus in policy and delivery on those mostdisadvantaged.‘Clusters’ play a key role in achieving these aims and in phase one they have formed around three key themes:1.Environment2.Cultural3.Digital LicensingThey have each taken different approaches, some adopting existing governance and accountability structures (Environment and Economy Leaders Group), others spending time to establish structures and creating a safe space for discussion. However, all have been clear on their mission to test whether our current configuration and approaches will continue to be fit for purpose to support and enable Scotland’s people, communities, businesses and third/voluntary sector organisations to improve outcomes nationally and locally Clusters have balanced the need to work more efficiently while beginning to explore Governments strong emphasis on how we transform services and the organisations that deliver them, in the medium/long term. Clusters will continue to form around key themes or challenges to test whether our current configuration and approaches continue to be fit for purpose to support and enable Scotland’s people, communities, businesses and third/voluntary sector organisations to improve outcomes nationally and locally. The key areas for exploration for each cluster have been framed by reform principles: people, place, performance, prevention, partnership. Scottish Government will work with public bodies to develop these areas however, public bodies are free to also create their own approach to clustering which, ideally should take a collaborative approach with local government, other public authorities and the third/voluntary sector.