Comments on: Hooray. Swinney signs Argyll’s Single Outcome Agreement today. Does anyone know what it is? http://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/ Thu, 24 May 2012 23:33:21 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: newsroomhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15545 newsroom Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:03:40 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15545 Tony - we understand your difficulty in having no secure identifying features for an outcome. This will make it difficult to tell whether what you find in your flannels is indeed an outcome. We have now suggested to an artist that the rendering of an outcome would be a significant public service. Tony – we understand your difficulty in having no secure identifying features for an outcome. This will make it difficult to tell whether what you find in your flannels is indeed an outcome.

We have now suggested to an artist that the rendering of an outcome would be a significant public service.

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]]> By: Tony Gillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15459 Tony Gill Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:17:49 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15459 Dear Newsroom, Many thanks for your advice. I will try to catch one, though I'm still not sure what one looks like. We have a major problem with mink in this area. They're killing all the seabird chicks, so we have authorised traps in several key places. I've spoken to the chap who tends them, but according to him there's been no sign of an outcome in any of his traps - just the occasional mink. Mind you the traps are not baited, to avoid catching everyone's pet cats, so maybe that's the reason the outcomes keep away. I recently had the honour of being voted onto the local Community Council because not enough people were interested in it. We have a meeting in a couple of weeks or so. There's usually a good turnout of members of the public at the meetings, as it's an excuse to gossip and for the old people to moan about anything new. I intend to broach the subject of outcomes and implore members of the community to keep a wary eye out. In the meantime, I'll try to catch one. I have a suspicion that outcomes are difficult to see because they're well camouflaged in our grey Autumn days. I feel they may be attracted to something grey so they can blend in. A search through my loft revealed the perfect trap. On a suitable patch of open ground I shall lay out a pair of grey flannel trousers, left over from my schooldays. I feel that any outcome's around will have an affinity with flannel and dive in head first, to be trapped by the elastic at the bottom of the legs. Whether you consider being trapped inside the trousers of a 15 year old schoolboy to be humane, I can't comment. I'm willing to bet, though, that flannels and outcomes have a great deal in common. Yours in anticipation, Tony Gill Dear Newsroom,

Many thanks for your advice. I will try to catch one, though I’m still not sure what one looks like. We have a major problem with mink in this area. They’re killing all the seabird chicks, so we have authorised traps in several key places. I’ve spoken to the chap who tends them, but according to him there’s been no sign of an outcome in any of his traps – just the occasional mink. Mind you the traps are not baited, to avoid catching everyone’s pet cats, so maybe that’s the reason the outcomes keep away.

I recently had the honour of being voted onto the local Community Council because not enough people were interested in it. We have a meeting in a couple of weeks or so. There’s usually a good turnout of members of the public at the meetings, as it’s an excuse to gossip and for the old people to moan about anything new. I intend to broach the subject of outcomes and implore members of the community to keep a wary eye out. In the meantime, I’ll try to catch one.

I have a suspicion that outcomes are difficult to see because they’re well camouflaged in our grey Autumn days. I feel they may be attracted to something grey so they can blend in. A search through my loft revealed the perfect trap.

On a suitable patch of open ground I shall lay out a pair of grey flannel trousers, left over from my schooldays. I feel that any outcome’s around will have an affinity with flannel and dive in head first, to be trapped by the elastic at the bottom of the legs.

Whether you consider being trapped inside the trousers of a 15 year old schoolboy to be humane, I can’t comment. I’m willing to bet, though, that flannels and outcomes have a great deal in common.

Yours in anticipation, Tony Gill

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]]> By: newsroomhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15214 newsroom Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:23:59 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15214 Our advice, Tony, is - if you see one you should definitely try to catch it. There may be a bounty on it. All you need is one and it doesn't matter which one you catch. We think they're cloned. So grab the first one you come across but treat it gently. They're a new species and quite fragile - although their vocabulary is astonishingly advanced. They should be safe enough to trap - but they're slippery customers and you may think you've caught one only to find there's nothing there. We're trying to find which is the appropriate authority to receive the captured outcome. Good hunting. (What sort of trap are you planning to use. Be humane.) Our advice, Tony, is – if you see one you should definitely try to catch it. There may be a bounty on it. All you need is one and it doesn’t matter which one you catch. We think they’re cloned. So grab the first one you come across but treat it gently. They’re a new species and quite fragile – although their vocabulary is astonishingly advanced. They should be safe enough to trap – but they’re slippery customers and you may think you’ve caught one only to find there’s nothing there. We’re trying to find which is the appropriate authority to receive the captured outcome. Good hunting. (What sort of trap are you planning to use. Be humane.)

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]]> By: Tony Gillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15207 Tony Gill Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:29:38 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15207 It's all very clear - except... what are outcomes? Are they catching? Are they easy to see? Do they come in a box? Are they for sale? Are they cultivated, or do they run wild? Maybe they've been re-introduced, like the beavers? If I see one, should I try to catch it? Or are they dangerous and only to be dealt with by experts? It seems it's better to have one rather than many. Is that because they're bad for my health? If they are, what are the authorities going to do about them? I think we should be told. Until we know more, we should treat any outcome as dangerous until proven safe. It’s all very clear – except… what are outcomes? Are they catching? Are they easy to see? Do they come in a box? Are they for sale? Are they cultivated, or do they run wild? Maybe they’ve been re-introduced, like the beavers? If I see one, should I try to catch it? Or are they dangerous and only to be dealt with by experts?

It seems it’s better to have one rather than many. Is that because they’re bad for my health? If they are, what are the authorities going to do about them?

I think we should be told. Until we know more, we should treat any outcome as dangerous until proven safe.

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]]> By: John Patrickhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15039 John Patrick Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:18:22 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15039 My understanding is that the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) sets out how the local authority will contribute to the Scottish Government's National Outcomes. The purpose of the SOA is to identify areas for improvement and deliver better outcomes for the people of that local authority and Scotland through specific commitments made by that local authority and the Scottish Government. In essence the local authorities and the national government will be singing from the same hymn sheet regarding the items they have agreed in the SOA, a partnership, a new and more positive relationship between local and central government. Sounds simple and most will have assumed that this was the relationship between local and national government anyway, but alas no. Each did their own thing, often duplicating or contradicting each other but always blaming each other for the failure to deliver on policy. It will also mean that monies and resources can be pooled when working towards a common outcome. Local authorities and government working together for a stronger Scotland that serves its citizens has simply never been done before, it took the SNP to introduce that kind of radical, common sense thinking. My understanding is that the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) sets out how the local authority will contribute to the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes. The purpose of the SOA is to identify areas for improvement and deliver better outcomes for the people of that local authority and Scotland through specific commitments made by that local authority and the Scottish Government.

In essence the local authorities and the national government will be singing from the same hymn sheet regarding the items they have agreed in the SOA, a partnership, a new and more positive relationship between local and central government. Sounds simple and most will have assumed that this was the relationship between local and national government anyway, but alas no. Each did their own thing, often duplicating or contradicting each other but always blaming each other for the failure to deliver on policy.

It will also mean that monies and resources can be pooled when working towards a common outcome. Local authorities and government working together for a stronger Scotland that serves its citizens has simply never been done before, it took the SNP to introduce that kind of radical, common sense thinking.

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]]> By: Charleshttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15023 Charles Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:10:13 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15023 @Susanne and Nicky: nice one ;-D Gets my vote for best comment this year ! @Susanne and Nicky: nice one ;-D Gets my vote for best comment this year !

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]]> By: Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardnerhttp://forargyll.com/2009/10/hooray-swinney-signs-argylls-single-outcome-agreement-today-does-anyone-know-what-it-is/#comment-15021 Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:36:28 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=16886#comment-15021 Come, come now, For Argyll! How dare you mock those charged with driving forward one of the great administrative endeavours of our era. Surely this, the very day of this historic concordat, is not the moment to pour proverbial cold water on the Single Outcome Agreement. From the deepest recesses of Gleann Domhain to the headlands of Coll and Islay, champagne corks are popping today as communities erupt in spontaneous celebration at the news of this momentous achievement. You folk at For Argyll may have your doubts, but mark our words! When the concise history of the planet in one volume comes to be written, this day will be hallowed - and the Single Outcome Agreement will take its place (along with the Austro-Hungarian Double Income Agreement of 1871 and the Cretan Postal Concordat of 1913) as one of the keystones of the Modern Age. How can you fail to appreciate the momentous times in which we live. We used to live in a complex and troubling world of multiple outcomes. We shall sleep better tonight in this brave new era when only a single outcome is countenanced. May God bless John Swinney! And may God bless the Single Outcome Agreement. Come, come now, For Argyll! How dare you mock those charged with driving forward one of the great administrative endeavours of our era. Surely this, the very day of this historic concordat, is not the moment to pour proverbial cold water on the Single Outcome Agreement. From the deepest recesses of Gleann Domhain to the headlands of Coll and Islay, champagne corks are popping today as communities erupt in spontaneous celebration at the news of this momentous achievement.

You folk at For Argyll may have your doubts, but mark our words! When the concise history of the planet in one volume comes to be written, this day will be hallowed – and the Single Outcome Agreement will take its place (along with the Austro-Hungarian Double Income Agreement of 1871 and the Cretan Postal Concordat of 1913) as one of the keystones of the Modern Age. How can you fail to appreciate the momentous times in which we live.

We used to live in a complex and troubling world of multiple outcomes. We shall sleep better tonight in this brave new era when only a single outcome is countenanced. May God bless John Swinney! And may God bless the Single Outcome Agreement.

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