Islands Strategic Group minutes: February 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Councillor Jim Lynch, Council Leader, Argyll and Bute Council
• Pippa Milne, Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Council
• Councillor Paul Steele, Council Leader, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Councillor Raymond Bremner, Council Leader, Highland Council
• Craig Hatton, Chief Executive, North Ayrshire Council
• Councillor Heather Woodbridge, Council Leader, Orkney Islands Council
• Oliver Reid, Chief Executive, Orkney Islands Council
• Councillor Emma Macdonald, Council Leader, Shetland Islands Council
• Maggie Sandison, Chief Executive, Shetland Islands Council
• Linda Cunningham, Corporate Strategy Officer, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Alan Webster, Economy and Regeneration, Highland Council
• Ross Cunningham, Service Manager, Orkney Island Council

Scottish Government

• Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
• Francesco Bertoldi, National Islands Plan Team Leader
• Lewis MacAskill, Carbon Neutral Islands Team Leader
• Megan McWilliams, Senior Islands Policy Advisor
• Peter Brearley, Senior Islands Policy Advisor
• Magda Bishop, Island Communities Policy Advisor
• Stuart Brown, Island Communities Policy Advisor
• Paula Speirs, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Health and Social Care
• Nick Ford, Place Director for Shetland, Director of Procurement and Property
• Ellen Leaver, Place Director for Orkney, Acting Director for Local Government

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Cabinet Secretary welcomed attendees and explained that the agenda would largely focus on the new National Islands Plan, launched by the First Minister earlier in the week. She thanked members for their contributions to the development of the plan, praising the strong partnership between Scottish Government and local authorities that shaped its content.

The Cabinet Secretary explained that – in line with feedback received from stakeholders – the new plan seeks to be more targeted than the first iteration, with clearer priorities and a stronger focus on introducing tangible delivery. Members were invited to offer initial reflections.

National Islands Plan – overview and initial reflections

Francesco Bertoldi reiterated Islands Team officials’ appreciation for the support and advice that local authorities provided throughout the development of the new plan. He noted that

• extensive efforts were made to engage with a large network of public authorities and island stakeholders to ensure the document addresses local ambitions and priorities
• although the plan includes a healthy number of commitments, it is leaner than the first iteration and there is a stronger focus on additionality
• the plan emphasises both challenges and opportunities facing island communities
• the Islands Team remains committed to strong partnership working during implementation

Craig Hatton welcomed the ambition of the new plan but underscored the importance of ensuring implementation proceeds at pace, reflecting on financial pressures facing the public sector.

The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged funding pressures but confirmed that the Budget for 2026-27 allocates just under £4 million capital for projects advancing the implementation of the plan, with further investments expected from other portfolios. The Cabinet Secretary emphasised the intention to release funding promptly to avoid delays in project delivery and that the stakeholders would be informed as soon as possible.

Maggie Sandison expressed appreciation for the collaborative approach taken during development. She noted that priorities for Shetland are clearly reflected in the new plan, and that partnership working feels embedded throughout.

Health and social care – what will the plan do?

Paula Speirs provided an overview of health- and care-related commitments within the National Islands Plan. Key points included:

• a focus on clear, practical commitments. The plan prioritises tangible commitments, emphasising that health and social care funding must benefit island communities as effectively as the rest of Scotland
• alignment with major reform frameworks. Actions are shaped by several national programmes, including the Operational Improvement Plan (OIP), the 10 year service renewal framework and the mental health programme
• improving access through a Health and Transport Action Plan, which aims to better align transport infrastructure with healthcare access needs, recognising challenges faced in areas such as the Western Isles and Orkney
• enhancing digital access to healthcare. The roll out of Mycare.scot will improve digital access to appointments and medical records
• expanding care closer to home models. Commitments in the plan include expanding “hospital at home” services and using monitoring technology to reduce travel and support more home based care
• defining core services for island communities. Work is underway to clarify what services should be provided locally and what should be delivered at regional or national levels
• addressing dental service challenges. An advisory group is being established to consider new models for dental care, especially where financial viability is a concern
• piloting remote diagnostics. Accelerated work within the national diagnostic strategy aims to enable earlier disease detection and support innovative care models, with implementation expected later this year
• improving digital mental health support. Plans include expanding existing digital mental health services to ensure equitable access across island communities
• reducing delayed discharge pressures. Several commitments focus on tackling delayed discharges, a particular challenge for island areas
• supporting workforce development through learning pathways. Distance learning programmes will help island residents train as Allied Health Professionals while continuing to work locally
• workforce sustainability actions. Additional measures aim to reduce reliance on agency staffing and address wider workforce pressures
• coordinated cross government action. The plan emphasises aligning health commitments with wider investments, including transport, renewables and housing, and exploring use of existing buildings for staff accommodation. It also seeks to reduce barriers in career pathways for support workers

Councillor Woodbridge welcomed the focus on delayed discharge but noted Integration Joint Boards (IJB) funding pressures, stressing that addressing system challenges requires a holistic approach across local authorities and health boards. She emphasised that island delivery inherently costs more and this must be recognised in funding arrangements.

Paula Speirs agreed on the importance of establishing shared accountability across services to improve patient flow and overall system performance. Existing models such as Home First may offer useful insights, but underlying challenges – spanning governance, workforce structures and funding – need to be better understood. She noted that understanding the levers across governance, finance and service delivery is essential as commitments progress.

Councillor Macdonald highlighted the strategic role of infrastructure investment, such as inter island tunnels, in reshaping health service delivery and workforce deployment.

Councillor Woodbridge reiterated that funding issues should be addressed before governance arrangements.

Pippa Milne spoke about the financial implications of many islands’ reliance on mainland-based acute services. She stressed the  for island considerations to be embedded in sub national planning structures.

Councillor Steele highlighted the cost to individuals travelling for healthcare and gave examples where patients could not afford overnight stays for essential treatment. He also raised workforce concerns, particularly around dental services.

Implementation of the National Islands Plan and next steps

The Cabinet Secretary noted that an Implementation Route Map was published alongside the plan, setting out timeframes and delivery partners for each commitment. Action marked as short-term will be prioritised as implementation begins in 2026-27. 

Consultation feedback underscored the need for greater communication and engagement with islanders during the implementation phase. The new plan commits the Scottish Government to providing more regular updates, including in the form of in-person sessions and webinars. 

The Cabinet Secretary praised the role of the Islands Strategic Group as a forum for discussion and coordination between Scottish Ministers and local authorities. The publication of the new plan creates an opportunity to review the terms of reference for the group to further strengthen its impact in monitoring and – where required – adjusting implementation of the plan. A stronger thematic format could be one of the options to explore.

Councillor Macdonald noted support for the continuation of the Islands Strategic Group and suggested that holding at least one meeting per year in person could help strengthen working relationships.

There was a discussion on the importance of linking the National Islands Plan with local frameworks. Islands Team officials will work with local authorities to understand how best this can be achieved in practice.

Any other business

The Cabinet Secretary thanked members for their contributions over the years and encouraged continued collaboration during the implementation of the new National Islands Plan.

Date of next meeting

To be confirmed.