Highland Council is looking to local authorities in England for inspiration as they aim to streamline their services as part of a major overhaul.
The north authority has been undergoing a thorough review of its services since April this year after major cutbacks as a result of major cuts to its budget.
The process is set to move onto a new phase as the board overseeing the begin a review of around 120 council functions to see how they could be streamlined or adjusted in the future.
Senior council figures visited Wigan in Lancashire to examine another council which has worked at redesigning their services as a means of involving communities more in decision making.
Councillors have also spoken with several community groups across the Highlands to gather their views.
Council vice-convenor Councillor Bill Lobban was among the party which visited Wigan.
He said: “To me it was absolutely fascinating the way the staff and the communities felt about the council.
“They felt they had ownership of the council. To the public it wasn’t that the council was some big entity, they were all in it together.
“They had produced this thing called The Deal, which is a deal between the community and the council.
“Both the community and the staff felt really positively about the entire process.
“You could go into some items in detail but the overall impression I came back with was with a smile on my face.
“They were doing things as a complete collaboration and it seemed to be working really well.
“And if that’s the only thing we do and the public in the Highlands end up taking control of their council then to me that can only be a good things.”
The services due to be reviewed will be taken before the full council in September for approval.
