A SURF seminar on small town regeneration
CoSLA Conference Centre, Haymarket, Edinburgh
Tuesday 15th May 2007
Context
- Much of the regeneration debate, policy and resource allocation of recent years has been focused on the cities and their surrounding areas of concentrated disadvantage.
- Small towns (of up to 20k population) are where 30% of Scotland’s people live.
- In 2004 and 2005 SURF highlighted the case for more attention on the regeneration needs of Scotland’s small towns with a series of 3 articles in its Scotregen journal.
- Towards the end of 2006 Scottish Borders Council, in co-operation with CoSLA, produced a substantial report calling for dedicated policy and resource support for Scotland’s small towns.
Purpose of this seminar
- To learn more of new approaches for supporting small town regeneration in differing contexts.
- To highlight the potential for linking local skills, knowledge and expertise in an invigorated local Community Planning approach.
- To consider specific funding proposals to the development of small towns as models of sustainability.
- To make the case for more vigorous local democracy through community specific social, economic and environmental ‘health-checks’
- To inform policy and resources considerations for regenerating Scotland’s small towns.
- To help re-engage national regeneration organisations and strategies with local communities.
Format
- A short-day seminar from 10am to 3.30pm
- Brief presentations from relevant key speakers followed by discussion groups
- A plenary panel session to summarise key points and form recommendations for consideration by relevant policy makers
Key speakers
- Ian Lindley, Director of Planning and Economic Development at Scottish Borders Council – Scottish Small Towns report.
- Kirsten Francis, One North East Regional Development Agency – an English regional approach. (10 mb download)
- Brian MacDonald, Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company – a concerted effort. Part One (7 mb) | Part Two (12 mb)
Open Discussion Panel Session
Discussion on policy and practice. Panel representatives:
- Laura McIvor – Scottish Executive
- Euan Dobson – Scottish Enterprise
- Ian Mitchell – Communities Scotland
- Ian Lindley – Scottish Borders Council
- Jon Harris – CoSLA
- Brian MacDonald – Irvine Bay URC
- Kirsten Francis- One NorthEast
Event Report
Please click here to download a paper reflecting on inputs and producing recommendations for enhancing future policy and action will be available shortly.
Further Reading
Please click here to download a bibliography containing links to a variety of reports related to the regeneration of Scotland’s small towns.
