A SURF Open Forum in the Dewars Centre, Perth

Since the arrival of a new Scottish Government in May 2007 there has been a stream of policy initiatives, institutional and programme changes and various other initiatives. These changes have crossed over many sectors and this makes a regeneration perspective all the more important. This Open Forum, the first of 2008, presented a good opportunity to review some of what has been going on, and what the immediate future may hold for regeneration and partnerships in Scotland.

SURF collaborated with the Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS) to create this event as a valuable opportunity for members and other stakeholders to hear about some of what private-public partnership has been delivering in Scottish regeneration, and to exchange and learn about the likely impact of some policy changes and proposals. SURF was fortunate to gather together for this event a group of speakers and facilitators with an impressive range of experience, skills and backgrounds.

An Outcomes Paper will be published soon. In the meantime the speakers’ presentation slides are available for download below:

1) EDAS Chair Alan McGregor on “The LOAN Theme – how to secure community regeneration benefit from major physical investment projects (PDF format).

2)  Joe Noble, Scottish Enterprise Fife Operations Director, who discussed the contribution of Scottish Enterprise in developing projects at a national scale and how these contribute to the national agenda

3) Bibliography paper with links to a range of relevant online reports that relate to partnership working in the current Scottish policy climate (Microsoft Word format).

Norman Oliver of HBJ Gately Wareing was unfortunately unable to deliver his presentation due to travel difficulties on the day of the Forum.

In addition to the above, SURF would also like to thank Elaine Bone at EDAS, Mhairi Donaghy at EKOS Economics and Regeneration, Bob MacBean of TPS Planning and SURF Vice Chair Colin Armstrong for their assistance towards the delivery of this event.