Programme

Scotland’s Towns Conference 2023 Event Programme

09:00 – 09:45 OPTIONAL STUDY TOUR – Dundee Train Station to Apex Hotel 

Reception Area | Quay-City Suite (G) 

09:15– 10:15 REGISTRATION | EXHIBITION | COFFEE       

10:20 – 10:25 WELCOME   

Host: Rona Dougall, Broadcaster 

10:25 – 10:35 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ADDRESS: DELIVERING TOWNS FOR ALL

Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, Scottish Government 

10:35 – 10:55 DELIVERING TOWNS FOR ALL: DUNDEE AREA SPOTLIGHT 

Councillor John Alexander, Leader, Dundee City Council & Blair Parkin, Chief Experience Development Officer, Eden Project

Eden Project Dundee will be a landmark development for the city, transforming the former gasworks on East Dock Street into a beacon for regeneration and green tourism. It will encourage visitors to think, feel and act differently by revealing how we can learn from and be inspired by nature. 

10:55 – 11:15 COFFEE TO GO 

11:20 – 12:30 WORLD CAFÉ STYLE CONVERSATIONS

A holistic approach to place should deliver on creating equality and opportunity for an economy that ensures our towns, neighbourhoods and communities are thriving, engaging and viable for all.

What can we do now, to ensure we all live well locally?

How do we encourage innovation, enterprise and new approaches to place?

How do we bring the green agenda to the local narrative to ensure we are meeting national climate objectives?

Facilitated by Rona Dougall 

12:30– 13:45 EXHIBITION | LUNCH 

13:50 – 13:55 WELCOME BACK – Rona Dougall

13:55 – 14:15 DELIVERING TOWNS FOR ALL – SCOTLAND-WIDE SPOTLIGHT

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Destination Development, Visit Scotland

14:25 -15:15 FRINGE EVENTS 

Case studies and discussion. Select one to attend from the following four options:

1. TOWN CENTRE LIVING  ( Art Gallery )

Investment in town centre housing and living well locally for all. Providing people of all ages and abilities, with the opportunity to meet the majority of their daily needs within their town centre. Examples will feature a range of users, repurposing vacant space, with a balance of housing, public services, social, cultural and green space.

• Chair : Mhairi Donaghy, Associate Director – Place, Housing & Economic Investment, Scottish Futures Trust 

• Magda Swider, Regeneration Coordinator, & Josh Doyle, Placemaking Coordinator, West Dunbartonshire Council – ‘Developing Dunbarton’

• Alastair Ranyard, Development Manager, Wheatley Homes East

2. ENTERPRISING COMMUNITIES  ( City Quay Suite, Main Room ) 

Local people taking responsibility for economic, social and environmental action that will make a difference within their communities. Examples will demonstrate community ownership, development and use patterns in town centres that encourage local small business, community enterprises and entrepreneurship centred around local and circular economies.

• Chair: Jamie Lawson, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Lead, Social Enterprise Scotland

• Janet Miles,  Managing Director – Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum 

• Paul McIlvenny, Chairperson & Co-Founder –  Include Me 2 Club – ‘Include Me 2 Club: Where ideas happen!’

3. PLANET AND ENVIRONMENT ( Vancouver Room ) 

Establishing a joined up, collaborative, and participative approach to climate action within place. Examples will highlight a climate change response to place, focusing on green space and social settings, and sustainable supply chains, with a view to enhancing the resilience of town centres against climate change.

• Chair: Cheryl Robb, Partnership Manager, Zero Waste Scotland

• Kate Treharne, Community Allotments Officer, Campy Grower – ‘Community Growing in a Time of Crises: The Campy Growers’

• Mo Khan, Owner & Founder, Lokali – ‘Localism and Purchasing Power: a tangible means to cut supply chains’

4. THRIVING PLACES – PLACE-BASED INVESTMENT ( Melbourne Room )

Place-based impact investing, bringing financial and social and/or environmental returns—to address the needs of marginalised communities. Creating vibrant, creative, enterprising and accessible places for all.

• Chair: Alix Medlyn Davies,  Manager, Place Team, Scottish Futures Trust

• Carol Devine, Operations Manager, Rockfield Centre

• Fraser Innes, Place and Partnerships Director, Hub North Scotland

• Heather Claridge, Director of Design, Architecture and Design Scotland

15:25 – 15:45 DELIVERING TOWNS FOR ALL – INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

David Martin, Joint Managing Director, M Worldwide

15:45 – 15:55 Q & A

15:55 – 16:00 CLOSING REMARKS

16:00 – 16:05 RECEPTION WELCOME 

Henry Jinman, Chief Executive Officer, Vicinity

16:05 -17:00- DRINKS RECEPTION (Lounge area)