SMALL TOWNS TASK GROUP Douglas Scott Chief Executive’s Development Scottish Borders Council February 2009

STRUCTURE Origins of the Small Towns Task Group Scottish Small Towns Report (Summer 2006)– Findings and Recommendations Progress of Small Towns Task Group Proposals for a Small Towns Fund and Whole Town Plans Work on Developing a Consensus

ORIGINS OF SMALL TOWNS TASK GROUP Concerned about the very brief mention of the urban structure outside cities in the Scottish Cities Review – 2003 Lack of recognition of the role of towns in rural policy Small Towns facing a ‘time-bomb’ in terms of the need for spending on buildings especially in town centres

ORIGINS OF SMALL TOWNS TASK GROUP Small Towns Conference held in September 2004 at Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose.

KEY FINDINGS FROM CONFERENCE Challenges and issues facing small towns: economic – fragility; social – services/social exclusion; physical – town centres; infrastructure needs and connectivity.

KEY FINDINGS FROM CONFERENCE Backlog of investment - fragile and vulnerable. Engage with communities and local businesses Learn from Market Towns Initiative and Europe. Limited research on the role and contribution of towns in Scotland Need evidence based survey for Scotland. Need Scottish Government support / commitment / resources.

SMALL TOWNS TASK GROUP MEMBERSHIP From May local authorities. Administered by Scottish Borders Council on behalf of the South of Scotland Alliance, with support of COSLA.

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT Evidence Based Approach Small Towns conference findings. Literature review. Scottish Parliament’s Inquiry into Accessible Rural Areas evidence. Meetings with VisitScotland / Communities Scotland / Scottish Enterprise National / Highlands & Islands Enterprise

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SURVEY OF SMALL TOWNS 20 local authorities. 33 towns. 298,192 population.

SMALL TOWNS REPORT FINDINGS Estimated 30% of Scottish population in towns between Classification - 4 different types of towns – commuter influenced, industrial (including fishing), rural market towns and island towns. Small towns provide valuable services toi their hinterlands and act as drivers for their local economies Policy gap between city and remote rural – failure to look at contribution of urban structure as a whole Consensus on the need for national policy framework for small towns Major resource constraints in relation to interventions in towns

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWN FINDINGS Important part of Scotland’s culture and heritage Significant contributor to national economy but towns also economically fragile Small towns have inherent strengths, opportunities and energies – business and, community groups and people Towns want to be ‘real communities.’ Index of Deprivation underestimates level of disadvantage in small towns Considerable physical development needs – deteriorating town centres Considerable numbers of examples of local authorities/agencies taking a proactive approach to sustain, regenerate and seize opportunities.

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SMALL TOWNS POLICY FRAMEWORK Policy continuum - cities / remote rural areas – also clarification role of towns in city regions Improve small towns contribution to national priorities. Enhance cross-cutting portfolios coordination in Scottish Government

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SMALL TOWNS POLICY FRAMEWORK Significant public sector resource requirement at national level. Make best use of existing European and national funds National agencies to contribute to small towns and community planning – e.g. Scottish Enterprise and Visit Scotland More attraction of private investment

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SMALL TOWNS POLICY FRAMEWORK Development of whole town strategies (more about this later) Better engagement community and business interests / release latent social and entrepreneurial talent and capital. Provide a robust database / network for exchange of best practice and further develop / maintain policy framework.

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SMALL TOWNS POLICY FRAMEWORK Improve support for small private retail outlets. Improve incentives to attract private sector investment to towns – attract more interest from private developers Develop proposals for changes to fiscal regime to encourage private sector investment. Improve integration of public / private sector infrastructure investment in development areas.

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT SMALL TOWNS POLICY FRAMEWORK Support proactive work under SPP8 ‘Town Centres and Retailing’ Develop a mechanism to supplement the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to better address needs of small towns in rural areas Develop / use building condition survey national template and proactively address physical deterioration.

SCOTTISH SMALL TOWNS REPORT RESEARCH NEEDS Share best practice / agree performance standards. Establish independent research resource. Undertake analysis of impacts of retail activity Improve understanding / recognition of small towns in city-regions. Improve data on current / forecasted tourism spends in small towns. Develop / implement national template - nation-wide systematic buildings and public realm condition survey.

THE WAY FORWARD Small Towns Task Group has continued to meet Before the last Election put forward the idea to Scottish Government of a Small Towns Funding Instrument (£90 million) based on providing ‘ring fenced’ funds to Community Planning Partnerships

THE WAY FORWARD – SMALL TOWNS FUND CPPs to select two priority towns for action. Direct Scottish Government agencies to release funds for local activity in priority towns. –Staff time and funds (but will retain their national agenda). CPP / agencies / local authorities work up “Whole Town Plans”

THE WAY FORWARD – SMALL TOWNS FUND Whole Town Plans Social, economic, environmental, physical – holistic. Direct spends, enabling, support, leverage. Outcomes based on “Healthchecks” analysis and Whole Town Plan vision. Delivery over 4 years. SMART outcomes. Scottish Government assesses bids and bid outcomes against Healthcheck data and Whole Town Vision.

THE WAY FORWARD – SMALL TOWNS FUND Whole Town Plans Agency, business and community engagement. Assist in delivery of outcomes in Single Outcome Agreement Capitalise on and develop local skills, knowledge, experience and capacity. Greater involvement in locally elected organisations. Develop community pride. Subsidiarity / localism. More sustainable local communities. Demonstrates links between community engagement and sustainable development. Unites People and Place …

Developing a Consensus for Towns and Town Centres Commissioned a second report entitled ‘Making Towns Count’ to look at the way in which towns can be given a higher profile in Government policies and the advocacy of towns strengthened Supporting the Scottish Government’s BIDs initiative and Towns’ Web Site Establish Alliance for Towns Work with the Cross Party Group on Towns Influence Single Outcome Agreements

Developing a Consensus for Towns and Town Centres Recognition of contribution of towns to urban, rural and regional policy structures Whole Town Planning – (community and physical) Designation Town Centre Zones Master Plans (Town Centres) Tax incentives/allowances, rates relief Retail Business Support Scheme Promotion of Towns and Town Centres – Unique Selling Points etc More Interventionist competition policies in retailing to promote diversity

Developing a Consensus for Towns and Town Centres Stronger approaches to tackle empty, poorly maintained and underused buildings Public/Private Development Schemes Care of Public Realm Management of Towns and Towns Centres Benchmarking/Learning from Best Practice Building of Skills and Capacity of Officials and Communities and Business Groups