08:45 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Welcome and introduction by the chair Keith Aitken, Journalist and Broadcaster

Session one: Evaluating the First Single Outcome Agreements
What have we learned from the first round of Single Outcome Agreements? What did they teach us and where could we see improvements? In this session we examine these issues and more and hear first-hand from the experts.

10:15 What we could do next time
Colin Mair, Chief Executive, Improvement Service

10:35 Questions and debate with the speakers

11:00 Refreshments

Session two: The Development of Partnership Working and Single Outcome Agreements
Local authorities will be required to work closely with all of their local partnerships in the creation of Single Outcome Agreements in the future. This session will explore what these organisations need to know to work more effectively with local government and what this will mean on the ground.

11:20 Culture change? The role of the wider public sector
Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland

11:40 The Community Planning Partnership challenge
Sarah Glendinning, New Ways Co-ordinator, Scottish Borders Council

12:00 Learning the lessons of partnership
Ron Culley, Chief Executive, SPT

12:20 Questions and debate with the speakers

12:40 Lunch

Session three: Implementing the new Single Outcome Agreements
Making Single Outcome Agreements a reality and transforming communities on the ground is now the challenge for all local authorities. Here we learn from those involved in this challenge and see how we can perhaps improve our own ways of working.

13:40 Capital city outcomes: Implementing Edinburgh’s SOA
Jim Inch, Director of Corporate Services, The City of Edinburgh Council

14:00 Transforming communities? A view from the voluntary sector
Alan Dickson, Chief Executive, Capability Scotland
 
14:20 Questions and debate with the speakers

14:35 Refreshments

Session four: Building on Success: Ambitions for Next Year
The next round of Single Outcome Agreements will need to be even more ambitious and build on the hard work that has already been done. Next year will see new ways of working and a new set of challenges for Councils, their partners and communities which will be explored in this final session.

14:55 View from the chief executives
Gavin Whitefield, Chair, SOLACE and Chief Executive, North Lanarkshire Council

15:15 Q&A

15:20 Panel Discussion: Where next for Single Outcome Agreements?

Panel members:

• Johann Lamont MSP, Local Government and Communities Committee, The Scottish Parliament
• Prof Irvine Lapsley, Director, Institute of Public Sector Research Accounting, University of Edinburgh Business School
• Annie Gunner Logan, Director, Community Care Providers Scotland
• Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland
• Tim Kendrick, Manager, Fife Partnership, Fife Council

15:50 Closing remarks from the Chair

15:55 Close of conference
 

 
All 32 Scottish Councils were required to produce an SOA to deliver national government policies and to integrate this with their own individual local priorities and plans. SOAs are designed to transform the way councils report to the Scottish Government, give them greater flexibility in delivering and improving local services, reduce the bureaucratic burden of monitoring from the centre, remove duplication and make better use of limited financial resources.

But the development of SOAs has not been without its critics. Some within local government and the political opposition parties have been very vocal about what they see as stripping local authorities of their autonomy - and making them responsible for delivering central government policies.
Even as this year’s agreements are signed off, the real work is only just beginning. Not only must councils deliver on their SOAs, they must build on them to make next year’s agreements even more ambitious. The process next time must include the entire public sector and others as every council will be required to involve its community planning partners – creating a complex range of challenges and opportunities.

 If you work in local government or the wider community then SOAs may already be changing your working life. If you have a relationship with local government as a voluntary sector organisation, as an inspection agency, as a local NHS or police body, housing association, or you work in tourism or enterprise then you need to know how to influence the development of your local SOA and play your part in ensuring it succeeds. The success of your organisation depends on this relationship – and your close involvement with, and understanding of, SOAs is essential.

 This is the first major public policy conference to address these issues and allow you to interact with all the leading figures involved. Here you will learn the lessons of the last round of SOAs to ensure next year’s agreements meet the rapidly expanding ambitions of Scotland’s new political landscape.

To download the full brochure please click on the image above, you may need to install a PDF reader to view the brochure. To download Adobe Acrobat Reader please click here.

 
 
This conference is for everyone with a stake in Single Outcome Agreements in Scotland, including but not limited to:

• The Scottish Government
• Public agencies
• Local authority officers, councillors and council agencies
• Voluntary sector organisations
• NHS
• Tourism agencies
• Police, Fire and Rescue services
• Local enterprise companies
• Community councils and council partners
• Housing associations
• Local development and regeneration companies
• Academics in public finance, politics or government

 

Click here for information on sponsorship & exhibition opportunities.

Full Rate £249 + VAT (£292.58)
(Commercial organisations, central government departments, agencies and other national public bodies)

Discounted Rate £149 + VAT (£175.08)
(Charitable organisations with income of less that £1,000,000 - limited places)

Reduced Rate £199 + VAT (£233.83)
(Local authorities, NHS, Police, trade unions, professional associations, and charitable organisations)

Supported Rate £99 + VAT (£116.33)
(Students, community councils and community action groups)

What is included
All fees include lunch, refreshments and conference papers if applicable. Fees do not include travel costs.

Promotion and Exhibition Opportunities
If you are interested in details of promotional opportunities, including exhibition stands and delegate pack inserts, please email Sales or call on 0131 272 2176.

Payment
You will be asked to complete a method of payment option whilst completing the registration form. Delegates must ensure that payment is received before the date of the conference or payment may be required on the day. Payments made by cheque should be made payable to Holyrood Communications Ltd.

Terms and Conditions:

The registration form constitutes a legally binding agreement. Cancellations confirmed in writing 7 days prior to the event will be refunded minus an administration charge of 15%. We regret that no refund can be made after that date, for whatever reason, although substitutions will be accepted if notified in writing before the event. Bookings made less than 7 days prior to an event are non-refundable.

Discount Rate Cancellations
Partial cancellations of discounted multiple bookings that revert to a single place will attract the full rate.

Data Protection
The personal information provided by you will be held on a database by Holyrood Events and may be shared with companies in the Holyrood Communications Ltd. Sometimes your details may be made available to external companies for marketing purposes. If you do not wish your details to be used for this purpose, please write to Holyrood Events, 21-23 Slater's Steps Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8PB, SCOTLAND

Assembly Rooms
54 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2LR

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Holiday Inn Express 3*
Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT
Tel. 0131-558-2312

Excellent city centre location
Approx. 10 minutes walk to Waverley Station, approx. 10 minutes to Assembly Rooms
Superior comfortable & modern travel hotel
Free internet access (30 minutes)
Price: £79 B&B (continental breakfast)
For more information please click here

The Bonham Hotel 4*
35 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7RN
Tel. 0131 274 7400

Located in the West End of Edinburgh City Centre
Approx. 20 minutes walk to Assembly Rooms and approx. 25 minutes to Waverley Station
Luxury boutique hotel with free car park on site
Free internet available
Price: £130 B&B
For more information please click here

George Hotel 4*
19-21 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PB
Tel. 0131-225-1251

Excellent city centre location, opposite Assembly Rooms
Approx. 10 minutes walk to Waverley Station,
Superior hotel – elegant, grand building with contemporary interiors
Internet available in rooms – £9.95 for 24 hours
Price: £149 B&B
For more info please click here

Balmoral Hotel 5*
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Tel. 0131-556-2414

Adjacent to Waverley Station
Approx. 10 minutes walk to Assembly Rooms
Luxuriously furnished - each bedroom has its own characteristics borrowed from our Scottish heritage, offering a true refuge in which to relax or escape
Internet access - £15 per 24 hours
Price: £165 B&B
For more info please click here

Roxburghe Hotel 4*
38 Charlotte Sq, Edinburgh, EH2 4DR
Tel. 0131 240 5500

Excellent city centre location
Approx. 10 minutes walk to Waverley Station and approx. 10 minutes to Assembly Rooms
Luxurious and stylish hotel
Internet available in rooms – £2 per hour
Price: £142 B&B
For more info please click here
 
Notes
Rates are subject to availability for all hotels.
No accommodation is held. Attendees should contact the hotel directly to book.
“Holyrood ‘Successful Scotland’ Conference” should be quoted.
Price based on single occupancy of twin or double room, including full Scottish breakfast unless stated otherwise.