08:45 Registration and refreshments

09:30 Welcome and setting the scene by the Chair
Keith Aitken, Journalist and broadcaster

Session one: Evaluating the First Scottish Local Government Concordat

The local government Concordat was promoted by some as an historic agreement to transform communities across Scotland and improve public services. Indeed it contained much to directly impact on many organisations across Scotland. In this session we hear from the two leading figures who signed the agreement as well as a senior commentator to evaluate what has happened over the past year.

09:35 How Scotland’s communities are benefiting from the Concordat
John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth, The Scottish Government

09:55 How local government is rising to the challenge
Councillor Pat Watters, President, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

10:15 A critical analysis of the first Concordat agreement
Professor Richard Kerley, Professor of Management and Vice Principal, Queen Margaret University

10:35 Discussion and debate between speakers and audience

10:55 Refreshments

Session two: For Better or For Worse: Is the Concordat Delivering for Councils & Communities?

One year on is the Concordat actually working for the benefit of local government and for local communities? Or is it having any negative impact on working practices on the ground? Has it had unexpected consequences or is it proving to be a strong step in the right direction? In this session we evaluate what the agreement means for local authorities and what is the current state of play.

11:15 The impact on local government working
Trevor Muir, Chief Executive, Midlothian Council

11:35 Moving from national to local funding: the new reality
Kate Mavor, Chief Executive, ProjectScotland

11:55 Delivering for local government and the role of Councillors
Councillor Graham Houston, Leader, Stirling Council

12:15 Discussion and debate between speakers and audience

12:35 Lunch

Session three: For Better or For Worse: Is the Concordat Delivering for the Scottish Government and for Scotland?

The Concordat agreement contains specific policy pledges that the Government has wanted to see implemented by Councils. Affected areas include education, carers and the care system, inspections and monitoring, police, council tax, small businesses and free personal care. In this session we ask if the government and the people of Scotland are seeing any real benefits from the agreement one year later.

13:35 Scottish Government policy progress
Keith Brown, MSP and former Leader, Clackmannanshire Council

13:55 Improved support for carers and care homes?
Spokesperson for Carers Scotland or a national care organisation

14:15 Concordat pledges on education
Scottish Government spokesperson tbc

14:35 Discussion and debate between speakers and audience

14:55 Refreshments

Session four: Improving Communities, Improving Lives: Next Steps for the Concordat

Concerns were previously raised by those who saw the Concordat as a threat to voluntary organisations in terms of funding or have other issues with the agreement. But the Concordat has now been a reality for over a year and it is vital to take advantage of the opportunities it offers. Here we learn about what might happen with the local/central partnership over the next few years, the relationship between central and local government in England and what a revised Scottish Concordat might look like.

15:15 Unbalanced relationship? The central/local relationship over the next few years
An academic or think tank spokesperson tbc

15:35 How England is developing the central/local relationship
Anna Turley, Deputy Director, New Local Government Network (NLGN)

15:55 Panel Discussion
Improvement and revision: A new and better Concordat?
Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party
Colin Mair, Chief Executive, Improvement Service tbc
Councillor Jim Fletcher, Leader, East Renfrewshire Council

16:25 Closing remarks from the Chair

16:30 Close of conference

The concordat is already impacting on the work of organisations throughout the country. It aims to benefit users of local government services and the agreement directly affects service delivery and funding provided to a range of organisations, particularly in terms of the reductions in ring-fencing and competition over resources.

But one year later what has it actually achieved? Has the Scottish Government been keeping its promises? Have local authorities kept their side of the bargain? Are local communities, NGOs, charities and others feeling the benefit or not? Has it succeeded in its aims at all? Where do we go next with the Concordat and how will it develop in future?

Businesses, personal care services, transport, education services, police, those who deal with vulnerable groups, environmental health departments and many others continue to be directly affected by the agreement and this timely conference will move the debate on and examine the real-life implications for public services and for the people of Scotland.

While we are drawing together the agenda for this conference, if you have any queries, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0131 272 2130

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 the local government Concordat, including but not limited to:

• Scottish Government officials
• Local authority officers, councillors and council agencies
• Charities or voluntary groups affected by the Concordat
• Public bodies interacting with local government or affected by the Concordat
• Care system, social work or health staff
• Local development, enterprise and regeneration companies
• Finance and audit agencies
• Education and care services
• Police, fire and rescue services
• Other local government partners such as transport agencies and community councils
• Public affairs, lobbying or communications professionals
• Teachers or lecturers in public finance, politics or government

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 Book before 5pm on Friday 28th November to take advantage of our Early Bird rate (10% off) 

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.

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