This conference discusses the Scottish Government’s policies and vision to deliver ‘Housing to 2040’, examines related themes impacting upon housing policy and delivery – including the drive for Net Zero, the opportunity of Green Investment, the new Planning Act and development of NPF4 – and considers the role of local housing strategies, place-based policy, affordability and market interventions in influencing delivery in Scotland’s private and public housing markets.

Online

The webinar will explore how the COVID pandemic and its consequences have impacted upon public bodies in terms of availability of information, effects upon accountability and transparency of decision making. It will discuss the lessons of that experience during pandemic and the implications for a culture of openness in those bodies post-pandemic. 

Online

Pandemic has helped to reveal a fundamental truth about our communities. Community resilience depends upon two elements: whether planning outcomes look to reflect the long-term interests of communities and whether communities actively involve themselves in shaping where and how they live and work. This is as true for climate, economic, transport and public health resilience as it is for the resilience of the houses, offices and other buildings we plan and construct. The planning system is only as good as its ability to listen and the community wishing to shape the sustainable nature of the place they live is only as good as its ability and willingness to engage in informed consultation.  

Online

This online conference examines the Scottish Government's intentions to set out a long term vision for the Scottish justice system, how that vision can be translated into deliverable action and what is required if policies and services are to effectively tackle the high levels of imprisonment created by a cycle of offending and re-offending.

Online

Organisations in the public, private and third sectors have all had to cope with new working practices driven by the COVID pandemic. Almost overnight, organisations, teams and individuals have had to move to remote virtual working and to remain that way for most of a year. While trying to continue to fulfil their roles – or learning new ones in response to emergency – staff have been expected to deliver for consumers and customers while also coping with the isolation and disorientation of remote home working.

Online

Public finances have changed dramatically in just a few months. Public spending and debt is rising enormously as a consequence of the impact of coronavirus. As lockdown recedes and the emergency measures associated with coronavirus come to an end, the business of delivering core public services remains.

Online

The 6th Annual Scottish Transport Conference examines how Scottish transport can meet four core challenges:

Online

This conference discusses the development of open government in Scotland's public bodies and services against the backdrop of the current and next Open Government in Scotland Action Plan published by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Open Government Network. It considers the roles of deliberative democracy, accountability, digital empowerment and co-production in decision making about the shape and funding of public services. It focuses on these opportunities in the context of ambitions on social justice, climate change and achieving net zero and in the immediate challenge of coronavirus pandemic and all its consequences for government and society.

Online

All of society has been impacted by coronavirus but for some the epidemic has presented criminal opportunity. Fraud - in and associated with the public sector - is a permanent challenge to both the integrity of public finances and to the delivery of public services of the highest standard. Recognised longer term fraud risks remain to be fought. Meanwhile new risks are emerging as systems, practices and public resources are adapted and reshaped to focus on trying to prevent and eradicate the threat of coronavirus.

Online

This online conference examines the Scottish Government’s implementation of the new Planning Act, what needs to happen for the Act to meet its original objectives for planning in Scotland and which issues remain to be defined in order to give full effect to the content of the Act.

Online