Cross Party Group on Towns and Town Centres - Scotland’s Towns: Priorities for the Next Parliamentary Term

Focus: Scotland’s Towns: Priorities for the Next Parliamentary Term

As Scotland approaches the next Scottish Parliamentary elections, the Cross Party Group for Towns and Town Centres will focus on what must come next for our towns and town centres.

This important session will highlight the key priorities emerging from Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s manifesto, including:

• A national “Place First” commitment to towns – recognising town centres as the heart of sustainable, thriving communities

• Stronger town centre living – tackling the housing emergency through brownfield redevelopment and new homes in town centres

• Community wealth building and local economies – keeping spending local, supporting businesses and tackling child poverty

• Effective support for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) – ensuring they can deliver economic growth and placemaking

• Scotland Loves Local – expanding investment in initiatives that strengthen local resilience and drive footfall

• Simpler, fairer regulation – removing barriers that hold back town centre development and reuse of buildings

We will hear from Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, and Professor Leigh Sparks, Chair of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, as they set out what political parties and the next Scottish Government need to prioritise to ensure Scotland’s towns are fit for the future.

We warmly welcome members of the Cross-Party Group – particularly MSPs and parliamentary candidates – to join this timely discussion and help shape the agenda for Scotland’s towns in the next parliamentary term.

This is a vital meeting for anyone with a stake or interest in the future of Scotland’s towns and town centres.

Agenda 
12:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks – Meghan Gallacher MSP, Convener
12:40 Minute of Last Meeting (3 Dec) and Matters Arising, Meghan Gallacher MSP, Convener
12:45 Scotland’s Towns: Priorities for the Next Parliamentary Term
Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership
Professor Leigh Sparks, Chair, Scotland’s Towns Partnership
13:15 Discussion and Any Other Competent Business
13:30 Close of Meeting

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