Policy
The Scottish Cities Alliance provides a useful for forum for the partners to work together to inform key policy discussion to ensure that Scotland’s cities and their regions have the levers and collaborative working arrangements to allow them to compete, innovate and support inclusive growth. Through discussion and the sharing of expertise and resources, the partners will give impetus to innovation and fresh thinking to ensure Scotland’s cities reach their economic potential and are best placed to meet the big challenges that lie ahead.
The Alliance’s policy work is informed by the Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Cities Outlook report which highlights the critical contribution the cities make to Scotland’s economy. The report identifies five key intertwined issues that will require greater collaborative working not only between the cities but also with all tiers of government, enterprise agencies, higher and further education and the private sector in order for the cities to remain economically competitive.
After extensive consultation, and having taken an overview of existing activity, the Alliance worked with cities, government and national agencies to develop co-designed project plans which respond to 4 of the thematic areas of the Committee for Climate Change proposals as well as the Transition to Net Zero Carbon challenge in the Scottish Cities Outlook report. Collectively called the “Transition to Net Zero Carbon Action Plan” the project plans detail opportunities to work collaboratively as cities, government and national agencies in the short, medium and longer term to ensure that the Scottish cities cumulatively play their part in meeting the 2045 carbon reduction targets whilst maximising economic and well-being outcomes across the cities.
Over the course of 2021-2022 the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes MSP worked with the City Leaders to consider the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on city centres, and identify the immediate priorities to support city centre recovery. The report of the Taskforce was published in March 2022 and will form a key element of the Alliance’s operational programme over the next period.
Publications
SCOTTISH CITIES RESPONSE – THE REPLACEMENT OF EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUNDS IN SCOTLAND POST EU-EXIT
SCOTTISH CITIES RESPONSE – NATIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY
SCOTTISH CITIES THINK PIECE – NPF4
SCOTTISH CITIES SUBMISSION – INFRASTRUCTURE COMMISSION FOR SCOTLAND – MAY 2019
SCOTTISH CITIES RESPONSE – SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’S FINANCE AND CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE ON FUNDING OF EU STRUCTURAL FUND PRIORITIES IN SCOTLAND, POST-BREXIT
SCOTTISH CITIES’ RESPONSE TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S LOCAL GOVERNANCE REVIEW – DECEMBER 2018
CITIES SUBMISSION TO UK ALL-PARTY GROUP ON POST BREXIT FUNDING FOR NATIONS, REGIONS AND LOCAL AREAS
CITIES SUBMISSION TO EUROPEAN AND STRUCTURAL AND INVESTMENT FUNDS INQUIRY – APRIL 2018
SCOTLAND’S CITY LEADERS’ RESPONSE TO SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S BUSINESS RATES REVIEW
EMPOWERING CITY GOVERNMENT – JUNE 2016
CONNECTING SCOTLAND’S CITIES TOGETHER AND TO THE WORLD – FEBRUARY 2016
SCOTLAND’S SEVEN CITIES: A SHARED VISION FOR SCOTLAND’S SUCCESS
CITIES SUBMISSION TO THE COMMISSION ON LOCAL TAX REFORM
EMPOWERING SCOTLAND’S CITIES – DISCUSSION DOCUMENT NOVEMBER 2015
ENTERPRISE AND SKILLS CONSULTATION RESPONSE – AUGUST 2016
SCOTLAND’S AGENDA FOR CITIES
CONSULTATION RESPONSES
SMART CITIES SCOTLAND BLUEPRINT
SMART CITIES SCOTLAND INVESTMENT ROADMAP
SMART CITIES SCOTLAND MATURITY MODEL AND SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL
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