Scotland is a highly urbanised nation. Over eighty per cent of the population live in settlements of over three thousand people. Consequently there is a need to develop bespoke policy in line with the aims and aspirations of those people who live in densely populated environments. The SNP manifesto made clear their commitment to developing a cities strategy, and stressed their determination to deliver a new focus on urban and city growth, including a new and refreshed Scottish Cities Review.  The appointment of Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister, as Cities Minister only strengthens the perception that the cities agenda is one of strategic importance to Scotland’s first majority administration.

Scotland’s Cities should be the drivers for the country’s future economic growth. In a recent Holyrood  magazine article, Nicola Sturgeon commented that ‘(it) is about making sure we maximise the potential of our cities individually but perhaps more importantly collectively.’  The cities agenda, which in recent years had seemingly diminished in importance, is therefore firmly back on the table and will inform government policy in the coming years.

This event will look at how Scotland’s cities can work independently and collectively to foster creativity, innovation and wealth-creation. Each of our six cities has distinctive assets and face distinctive challenges. Whilst some developments, such as embracing a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) model and granting councils a general power of competence may be widely applicable it is arguably equally true that works for Edinburgh might not necessarily work for Aberdeen. The skills profile, the level of readily available private sector investment and level of worklessness is different in every city. Bespoke tailored solutions to meet the needs of the people living there may be required. In addition to this the Scottish Government is clear that the cities agenda goes beyond the confines of economic policy and should embrace a holistic view which encompasses questions about inequality, community ownership, place-making, social mobility and wellbeing.

Holyrood magazine’s ‘Supporting Scotland’s Cities’ event will address all of these inter-connected issues and seek to reconcile them with other aspects of government policy, both local and national.