Up for the Challenge Conference, 17 June 2006Civic societies from around the region gathered in the heart of historic Harrogate yesterday for the "Up for the Challenge" conference to strengthen the movement. This one-day event at the White Hart Hotel was hosted by the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies (YHACS) with the direct aim of building the capacity of its member societies. Chaired by Peter Cooper, the Chair of YHACS, the event asked whether civic societies are "up for the challenge" of modernising their approach to their mission of promoting quality urban design and protecting heritage in our cities, towns and villages. The conference featured the latest information on the built environment sector, as well as strategies for the increased effectiveness of grassroots organisations like civic societies. After being welcomed by Harrogate's Deputy Mayor Councillor Trevor Chapman, the event's keynote address was given by the Planning and Development Regional Director for English Heritage, Maddy Jago. Ms. Jago introduced the five aims of the regional plan for English Heritage in the Yorkshire and Humber, including getting the historic environment on the agendas of as many different organisations and authorities as possible, and promoting and enabling sustainable change in the historic environment. She stressed the opportunities available to civic societies to work with English Heritage to promote these aims, which they hold largely in common. The conference also featured presentations and workshops on a range of topics from management strategies to the planning process and to proactive project planning. The conference ended with an address by Nigel Burton, the Chair of the Civic Trust in London, the national organisation of civic societies, in which he announced the Trust's future plans for networking the whole of the civic society movement across England and Wales via intranet and internet, and the revitalisation of the Trust's role as policy campaigner at the national level.
|