Welcome to Insight
Dear AMT member,
Insight is the new monthly e-mail newsletter from Action for Market Towns. As well as keeping you up-to-date on AMT news and services, Insight aims to provide a comprehensive coverage of news, events, consultations and reports of relevance to market towns.
I would welcome your comments on any items in Insight, together with news from your town or region for inclusion in a future edition of Insight.
Please feel free to forward Insight to other members of your organization. If any of your members would like Insight delivered directly to their
e-mailbox, please send me their e-mail address.
John Pole
Communications Manager
NEWS
Boost for community assets transfer
The government has announced an action plan to give people greater control over how key assets in their communities are run - from disused swimming baths to pubs and community centres.
The Opening the Transfer Window plan in response to the Quirk Report challenges councils to maximise the transfer of public assets to communities in order to make services more responsive and create more confident empowered communities with greater civic spirit.
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) will manage a new �30m programme to enable community-led third sector organisations to own and run under�used public buildings.
For a detailed review of the Quirk Report and its implications go to:
NEWS
Interested in asset transfer?
Local authorities and Market Town Partnerships have until only June 8 to express interest in a programme to develop plans for asset transfer outlined in the Quirk Report. Entry into the programme, which is being led by the Development Trusts Association, is likely to significantly increase the chances of accessing the �30 million Community Assets Fund. Full details and application form are at:
NEWS
AMT Convention in Newmarket
The stunning setting of Tattersalls at Newmarket, the home of British racing, is the venue for the AMT 2007 Convention on September 26 and 27. For more information go to
NEWS
Fears over supermarket inquiry
The Competition Commission risks failing to examine the grocery market in line with its statutory duties, according to the New Economics Foundation (nef).
Nef fears that the Commission�s approach is based on inadequate evidence and a failure to protect the interests of all consumer groups for access to a full range of shopping experiences, including independent local stores and street markets. The current loss of independent retailers both undermines choice and innovation, which are measures of consumer detriment as defined by the Enterprise Act 2002.
For more on this story go to:
NEWS IN BRIEF
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NEW STAFF ROLES AT AMT HEAD OFFICE: AMT welcomes to its head office staff Irene Tibbenham (pictured right) as Office Manager. Irene has been charged with the smooth running of the AMT office alongside the implementation of a financial and performance monitoring system; and assisting with the Big Lottery Fund application. She can be contacted by calling the office on 0845 644 6202 between 9am and 5pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, or e-mail her at Irene Tibbenham
Anna McGowan (pictured left) has now taken on the role of Membership Co-ordinator, dealing with all aspects of membership services, recruitment and insurance. She can be contacted at the office between 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday or you can email her at Anna McGowan
COASTAL TOWNS REPORT: The government has published its response to the report of the House of Commons Communities and Local Government committee on coastal towns. The report and the government response can be downloaded at: Coastal towns weblink.
PAN-EUROPEAN SMALL TOWNS PROJECT: A project to promote contact and exchange of good practice amongst small towns throughout Europe is developing detailed proposals which it hopes will be funded under the EU�s Interreg IV scheme. Details of the ASSET (Action to Strengthen Small European Towns) project proposal can be found at: ASSET weblink.
GOOD PRACTICE
AMT launches new training bulletins
Policy into Practice is the title of a new series of bulletins from Action for Market Towns. These in-depth reports will cover topical issues of importance to market towns and help unravel the tangle of jargon which town partnerships face.
The first publication is 'Changing Opinions:Using Town Action Plans for Greater Influence'. Written by Judith Fozzard, Regional Network Co-ordinator for Yorkshire and Humber, with support from Yorkshire Forward, it tackles the issue of how partnerships can exercise strategic influence. It is particularly opportune in the light of the government's agenda to devolve more powers to local level.
Policy in Practice papers will be available in print, and also available to download from the members' section of the AMT website, where they will also be updated as further resources become available.
CONSULTATION
Well-run traveller sites
The Department of Communities and Local Government seeks views on guidance for local authority and registered social landlord site owners that sets out what is needed to ensure Gypsy and Traveller sites are successful and well run. The consultation ends on 22 August 2007. For more information go to:
CONSULTATION
Rural Development Programme
Defra is holding a consultation on the draft Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 in the context of an environmental report on the programme�s likely overall impact.
After the consultation a Strategic Environmental Assessment Statement will be produced summarising views expressed, giving Defra�s response, and detailing the way in which the issues raised in the environmental report and in consultation have been incorporated into the final version of the programme.
The deadline for responses is 5 July 2007.
For details of how to engage in the consultation process go to:
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Towns4Towns
Towns4Towns is a programme of workshops from Action for Market Towns which offer expert advice and the chance for towns to exchange experience. Coming up are workshops on Finding Funding for Projects on June 6 in Penrith and June 18 in Chesterfield. Go to:
New routes for market towns event - Howden, June 20
Market Towns face many issues and challenges. However, with ever decreasing funding sources towns have to come up with new and innovative ideas to address them. This event is organised by Yorkshire and Humber Market Towns Network. More info:
ATCM Summer School
The Association of Town Centre Managers is holding a summer school in Glasgow on June 20 and 21. For information and to book a place go to:
Rural youth conference
�Change in the Countryside: Rural Youth Speaks Out�, a conference from the Rural Youth Network on June 12 in Derby, will look at changes in the countryside and how they are affecting young people and those who work with them. More info:
Visitor economy and the public realm
Good quality public space helps attract visitors to towns and improve their enjoyment. A one-day conference 'Visitor Economy and the Public Realm' - an event organized by Living Streets will be held on Wednesday, June 13 in central London. Details at:
Problems with geese in town?
A one-day Geese Peace conference is being held in Stratford-upon-Avon on October 15. It will impart Stratford�s own experiences and offer practical help to towns which have a problem of too many wild geese. Details at:
South East skills programme
The Skills and Knowledge Exchange programme, running from June to October, is a programme of practical case studies, illustrating best practice, and training seminars for town partnerships and practitioners working in small rural towns. More info:
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