ADEPT Spring Seminar and Annual Awards
Reimagining place: a focus on town centres and high streets
Thursday 27 May, 1pm-6pm
After a year of virtual meetings we had hoped to be able to get together in person for this year's Spring Conference, but given the ongoing uncertainty we will again be meeting in a virtual space for our Spring event.
Following feedback from our Autumn Conference and being very aware of ‘Zoom fatigue’ we have decided that this year's event will take the form of a shorter interactive seminar and panel discussion. It will be preceded by the AGM. We will round off the afternoon with the much-anticipated Annual President's Awards.
The 2021 AGM, Spring Seminar and Annual President’s Awards will take place on Thursday 27 May:
13:00 Annual General Meeting
14:00 Spring Seminar: Reimagining place: a focus on town centres & high streets. Jackie Sadek, Chief Operating Officer of UK Regeneration, will chair, joined by Simon Quin, Executive Director of the High Streets Task Force, Andrew Forth, Interim Director of Policy and Public Affairs at RIBA, and Peter McIntyre, Executive Director of City Development, Sunderland City Council
16:00 Networking: join one of the Subject Boards as they discuss issues such as funding for highways maintenance, how to create a winning high street mixed economy, using digital connectivity to deliver environmental management within towns, preparing for COP26, and delivering enchanced bus partnerships (see more info below).
17:15 Annual President’s Awards ceremony
Subject Board networking sessions
Member feedback after November’s Autumn Conference highlighted how much you all missed the usual networking opportunities that we get at the in-person event. With that in mind we have set up networking tables with each of the ADEPT subject boards.
Each board will host 2 virtual tables, which delegates can ‘sit down’ at and join the discussion.
Sustainable Growth Board networking table
- Chaired by Laura Ambler, Vice Chair - SG Board with Alex Hearn, North Somerset Council
- Chaired by Paul Barnard, Chair - Planning Working Group
The future of the high streets and town centres is uncertain. How will the planning reforms set out in the Planning White Paper help reimagine these contested spaces? This networking table offers an opportunity to discuss with other participants how the planning reforms can be used to support future housing, retail and other needs.
Transport & Connectivity networking table
- Chaired by Mark Kemp, Chair – T&C Board with Matthew Lale, Herts County Council
As we come out of the pandemic and hopefully public transport becomes more popular again, the launch of the new Bus Strategy has given us a focus for supporting this recovery. Hertfordshire are the first LTA to have an Enhanced Quality Partnership Scheme in the country and Matt Lale (their Passenger Transport Manager) who was instrumental in the development of the partnership will talk about the experience of developing the enhanced partnership. - Chaired by Ceren Clulow, Chair – Digital Connectivity Working Group
How can digital connectivity help with environmental management including in town centres and high streets
Engineering Board
- Chaired by Mark Stevens, Chair – Engineering Board
- Chaired by Liz Kirkham, Engineering Board
Environment Board
- Chaired by Steve Read, Chair – Environment Board with Paul de Zylva, Friends of the Earth
A focus on designing green space back into town centres - Chaired by Sue Halliwell, Co-Chair – South East Board with a representative from the COP26 Unit (tbc)
How can local authorities take local action for COP26
Thanks to our sponsors we are able to offer this event free of charge to all members (there is a charge for non-members). You can register for the seminar here.
Save the date
National Traffic Managers' Conference
Wednesday 13 October
Leicester Tigers Rugby Club
More details coming soon
ADEPT Autumn Conference
Thursday 18 and Friday 19 November
More details to follow
Live Labs Expo
1 December 2021
Derby County Football Club
More details coming soon