Civic Voice Convention and AGM Canterbury 24 25 October 2014 Convention AW.indd 1 17/10/2014 16:10
convention exhibitors Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is fighting to protect the countryside across the south east from Oxfordshire to Kent, as demands for development erode green lungs. Even the historic setting of Canterbury is at risk. CPRE calls for brownfield sites to be re-used first, a fair say for communities, and more affordable housing. The Canterbury Society works with Civic Voice in supporting the civic movement. English Heritage is the Government s official advisor on the historic environment. We are working closely with Civic Voice to inspire more individuals to participate in protecting their local heritage. Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage through innovative investment in projects with a lasting impact on people and places. As the largest dedicated funder of the UK s heritage, since 1994, HLF has supported over 36,500 projects allocating more than 6 billion across the UK. John Thompson & Partners is an architectural and masterplanning practice, with extensive experience of delivering successful places for both public and private sectors throughout the UK and internationally. We use collaborative techniques pioneered and honed over two decades to build shared visions for our projects with the very people who will go on to use them. Living Streets is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. We work with you to create safe, attractive, enjoyable streets where it s great to walk. The National Association of Local Councils represents the interests of town and parish councils in England a total of around 8,500 councils. These councils have powers to raise their own funds through precept. Planning Aid England offers planning advice and support to individuals and communities. They believe everyone should have the opportunity to get involved in planning their local area, and provide people with the knowledge and tools to achieve this. The Prince s Regeneration Trust supports and strengthens communities by rescuing and reusing important British buildings at risk of being lost forever through demolition or decay. The War Memorials Trust works to protect and conserve war memorials across the UK. It provides advisory and advocacy services, financial assistance for repair and conservation through grant schemes and is a key referral point for all issues regarding war memorials. War Memorials Trust is an independent registered charity which relies upon voluntary income and support to undertake its work. Convention AW.indd 2 17/10/2014 16:10
Welcome Dear Delegate We are delighted to extend a special welcome to you for this, the fifth Civic Voice convention and AGM. The Canterbury Society is proud to be hosting the event in our home city of Canterbury. President of Civic Voice, Griff Rhys Jones, is opening proceedings by delivering a public lecture at the newly restored Westgate Hall, when he also launches the first ever Civic Voice manifesto, Localism for Real. A drinks reception and awards dinner in Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is the perfect chance to network, unwind and hear from our guest after dinner speaker, Jonathan Foyle, with his talk Canterbury Cathedral: Its story through three lives. Across both days, our programme of tours, discussions and workshops has been designed to offer new insights into issues of importance to the development of the civic movement. Welcome to Canterbury! We hope you enjoy the Convention and look forward to meeting friends old and new! Freddie Gick chair, Civic Voice Jan Pahl chair, The Canterbury Society Convention and AGM kindly supported by Convention AW.indd 3 17/10/2014 16:10
Friday 24 OCtober Westgate Hall 10:00 11:00 Registration for delegates, public lecture, tours and Cathedral tour; exhibition available to view 11:00 12:00 Public lecture: Localism for Real Griff Rhys Jones, president, Civic Voice 12:00 1:00 Break (pre-ordered lunch); registration continued; exhibition available to view 1:00 1:15 Welcome to Canterbury and the Convention Jan Pahl, chair, The Canterbury Society; Freddie Gick, chair, Civic Voice 1:15 1:45 A Canterbury Tale: The story of saving Westgate Hall Imogen Morizet, Westgate Hall Community Trust 1:45 2:00 Exhibition available to view; join a tour 2:00 4:00 Tours of Canterbury (see overleaf) 4:00 Free time/visit Canterbury Cathedral (see overleaf) 5:30 6:15 Canterbury Cathedral choral evensong with official welcome Canterbury Cathedral Lodge 6:30 7:00 Delegates arrive for drinks reception dress code: smart casual 7:00 Convention dinner and Civic Day awards Welcome from Colin Carmichael, CEO, Canterbury City Council; presentations by Martin Vye, Kent County Council 8:30 Canterbury Cathedral: Its story through three lives Jonathan Foyle, chief executive, World Monuments Fund 9.30 Tour of Canterbury s historic public houses led by CAMRA and The Canterbury Society Convention AW.indd 4 17/10/2014 16:10
saturday 25 OCtober Canterbury Cathedral Lodge 8:30 Registration Exhibition available to view 9:00 9:30 Civic Voice annual general meeting 2014 i. welcome (Freddie Gick, chair); ii. apologies; iii. agree the minutes for AGM 2013; iv. chair s report; v. ratification of annual report and accounts 2013 14 (Martin Meredith, treasurer); vi. discussion; vii. appointment of independent examiners (proposed by Martin Meredith); viii. board elections announcement of results (John Walker, deputy chair); ix. ratification of chair and treasurer; x. any other business. 9:30 10:00 Break; registration continued 10:00 10:15 Welcome to delegates Jan Pahl, chair, The Canterbury Society 10:15 10:30 Video message Griff Rhys Jones, president, Civic Voice 10:30 10:50 Chair of Civic Voice annual address Freddie Gick 10:50 11:15 Marsh Christian Trust Awards Nick Carter, trustee, Marsh Christian Trust 11:15 11:30 Break 11:30 12:45 Workshops (see overleaf) 12:45 1:45 Lunch 1:45 3:00 Workshops (see overleaf) 3:00 4:00 Conference discussion: Looking to the future including: selecting a major campaign (presentation and discussion); Civic Voice manifesto Localism for Real ; closing remarks Convention AW.indd 5 17/10/2014 16:10
Tours of Canterbury Friday 2:00 4:00 Conservation in a historic city Clive Bowley, architect and ex-conservation officer This walk will be led by Clive Bowley,who is an architect specialising in historic buildings and was for many years senior conservation officer for Canterbury. The city has a wealth of Grade I and II listed buildings, and has seen a great deal of re-development over the past 30 years. This walk will include some of most interesting sites in the city centre, with an emphasis on the successes (and a few failures) of the conservation approach to development in Canterbury. The archaeology of Canterbury: cuts and constraints in archaeology today Dr Paul Bennett, director, Canterbury Archaeological Trust The walk will touch on the extraordinary and near continuous history of the city from the later Iron Age to the present. Using topography, standing buildings and descriptions of past discoveries, delegates will be introduced to aspects of the city s past. Dr Bennett will also discuss issues of heritage protection and the need to maintain sound curatorial advice and robust archaeological conditions within the planning process for new development. Historic buildings and gardens of Canterbury David Birmingham, professor of history From Westgate Hall to the river, into the Westgate Gardens with dramatic accounts of the Peasants Revolt when poll-taxed to pay for the Gate; into the High Street to discuss freemasonry in Kent in front of the Gothic Temple; All Saints Lane and The Weaver s with reference to Walloons and Hugenots; through the garden of the Master s Lodge to the Grey Friars; into Jewry Lane and the Iron Foundry Ghetto, finishing in the Beaney and Sidney Cooper s giant cattle and snowbound sheep. Managing a modern city centre Bob Jones, City Centre Partnership and BID When the money runs out, the thinking starts: a connected city, better for everyone. A walk around the city to talk about our experience of how the business community can play its part and make a positive difference to the city in changing financial times. Recent planning disasters and successes Nick Blake, architectural consultant The Planning regime: Expensive? Clumsy? Slow? Does it work? Does it deliver? Walk around some planned bits of Canterbury and find out. visit Canterbury cathedral Friday 4:00 If you would like to join a pre-booked group visit to Canterbury Cathedral, you are required to register via info@civicvoice.org.uk. Please note: this is an additional 14 that you will be required to pay the on the day, and is not covered by your convention booking fee. Convention AW.indd 6 17/10/2014 16:10
Workshops Saturday 11:30 12:45 & 1:45 3:00 National Association of Local Councils 11:30-12:45 only The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) represents the interests of town and parish councils in England a total of around 8,500 councils. These councils have powers to raise their own funds through precept. Parish and town councils provide employment for over 25,000 staff, while their annual expenditure is in the region of 400 million. Attend the NALC workshop to learn how groups including the Charlton Society and Batley Society are looking at creating new parish councils. Local listing 11:30-12:45 only Over the past decade, many communities have lost local buildings that they value. Since 2012, local listing has been a campaign for Civic Voice as it is one of the ways to help give greater protection to what we value. This workshop will explore the process involved. Heritage Lottery Fund The head of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) south east England will deliver an overview of the HLF covering who we are and what we do, with a brief history. The mechanics of how the funding works, examples of successful projects and a discussion about projects you may want to apply with. Discover some of the stories from the many communities that have secured HLF funding. War Memorials Trust Civic Voice and War Memorials Trust are working together to develop a programme to support local communities to improve their understanding of their war memorial heritage throughout the centenary of the First World War. Join this workshop to understand how you can help to protect and conserve our nation s war memorials for future generations. Department for Communities and Local Government Does neighbourhood planning really give more power to local communities? Does it mean less discretion for local planning authorities? How are developers and landowners responding to this new aspect of the planning system? And is it power for some; the rural and parished, and not for others; the urban, non-parished. Using current case studies these questions and more will be explored by Mick Duggan from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) one of the country s leading experts on neighbourhood planning. Assets of community value 1:45 3:00 only Did you know that buildings and amenities that are considered an integral part of community life can be listed as assets of community value? It means that, should these assets become available to buy, communities can demand the right to bid to keep these assets in public use. This workshop will explore the process and examine case studies to see how it s working in different areas across the country. Civic Voice manifesto 1:45 3:00 only At the 2015 General Election we have a huge opportunity to build on the first few years of Civic Voice and influence the future agenda impacting on our towns, cities and villages. To achieve this, we need your help. Join a session led by Civic Voice trustee, David Tittle, to discuss the Civic Voice manifesto and its implementation. Convention AW.indd 7 17/10/2014 16:10
In case of emergency during your stay in Canterbury please call 07877 096 968 or 07851 915 845 60 Duke Street Liverpool L1 5AA T 0151 707 4319 E info@civicvoice.org.uk www.civicvoice.org.uk @civic_voice Civic Voice is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England no. 7142946 Charity registration no. 1134476 Civic Voice 2014 Cover illustration: redrawn from a woodcut in William Caxton s second edition of Geoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales, printed 1483 Convention AW.indd 8 17/10/2014 16:10