Kris Declercq, Burgemeester (Mayor) of Roeselare, West Flanders, Belgium – the second Keynote at the IHBC’s June 2020 Brighton School – themed on ‘OLD TOWNS : NEW FUTURES’ – will introduce the Friday afternoon’s theme of ‘Experience’ by exploring his own first-hand experience of leading his community’s approach to urban renewal.
image: Linkedin Profile
In anticipation of the conference, Kris Declercq said: ‘Transforming cities requires leadership, strategy and teamwork. In landers we used UK-inspiration with successful perspectives.’
The background:
In Roeselare, a city of some 62,000 people, Kris successfully led the implementation of a progressive renewal programme from 2013, first as alderman of economic development, then as Burgemeester.
The particular inspiration for the renewal strategies adopted in Roeselare originated in British thinking, highlighting the special relevance of the session to UK practitioners today.
Roeselare’s successful programme is distinguished by, among other things, the strong leadership from the public service, and the close partnerships and responsive interactions with local communities.
The experience of delivering change at Roeselare offer important first hand insights to what is possible is securing sustainable new futures for old towns.
IHBC writes of Brighton’s 2020 School, ‘OLD TOWNS : NEW FUTURES’:
Billions of pounds are being invested today to support towns – old and new – as well as their surrounding regions. Most of that money comes from the UK’s cultural, business and community purses, but often is tied to separate, even contradictory outcomes.
At the same time core heritage funds are more constrained than ever, and the pressures on our making locally valued places sustainable can put those places most at risk.
What can be done by those who care, shape and advise on such places actually do to make our towns succeed in the future?
Built and historic environment practitioners and advisers, community leaders, policy makers, investors and funders need to work in unison if we are to make the most of any opportunities.
The IHBC’s 2020 Brighton School and conference takes a timely and forensic look at how the planning, heritage and related sectors can make the most of the opportunities on offer, help players learn from colleagues and others, and broaden understanding of the drivers, barriers and responses.
This unique learning opportunity from the IHBC – in Brighton, from 18-20 June 2020 – will ensure that practitioners can uncover new solutions to some surprisingly historic challenges.
For IHBC’s Brighton 2020 School see Brighton2020.ihbc.org.uk where you can sign up for the IHBC’s 2020 School alerts, follow us @IHBCTweet and see #IHBCBrighton2020 for updates.
For more background on the 2020 School‘s principal sponsor, Heritage Collective, a member of the IHBC’s quality assured HESPR Community, see the Newsblog
See HESPR and Heritage Collective’s HESPR entry
See options and download the SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE
See more on the IHBC’s Annual Schools
For more background to Roeselare see:
- https://www.itv.com/news/2018-05-03/belgian-city-puts-shunned-uk-retail-plan-to-good-effect/
- https://www.propertyweek.com/features/the-belgian-city-showing-how-high-street-regeneration-should-be-done/5101748.article
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roeselare
For more on Kris see:
