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OUR FOCUS

Supporting those who manage high streets, town centres and city centres across the UK and Ireland.

Office Conference

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

Sharing best practice in the Urban Place Management Industry

OUR MISSION

Investing in the place management of towns and cities across the UK and is undoubtedly one of the most important economic and social challenges of our time. The ATCM is committed to ensuring that the people leading the way in shaping this new urban landscape have the tools, information and resources required to enable our collective places to reach their full potential.

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ATCM is a respected voice for town and city management at both a European and wider global level. We are a not-for-profit organisation with members that come from the public, private and third sectors. They include key stakeholders and thought leaders who develop and implement shared visions, strategies and action plans for town and city centres throughout the UK and Ireland

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Reflecting on the 2024 ATCM Cities Conference
One Week On

15 October 2024

The Purple Flag Forum: Reducing Vulnerability through Early Intervention, 26 Sept 2024
01:05:39
Association of Town and City Management

The Purple Flag Forum: Reducing Vulnerability through Early Intervention, 26 Sept 2024

Place management based triage services at night can provide a crucial mechanism for early intervention. On the one hand they can provide a screen for the emergency services, reducing the pressure on the police and health services. On the other hand, through proactive assistance for night time users, triaging can keep people safe with positive benefits for health outcomes. So, what can we learn about place management’s role in delivering triage services? The first Purple Flag Forum following the Summer break took a case study approach to the use of triage services at night. The meeting also included an open roundtable, allowing delegates to ask questions and offer their own experiences of triage services, taking into account everything from partnership development, working with volunteers and data collection on outcomes from public services.
Purple Flag International: Co-Designing Safe Places 9 May 2024
01:27:05
Association of Town and City Management

Purple Flag International: Co-Designing Safe Places 9 May 2024

The first step to making a great place, is to create a safe space. But how can we achieve this, when some of the people who might feel the most vulnerable are not always part of the urban design process? For the first time, the Purple Flag Forum went international to discuss different approaches, across both northern and southern hemispheres, to creating places inclusive of women, girls, gender diversity and other key groups through collaborative placemaking. This virtual event included contributions from New South Wales (Australia) and the UK.
The Purple Flag: Supporting Hospitality, 30 Jan 2024
01:13:34
Association of Town and City Management

The Purple Flag: Supporting Hospitality, 30 Jan 2024

Hospitality faces a bleak start to 2024. Following years of disruption and pressure, there are serious concerns that many in the business have reached the end of the road. The combination of high prices for energy, goods and staff, with historically low levels of spend at the beginning of the calendar year possibly made worse by the cost of living crisis means we have a business model being pushed to the brink. As a critical part of the evening and night time economy, the first Purple Flag Forum of 2024 discussed how we can incorporate the hospitality sector into our place strategies. Building on ATCM’s contributions to the Hospitality Sector Council, this meeting provided all members with the guidance on supporting the sector.
The Purple Flag Forum: Managing Protest in a Fractured Community, 17th Nov 2023
45:46
Association of Town and City Management

The Purple Flag Forum: Managing Protest in a Fractured Community, 17th Nov 2023

The conflict between Israel and Gaza has worldwide ramifications. For those involved in the management of towns and cities, dealing with the fallout in community relations is top of the list. Protests and counter-protests in the context of rising antisemitism and islamophobia makes this a difficult for time for all those striving to create inclusive and welcoming environments for all. The emergence of far right elements in society heighten the concerns around community safety. So, how do we respond? This emergency meeting of the Purple Flag network provided a policy update on the conflict and the funding available to support local communities through a challenging time before looking to Northern Ireland, a nation that faced deep divisions within its communities. We will be joined by City Centre Initiative Derry-Londonderry to hear about experiences of providing a safe space for all during a time of division and protest.
Purple Flag Forum: Responding to Night-Time ASB, 4th May 2023
01:24:38
Association of Town and City Management

Purple Flag Forum: Responding to Night-Time ASB, 4th May 2023

Since the end of trading restrictions, there have been concerns around safety at night. Many ATCM members have reported greater instances of anti-social behaviour, or greater fear of anti-social behaviour from town centre users. This Purple Flag Forum explored challenges around ASB and understand how different towns are responding. This meeting is open to all ATCM members, not just Purple Flag accredited destinations. Contributions were delivered by Leitrim County Council and the South West Business Crime Centre.
High Street Conversations: The Future of Town Centre Investment, Autumn Statement Special 1 Dec 2022
01:36:37
Association of Town and City Management

High Street Conversations: The Future of Town Centre Investment, Autumn Statement Special 1 Dec 2022

We have a fiscal crisis. The UK is buckling under the weight of a debt mountain that edged to £2.3 trillion (99.6% of GDP) at the end of the last financial year. To add to our woes, a cost-of-living crisis with soaring inflation means the Government is compelled to support households as a recession takes hold, leading to further pressure on the financial situation. Then, there is September’s misjudged mini-budget. This undermined the credibility of the UK’s fiscal management leading to chaos at the heart of Government and a badly timed increase in the cost of borrowing. This penultimate High Street Conversations of the year reviewed the efforts of the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt to repair the UK’s fiscal credibility whilst minimising the impact of a recession and supporting households all at the same time. We took an in-depth look at what the Autumn Statement means for short and medium-term investment in town centres with business rates, Levelling Up, public services, Investment Zones and BID funding all on the menu. ATCM members Lambert Smith Hampton and Canterbury BID provided key insight.
The Purple Flag Forum: The Green Night Time Economy, 10th Nov 2022
01:12:52
Association of Town and City Management

The Purple Flag Forum: The Green Night Time Economy, 10th Nov 2022

The built environment is both one of the perpetrators and victims of climate change. Towns and cities are in a race to undertake significant change to reach net zero and also become resilient to extreme weather events. The journey towards change has already started across numerous sectors. But, what about the night time economy? Relatively little has been said about the role of night time economy in the management towards an environmentally sustainable economy. However, in an age where it is recognised that towns and cities must operate as 24/7 destinations, but activities and transport options might look significantly different after dark, there are questions to be asked about where we start. This Purple Flag Forum meeting discusses how we take the lead in going green after dark.
The Purple Flag Forum: Towards a Business Friendly Regulatory Regime, 15th Sept 2022
01:29:19
Association of Town and City Management

The Purple Flag Forum: Towards a Business Friendly Regulatory Regime, 15th Sept 2022

Pre-pandemic, there was nothing unusual in the evening and night time economy businesses having to navigate a tricky planning and licensing regime. It was seen as just part of the game. Not anymore. The pandemic has been brutal, undermining balance sheets, triggering a staffing and recruitment crisis, and setting in motion a cost of living crisis. There are multiple reports of evening and night time economy businesses failing under the weight of the problems they face. There is a new focus on reshaping local governance for ENTE businesses to help them survive. An unfriendly business regime is no longer tolerable. Work is needed to make services like planning as easy as possible for businesses to access. This work has already begun. In Ireland, the Sale of Alcohol Bill is being delivered to simplify and streamline the licensing laws. There is also work on-going in London, where the GLA is encouraging business-friendly licensing and regulation practices. This Purple Flag Forum meeting explores this evolution, asks if we are on the right path forward and provides ideas for Purple Flag destinations on what can be done to help the ENTE sector overcome a difficult period.
Summer School 2022: Green Urban Revolution, Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change
08:52
Association of Town and City Management

Summer School 2022: Green Urban Revolution, Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change

The 2022 Summer School, 'High Streets vs The Industrial Revolution', hears from Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, about how and why the Welsh Government has brought together the climate change and high streets agenda.

Events

  • ATCM North West: Budget and Bikes
    ATCM North West: Budget and Bikes
    ATCM North West: Budget and Bikes
    Tue, 05 Nov
    Liverpool
    05 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
    05 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
    Join us for a discussion on the Autumn Budget and the impact of food delivery firms on the public realm.
  • ATCM Scotland
    ATCM Scotland
    ATCM Scotland
    Thu, 14 Nov
    Virtual Event
    14 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 11:30
    Virtual Event
    14 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 11:30
    Virtual Event
    Join us for the next virtual meeting of ATCM Scotland
  • ATCM NI: Connecting Towns Centres across the Island of Ireland
    ATCM NI: Connecting Towns Centres across the Island of Ireland
    ATCM NI: Connecting Towns Centres across the Island of Ireland
    Tue, 19 Nov
    Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street
    19 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, UK
    19 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, UK
    Open to ATCM Ireland members
  • ATCM South East: Policy and Practice
    ATCM South East: Policy and Practice
    ATCM South East: Policy and Practice
    Tue, 19 Nov
    London
    19 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    London, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DE, UK
    19 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    London, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DE, UK
    Save the date for the next ATCM South East meeting in central London
  • ATCM Ireland
    ATCM Ireland
    ATCM Ireland
    Tue, 26 Nov
    Location is TBD
    26 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Location is TBD
    26 Nov 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Location is TBD
    Save the date for next ATCM Ireland meeting
  • ATCM East of England
    ATCM East of England
    ATCM East of England
    Tue, 03 Dec
    Stevenage
    03 Dec 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Stevenage, Stevenage Town Centre, Stevenage SG1, UK
    03 Dec 2024, 10:00 – 16:00
    Stevenage, Stevenage Town Centre, Stevenage SG1, UK
    Save the date for our next ATCM East of England meeting
  • The Place Management Conference 2025: A Crisis in Local Government Finance
    The Place Management Conference 2025: A Crisis in Local Government Finance
    The Place Management Conference 2025: A Crisis in Local Government Finance
    Wed, 26 Feb
    London
    26 Feb 2025, 10:30 – 17:30 GMT
    London, 183 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BE, UK
    26 Feb 2025, 10:30 – 17:30 GMT
    London, 183 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BE, UK
    A discussion about the existential threat to urban place management

CONTACT US

PO Box 242 
Westerham
Kent
UK
TN16 9EU

membership@atcm.org

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