{"id":26443,"date":"2020-05-26T17:46:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T16:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=26443"},"modified":"2020-05-26T17:46:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T16:46:03","slug":"ihbcvirtualschool2020-cpd-speaker-spotlight-kris-declercq-mayor-of-roeselare-belgium-and-lead-in-local-high-street-renewal-on-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=26443","title":{"rendered":"#IHBCVirtualSchool2020 CPD Speaker Spotlight: Kris Declercq, Mayor of Roeselare, Belgium, and lead in local High Street renewal, on \u2018Government\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Kris Declercq, Mayor of the city of Roeselare (Belgium), will explore the place of government in his \u2018OLD TOWNS | NEW FUTURES\u2019 IHBC 2020 School topic on 19 June, so to better understand his role School delegates can explore his inspiration and success with some pre-School CPD, both below and on the School\u2019s Speaker<\/a> web page.<\/p>\n

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The IHBC writes:<\/p>\n

Kris obtained a LLM-degree (Master of Law) at the KULeuven and specialized in commercial and constitutional law at the University Of Stellenbosch (South Africa). \u00a0After practicing law for a number of years he took his first political steps at the cabinet of Minister Stefaan De Clerck and later as Deputy Head of Cabinet of Prime Minister Yves Leterme and also as advisor to Herman Van Rompuy, in the field of constitutional law and local government.<\/p>\n

In 2016 Kris became mayor, focusing on retail and city-planning and inspired by the ideas of UK-retail specialist Bill Grimsey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Faced with declining footfall and store closures Kris was inspired by The Grimsey Review<\/em> and tailored the recommendations to Roeselare, setting in place a development plan to transform the town.<\/p>\n

He is president of the \u2018West-Vlaamse Intercommunale\u2019<\/a>, gathering 54 cities in Western Flanders.<\/p>\n

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ITV News writes:<\/p>\n

Belgian city puts shunned UK retail plan to good effect\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

A plan designed to revive British retailers is being put to good effect \u2013 on the streets of Belgium.<\/p>\n

A 2013 report made a number of recommendations on how to help UK retailers, but the proposals were largely ignored.<\/p>\n

But the city of Roeselare in Flanders picked up on the idea and is starting to see the benefits.<\/p>\n

\u2018I was very inspired five years ago when I read the review,\u2019 Mayor Kris Declercq told ITV News. \u2018I needed some big reforms and shock therapy for our shop owners.\u2019<\/p>\n

The report, by retailer Bill Grimsey, made recommendations around areas including leadership, funding, business rates and parking.<\/p>\n

Ideas put into action in Roeselare \u2013 home to around 60,000 people – include:<\/p>\n