Convention of the South of Scotland

Overview

In the 2019 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government announced the establishment of the Convention of the South of Scotland in order to ‘bring together public bodies with responsibility for growth and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on priorities and how to tackle key regional issues’.

The remit of the Convention of the South of Scotland will be to: 

• strengthen alignment between the Scottish Government, Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Scottish Borders Council and public agencies delivering in the South of Scotland to drive inclusive growth and to agree action to address the priorities of the area
• ensure effective partnership working and delivery across the public sector
• consider current and future challenges impacting on inclusive and sustainable economic growth; and agree actions to deliver that growth
• address any blockages and oversee progress

CoSS meets twice a year, and the meeting locations alternates between Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council.  Meetings are open to the public.

Members

Convention members are appointed by the Deputy First Minister. The core membership includes the following organisations, with additional members attending specific meetings as agenda items dictate: 

• Scottish Government 
• Borders College
• Dumfries and Galloway Council 
• Dumfries and Galloway College
• Forestry and Land Scotland
• NatureScot
• NHS Borders 
• NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Scottish Borders Council 
• South of Scotland Enterprise 
• Scottish Enterprise 
• Scottish Funding Council
• Skills Development Scotland
• Scottish Borders College
• Scottish Forestry
• Transport Scotland
• University Representatives from Borders
• University Representatives from Dumfries and Galloway
• VisitScotland 

Documents

• Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: February 2024
• Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: September 2023
• Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: February 2023
• Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: February 2022
• Convention of the South of Scotland minutes: October 2021
• Convention of the South of Scotland papers: February 2021
• Convention of the South of Scotland papers: September 2020
• Convention of the South of Scotland papers: February 2020