Nonetheless, Philly and I benefited from a break, and my first meeting continued my programme of meetings to refresh relationships with major stakeholders.
Mutual agenda of cooperation with English Heritage
I met Steven Bee, Head of Planning at English Heritage. He was once Chief Planning Officer at Winchester, where I lived in the 70s, and we reminisced on what a beautiful place it is.
The recent change in chair of English Heritage to Baroness Andrews, and the new laws and regulations in programme, mean that there is a mutual agenda of co-operation and support required - so the RTPI and EH will meet later in the year for this purpose.
Glamour and humour
I was delighted to go to the RIBA Presidential changeover, from Sunand Prasaad to Ruth Baker, at Portland Place. It was a glamorous affair, including Julia Somerville, wife of an eminent architect, Jeremy, who is also a colleague patron of the Children of Chernobyl Fund Wells, that brings children across for recuperative holidays from Belarus.
It was made a little humorous for me, as during Sunand’s speech, favouring good relationships with the RTPI, there were loud stage whispers behind me from another eminent architect - who shall be nameless, but he wears a florid bow tie - not entirely agreeing with Sunand!
I turned to introduce myself as RTPI President, in a "loud stage whisper", much to the amusement of others within hearing.
Fortunately most architects hold a high opinion of the planning profession and we will continue to work with the RIBA to mutual benefit.
Back to school...
The Planning Summer School is an institution and I have attended, either as a delegate or speaker, four times.
This one was an excellent event, with 160-plus delegates, mainly from local authorities, chaired by Alistair Hackston, the whisky expert(!) from Scotland.
It differs from other events because, to quote next year's PSS President, Leonora, the School is about “Sharing Learning and advancing Education”, aimed specifically at detailed consideration by practitioners of planning matters, over a number of days.
Discussions with delegates, both in response to my address and at other times, concerned the need to lift the profile of planners and planning, especially in local authorities, to demonstrate their leadership in bringing about economic recovery.
We reviewed the importance of the RTPI 7 Commitments to Climate Change, as a good example of the RTPI taking a lead. The presentations and workshops, especially on Sec 106 agreements by John Bosworth of Ashfords, were excellent and again, filled my reservoir of “Planning Delivering Solutions”.
Drivers of economic recovery
I speak regularly to the two branches of ROOM, in London and the SW, and addressed the latter at Taunton, on a busy Friday morning, on the subject of South West local development frameworks as drivers of economic recovery.
As the members are predominantly councillors, the discussion centred on the importance of the planning process, whatever the political complexion, in particular the need to reinforce resources, for LDFs to provide a basis for priorities in public and private investment.
Finally, I had great fun in presenting the SW Region Today’s and Tomorrow’s Leaders Awards to Kath Haddrell and Mike Harris, respectively, both from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) in Bristol.
We were also addressed by Katrine Sporle, the PINS CEO, and both of us reflected on the exceptional contributions of these “young” planners to planning and to the RTPI. I still have a number of awards to give, but these two, local to me, gave me particular pleasure.
Martin Willey
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