RTPI Meeting: Young Planners’ A New Direction?

On Monday 25th June the young planners regional representatives met with the present National Young Planners Steering Group to discuss the successes of the year, the National Conference and also matters of potential reform of the National Network which now strands are over 1,000 members (the largest in the RTPI). The meeting led to recommendations over the future make up of the National Young Planners Network.

SCYPN and the newly forming Thames Valley Young Planners Network (TVYPN) play an important (and more local) role with the face to face organisation of events and meetings. The two sub regional networks have over 200 members (the second largest in the RTPI) and as such the National Committee were keen to hear views on what has worked well to get things up and running.

It was also interesting to hear how other areas have organised events, in particular, Yorkshire who have formed a cross disciplinary network called YORnet who have organised a range of different events including planning ‘speed dating’ and PIMMS BBQs (we have taken note!).

Following the meeting SCYPN, TVYPN, RTPI East of England / South East and YORnet submitted views on how we felt the National Network should be reformed to reflect a more localised sub regional and cross disciplinary structure.

The comments focused on defining a key target audience for the Network, not necessarily young but newer planners into the profession. It was felt that after five years experience a planner may not necessarily consider them themselves ‘new’, however, someone who is 50 and on a career change would benefit from meeting others newly entering the profession.

A further key recommendation was to ensure a more transparent organisation of the National Network, with a mix of directly elected persons forming a ‘Core Group’ alongside an ‘Associate’ grouping made up of young planners from the regions. We felt that if people wanted to get involved they should be encouraged as quickly as possible without waiting for elections. This would bring the needed flexibility and also locally led models which like SCYPN appear to be more successful. The principal position in the ‘Organisation Group’ would be a National Young Convenor of the RTPI, who would be the annual face of young planners, representing views and supporting the RTPI President. He/she would be directly elected each year at the National Conference.

The output from the organisation group would be measured by a series of projects, all intended to deliver outcomes, i.e. social events and support for young planners etc. This is how the National Network would be judged. A further recommendation was to aid transparency via the use of an improved RTPI Young Planners website and also to hold annual hustings at the National Conference to ensure accountability and also to promote the following year’s National Conference.

The present National Young Planners Steering Group will decide on a future makeup shortly and we hope that our views will be considered.

A copy of our comments is available on request. Pease e-mail ccollins@savills.com for a copy.

South East Young Planners’ Expand Further

The South East Region is now covered by two local ‘sub regional’ Young Planners Networks for the under 35s or those new to planning. The South Coast Young Planners (SCYPN) formed in November now stands at over 200 members (the 2nd largest RTPI network!), now joined by the Thames Valley Young Planners (TVYPN) covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Surrey. More information may be obtained from Charlie Collins or Sophia Thorpe (ccollins@savills.com, sthorpe@vailwilliams.com).

The TVYPN will be holding their first event in Guildford on Tuesday 25th September (TBA). SCYPN have now held three major events in Southampton, Brighton and more recently in Bournemouth. These involve a series of talks, tours and evening drinks / buffet. Their website will be active until this November (www.scyp-online.co.uk) until transferred to the main RTPI site. It outlines all of the details of the network and events.

Forthcoming dates for your diaries: -

25th September - Thames Valley Young Planners' Guildford
October – Possible Winchester Event TBA
19/20th October - National Young Planners Conference- Glasgow
14th November – ‘The purpose of being a 21st Century Planner?’ APC Event - London, South Bank
December TBA- Portsmouth
January 2008- Annual South East Young Planners Ball

Previous SCYPN newsletters are available also for January, March, May and the present July edition. Further ones are planed for October and December. TVYPN plan their first newsletter for September.

Please do get involved, the Networks are intended for younger or new planners to met, socialise, network and learn (gain some valuable CPD for the APC process!).

Author:

Carol Dawson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

02-Aug-07

Categories:

 

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