Janet Askew

Being a member of the General Assembly has been a privilege – learning from the vast experience of those who govern the RTPI and being able to make a contribution at a time when planning is undergoing such significant change. The RTPI recognises that we cannot be complacent about climate change and I support efforts to implement policies to find solutions for a more sustainable future.
Drawing from my experience as a head of a school of planning and architecture and my work in the public and private sectors in England and Scotland, I believe that my contribution centres round:

• participating in the debate about the transition from development control to development management, working with the membership to comment on government consultations about regulatory change;
• bringing my experience and understanding of planning education to assist in reviewing the RTPI’s role in the accreditation of planning schools and the development of a relevant curriculum for the future; and
• assisting in promoting continuing professional development opportunities for all members to enhance our understanding of spatial planning and its implementation in a recession.

Chris Berry

It's time for the Institute to get a grip. Just when the issues many of us have been fighting for for years are struggling into the political main-stream, the RTPl gets a bit coy about being part of the great environmental debate, and deciding which side we should be on.
As a planning student in Newcastle thousands of years ago, I listened to Prof Brenikov teach a keynote course called 'Resource Management'. Spot on, and that is what we should be about now; not supporting an obsolete development model which is unsustainable and potentially deeply damaging to the planet and local places alike.
My two years on Executive Board as the regional rep have been highly illuminating. The growth of the YPs, networks and associations is exciting and very welcome. The inability of the Institute to sort out its governance so that the membership is more fully engaged is disappointing.
The RTPl should be so much more than a regulating body for academic courses and defender of continuing professional development; crucial though these elements are. I sense the inembership rightly takes these for granted and looks for more...
Vote me onto GA and let's ignite the debate.

Alison Blom-Cooper

The RTPI must represent the interests of planning. This is important in the context of demands for housing, the economic downturn and the challenges facing the profession e.g. climate change.
We must raise the profile of spatial planning to ensure the delivery of outcomes and support the simplification of the planning system, improve policy and practice, and support those joining the profession.
As a practising planner with over 25 years' experience, I have a rounded experience having worked in local government, for the Local Government Ombudsman, the Planning Inspectorate and the private sector. My most recent work has focused on supporting the improvement of the delivery of the planning service through direct support to authorities and national research for CLG and in partnership working. I have a good knowledge of the issues affecting those working in all types of authority, different parts of the service and across the country.
If elected, I would bring that experience together with drawing on the expertise from the membership and all those involved in the networks or affiliated e.g. NAPE , to ensure that the RTPI increases its current profile and influence on national thinking, particularly in the year of a general election.

Craige Burden

I have passion for the built environment. As a chartered town planner and architect, working in urban design and working with other built environment professions, I realise how important planning and planners are to the process.
I feel planners should have a stronger role in this process and at times it is there, but by chance rather than reason. This role should be strengthened and I want to assist the RTPI in bringing planners up the professional agenda.
I have experience of how the RTPI works, having been a trustee for two years and having spent time on the RTPI Council. This does not make me another face coming back to agree with everyone else, but I do believe understanding the system will allow me to hit the ground running and influence the process more effectively in my two years.
I also have experienced other institutes at work, through membership and interaction with the organisations. There is always an opportunity to learn from others in understanding how they work.
Becoming a member of the RTPI Council will allow me to channel my enthusiasm for the built environment into improving the reputation of planning and planners amongst other professionals.
Vote Craige!

Ian Crawley

I would bring an urban perspective from 13 years as a chief planning officer in Inner London and a rural perspective from my home environment of the last five years – a marrying of the town and country that is at the heart of effective planning in the UK.
I would bring a perspective of effective implementation in planning as part of a team, with other local government service colleagues, construction professionals, the police, health services and the voluntary and community sector. I know the importance of integrating the social, economic, environmental and physical aspects of development decisions in order that development improves the quality of people's lives, from my thirty-five years experience in the field.
I would bring a local community and neighbourhood perspective from my current role as a town councillor and customer of the planning system on behalf of residents and businesses.
I would bring a practical approach to the role the planning system needs to play in building community resilience in the face of peak oil and tackle climate change, through my experience as part of the Transition Towns movement.

Anthony Crook

Our profession faces immense challenges. The current economic and political climate will make big demands on our knowledge skills and understanding, whilst severely challenging our finances as individuals and as an Institute.
Our duty is to ensure that spatial planning continues to be a key part of the solution to our global and local problems.
I have served the RTPI in several ways. I chair the Partnership and Accreditation panel, which safeguards our standards of initial professional education, have chaired the Housing Panel and served on the Research Committee.
I bring two types of experience to the Institute:

• I have led several organisations both from an executive (e.g. University) and non-executive capacity (e.g. Shelter). I can bring experience of strategy, financial planning, and of organisational and cultural change to bear on RTPI affairs; I can also bring my experience of audit, risk and remunerations committees – I have chaired/served on these in several organisations.
• My involvement in housing and regeneration planning, though active roles in policy and practice communities, both as a researcher (e.g. my recent work on planning obligations and on affordable housing) and as a chair/board member of several national bodies (e.g. The Coalfield Regeneration Trust).

Sandra Fryer

As a highly experienced planning, regeneration and sustainable development manager providing ongoing support to local government I am committed to ensuring planners are ready and able to respond to the challenges we currently face – climate change, financial pressures, housing delivery and place making.
As a member of the General Assembly I would bring up to date knowledge, expertise and best practice to help shape the RTPI responses to these issues and to influence the Government and other agencies who have key roles to play in meeting the challenges ahead.
I have worked in several very different local councils from the north east, to southwest, Wales and London. My most significant roles were to lead Sustainable Development in Bristol and to work as a director in the London Borough of Newham. This deep understanding of local government compliments the other skills of members of the General Assembly.
My over riding approach is to work together, to be ambitious and innovative. I believe we will need to keep looking to new solutions, that we have the skills and we must rise to the task ahead.

Vincent Goodstadt

Planning is facing huge challenges and these will become more acute over the next two years.
I would hope as a member of the General Assembly to help initiate a national debate which will refresh the Institute and profession to meet these challenges. These include the need for more effective strategic and national planning, which is now greater than ever since what we have is at risk. Similarly the potential of local planning needs to be unlocked from its bureaucratic chains.
Planners are continually having to refresh their skills to meet the ever increasing demands put on them. The reality is that Planners have kept the system going despite the system.
A stronger campaigning voice from the RTPI for planners is needed. The RTPI faces a period of change, especially with the loss of Robert Upton and the financial pressures that it now faces. A renewed sense of priorities is required urgently.

Jed Griffiths

Should you choose me, I will pledge once more my full support to the cause of spatial planning and the development of our profession. I write this at a time of immense changes to the context for planning, headlined by concerns over climate change and the economy. In these circumstances, there is a vital role for RTPI members, not only in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, but also on the global scale.
I have supported the refreshing of the New Vision of the Institute, better to equip our members for the challenges ahead. My priorities for the next two years are:

• to champion the tackling of climate change as a key priority for the Institute;
• to examine ways in which the profession can play its part in re-structuring and regenerating the economy in accordance with the principles of sustainable development;
• to continue to develop the concept of marine spatial planning.

Kathrine Haddrell

I am committed to the planning profession and feel strongly that there should be more pride in the profession and greater public awareness of what planning is and what good planning can achieve.
I believe that the RTPl could and should do more to create and maintain great environments and to help deliver sound development plan documents; we need to make the system work better than it is. We need a debate about what changes are needed in planning education, including CPD, to ensure that all planners have the necessary skills in a rapidly changing environment.
I became actively involved with the RTPl because I didn't feel that the institute properly represented younger or female planners. I was Chair of the SW region in 2006 and was recently awarded the "Today's Leaders" award for the South West. I am an APC assessor and a member of Summer School.
Passionate about planning, offen tenacious and outspoken because I believe that what we do matters, I would relish the opportunity to be involved with the General Assembly, bringing my experience from both the public and private sector to ask potentially "difficult" questions, find practical solutions and ensure that the profession delivers.

Clive Harridge

I will urge the RTPI to be much more proactive in promoting planning and the work of planners across all sectors of society and across Governments at national and local levels. This is particularly important in times of economic difficulty.
The RTPI must lead the argument to show how planning helps achieve more sustainable forms of development and facilitates low carbon living.
Far too often planning is seen as an inconvenient, costly, regulatory burden – this must change. Planning can help achieve a more sustainable future and a better quality of life for all – I will be shouting this message and will encourage the RTPI and others to do likewise.
I will continue to give my full support to Planning Aid and campaign for its long term funding. If elected I will fight hard for the Institute to:

• Give better value for money for membership subscriptions;
• Give more support for planners in the workplace;
• Achieve a higher public profile for planning;
• Give special attention to the needs of young members and students;
• Promote planning as a career, particularly in schools;
• Give full support to the RTPI’s Regions and Nations;
• Adopt a stronger international role.

Mike Hayes

I am standing for election because the Institute is at a key moment of transition and needs leadership that has vision, experience, commitment, energy and enthusiasm and the right balance between continuity - building on recent reforms - and progressive transformation - to address the major challenges. My record shows I can help shape an Institute that is: • Vibrant - positive, leading, supporting and engaging its members – especially Young Planners and those struggling in the recession. • Well managed, with good governance, clear about direction, priorities, purpose and outcome. • Responsible for planners and planning; but debating purpose and taking a view about outcomes, lifestyle, distribution, governance and political policy. • An (even) bigger tent – communities, interest groups, fellow travellers – for members, but also for society. • Offering research, evidence and solutions and supporting planners through high quality education and in-service training. • An organisation whose focus is the future (the planet, society, place, the young . . . and the old!) and how spatial planning can serve it. • A perspective that is global, national, regional, sub-regional and local. • The nation’s first choice, critical friend for spatial planning and society’s first call for skills, expertise and opinion.

Antonia James

I was awarded a Masters with distinction in Planning Policy and Practice in 2007 and became a Chartered Member of the RTPl in 2008, after successfully completing the APC scheme. I stood as a Licentiate representative on General Assembly for 200812009 and have been a member of the Planning Policy and Practice Committee and Sustainable Development Task Group for the last two years. I have over 5 years experience within Development Management, working for a local authority. In addition to this I have provided advice on climate change and sustainable design issues for the Core Strategy. Earlier this year, I represented the RTPl in a review of the PPS1 Supplement. I am enthusiastic, innovative and have excellent communication skills. I can be relied upon to come up with new ideas and see them through. I am keen to ensure that planners have the correct skills and training to undertake their diverse roles. I am particularly interested in how planning can meet the needs of the climate change agenda and am currently studying a Masters in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, which I hope will be of benefit in shaping future planning policy and in my work with the RTPI.

Hazel McKay

World leaders are currently preparing for the COP15 in Copenhagen where optimistically agreement will be achieved on a new protocol for Climate Change. The success of these negotiations matters to us all, but are we playing our part? Is the RTPI focused on CLIMATE CHANGE? Have we got a grip on SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? We have begun the journey but we have a long way to travel. I passionately want sustainability to underpin all Institute activities so that planners can be at the cutting edge. Sustainability is challenging and complex. But we have to embrace that challenge because we know climate change poses serious long term threats to our environment, both built and natural, and to our own well being. To understand the complexities of climate change, we need to raise the level of debate about Planning for Sustainability. We also need a better appreciation of Sustainable Construction In practice all plan making and development control decisions need to represent best practice as regards sustainable development. To that end the institute must produce a renewed Vision, supported by clear Guidance and create better opportunities for Mid Career Training. With determination, our Institute could lead the way to a more Sustainable Future.

Julie Morgan

I believe that positions should only be taken up if you have the commitment and time to fulfil the role to the best of your ability. I would like to join the General Assembly now because I feel that there is a new opportunity during this economic downturn to revitalise the Institute and the role of the planning profession to challenge some of the negative perceptions of members, in the ,media, within other professions and public perceptions that we are all frustrated with. I have had a varied career to date with a background spanning both public and private experience, including local authority enforcement & development control, policy and urban design. Before establishing my own consultancy, I worked at a regional level with a Design Review Panel promoting better quality design to architects, developers, local authorities, and working closely with CABE. This partnership approach across the various development sectors has put me in good stead for joint working and collaboration with other professions outside of the planning 'usual suspects'. This experience I feel has made me a more rounded and sawy professional, with a new awareness of development outside of the planning process. I feel I can add value. Thanks.

Janet O'Neill

There can be no doubt that the arena within which we planners operate is changing rapidly. The recession has affected workloads, employment prospects, career plans. Long tern planning by Government, Local Authorities or private organisations is distorted by uncertainty. The upturn has not been predicted with any degree of reliability. The overriding agenda on climate change and the role for planners in mitigation and adaptation demands our attention. A general election next year will bring further changes. Our lnstitute must be perceptive and adaptable in promoting planning and serving our Members. Volunteers play a major part in what the lnstitute is able to achieve. The General Assembly and Executive Board assist in focusing the objectives and energies of staff and volunteers. l should like to be re-elected to these bodies. My recent service on the Executive Board, plus progression from junior Vice President thorough to Immediate Past President has given me a deeper insight into the operation of our lnstitute. Through Presidential visits and other activities l have widened my understanding of what Members want from their lnstitute, appreciate how others see the profession and have a greater appreciation of what we could achieve. l hope you can support my re-election. Janet O'Neill

Iwan Richards

I have been a member of the Institute for over 30 years. I also qualified as a Landscape Architect in 1982 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2004. I specialise in Planning and Environmental issues and I am regularly called upon to advise local authorities and community groups. I would like the delivery of Planning Aid to be reviewed on a UK wide basis so that it can assume a more consistent, representative and practical role. If elected I would resist any proposal to scrap regional planning – RSSs and would urge the Institute to adopt a pro-active role. I would also seek to resist the proposed scrapping of Housing and Planning Delivery grants. I would like to see the Institute become more influential in directing the future of the planning system in the UK and I would seek measures to protect the professional standing of ‘planners’, as the RIBA has achieved for ‘architects’. Only chartered town planners should be able to call themselves ‘planners’ and only lawyers and chartered town planners should be afforded a ‘right of audience’, as advocates, at planning inquiries. Hopefully this would restrict the barrack-room amateurs who inadvertently discredit the profession.

Glyn Roberts

As member of GA I served on the Institute's Committees (Policy 2 years, Education 3 years) and Regeneration Network Steering Group (founder member). If elected I will press the Institute to: * Focus on the new issues and challenges facing planners in coming years o Effective operation of the statutory system o Climate change, environment and transportation; o Housing, economic development and regeneration, o Regionalhub-regional working o Securing cominunity benefits. * Promote the interests of young planners Encourage them in shaping the future and in developing professional knowledge, skills, capabilities and careers. 0 Strengthen support for planners in the English regions, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and internationally Enhance arofessional knowledpe and standards My propoial>or a training partnership with employers became the Learning Partner initiative. Major employers have signed up and many Members now benefit. Support public sector planners, including those in development management and policy, on funding planning and job security matters Improve focus on members in the private and voluntary sectors to support networking, standards, ethics and best practice * Bring specialisms into the mainstream of the Institute Integrate urban design, transport, environmental management and regeneration into RTPI structures to strengthen its credibiIity and influence.

Leonora Rozee

I have been an active member of the GA since 2002 and remain committed to helping the RTPI deliver a significantly enhanced role as the leading professional body for all types of planners involved in spatial planning. Having recently retired from the Planning Inspectorate I am keen to make effective use of the knowledge and expertise I developed in my role as an Inspector and in my later role as Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director with special responsibility for policy and development plans in England and Wales. The planning world gets ever more complex and faces considerable challenges with climate change, housing, infrastructure, real and meaningful community engagement all requiring us to be imaginative, confident and willing to challenge ourselves in the way we work and think about what we do. The GA is the place where the RTPI can debate these major issues as it has done, notably, in 2009. I hope to be able to continue to be involved in such debates by retaining my place on the GA.

Alistair Stark

UK planning systems have been in a state of flux for some years now as devolution matures. Largely due to the recession, planners everywhere have to cope with a severe lack of resources at a time of major legislative and cultural change. Job security is a real threat to many. The RTPI is not immune to these influences, and is itself being forced to economise. The General Assembly, with its responsibility for the RTPI’s corporate policy, plays a pivotal role in debating the development of planning policy and practice. In my four years on that body, I have demonstrated that it is possible for all parts of the UK and further afield to learn from each other. Planning and planners are key players in the quest for sustainable development and the fight against climate change. It is vital that all RTPI resources, including its Member volunteers, its finances and its staff, are used as effectively as possible. As always, there is room for improvement, and if elected I shall continue to seek more efficient and effective ways of making our presence felt in the corridors of power.

Andrew Taylor

Having been elected to the General Assembly for the first time six years ago I have been a part of the ‘new process’ that greeted the changes to the governance of the Institute. I have enjoyed contributing throughout the last six years and consider that the General Assembly is slowly becoming what it was intended to be: the central debating chamber for planning in the UK. I wish to continue to be part of this evolving process and to help guide the Institute in this journey. I have worked in a number of different authorities, currently as Development Control Manager in Kent and therefore am acutely aware of the pressures in local government. If elected I will continue my fresh, open approach to decision making. I want the Institute to continue to address issues regarding member services, supporting planners within the workplace and offering ideas and policies which lead and drive, rather than react to debate. Make sure that your decision counts and ensure that you use your democratic right to elect those who govern your institute.

See the two candidates for Junior Vice-President.

See the eight candidates for the Executive Board.

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