Branch Lines July 2002

Some personal notes of the July Council meeting

Getting involved with the new Regional Assemblies.

The new regional assemblies are creating all sorts of opportunities for Branches. This time it was Wales's turn. They came with a request for the appointment of a part time Assembly Policy Officer. Council supported the idea but wanted time to consider how it would be funded and the implications for the other regions. It also raised the more general problem that the Institute does not yet have the ability to be really proactive on policy issues - a difficult one because the choice is all too often political.
Wales is interesting on a couple of other counts:

It has its own distinctive approach to Landscape Character Assessment through LandMap. The LI has not quite got to grips with this and needs to provide guidance on the different approaches to help practitioners.
It also has set up its own Design Commission and in response to an advertisement for members had appointed Gerry Donovan LI Wales Chairman as one of the Directors. Well done Gerry.

Continuing Change
David Jarvis, as outgoing president, gave his final, as ever upbeat, report referring to just some of his activities; 4000 e-mail s received, his high profile Durham lecture - next speaker a certain Tony Blair, Round Table meetings with students the public sector etc and of course pushing forward organisational reform. Alot achieved

Rod Edwards took on the medal of office and spoke at some length, quite philosophically about how he would continue where David had left off. Referring amongst other things to the importance of inspiring young people to the profession, raising the profile - The new Global index of sites in conjunction with ASLA should help with this; Developing the role of the Charter encouraging joint membership with other environmental professions and reminding everyone that we were part of a buoyant profession that continues to act beyond its size. Having influence is often a matter of just doing it.

Mike Wetherell, Director General, gave us his business plan for the Secretariat. For each department there is a month-by-month plan of activities for the year ahead. So for example the Global Index of sites should be getting attention and a launch in October. Thank you, well done, pretty much summarised the response but there was also about time too. We now should know what the Secretariat is up to and when. It was promised to be on the Website, but I could not find it! If you want to know about it contact them directly. They are your employees!
Revised Committee Structure agreed

Council will now concentrate on decision making and policy. As a result there will be 3 meetings a year: Budget Approval, Election AGM, plus one working meeting on strategy and policy strategic one.
All day to day work is now to be dealt with by a new Executive Committee. They will have the all-important role of overseeing the work of the Secretariat - something that was not clearly defined before.
Committee Structure is simplified to just four
Education External Affairs Professional practice Technical and Environmental; Each with the ability to set up its own working group as it sees fit. The new terms of reference were presented and are on the Web Site.
Coupled with this, is the new Institute Newsletter Connections, which will come out with Landscape Design and give a regular update of what is going on. This will be critical since it will need to build on and develop the reporting back and discussion that previously took place only at Council Meetings. A real opportunity for information and discussion to flow much more widely.

Other Things of interest

Members have a right to address Council directly with a paper. The ways to do this were presented -rather over formalised in the draft, but nonetheless there. They too will be on the Web site for everyone to see.
Making minutes of long meetings is often difficult. To help keep a check on what is actually said at Council a trial verbatim recording will now take place at the next three Council meetings. At £800 per meeting I doubt it is value for money, but we will see.
Identity and Image is to be revisited. At the next meeting we should have a consultants brief from Katherine Moore.
Parliamentary Lunches area key way for us to influence Government Policy. They are' no bullshit affairs with key decision makers`. The next one is on Green Belts so if you have a contribution to make get in contact.
Technical Committee are looking for web sites showing good examples of joined up guidance on street design and management. Contact Ian Phillips
Comment from the NE suggested that Professional Practice Exam would be better in the winter rather than in September. To be reviewed

And finally… As I have now done four years, this looks like the end of my notes from Council. A new Branch Rep is needed…

Charles Clay Branch Representative
01832 273814 home 01733 742267 office
charles.clay@peterborough.gov.uk