The RTPI Scotland Annual Review
The RTPI Scotland Annual Review has been published, showing the highlights for 2022:
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Somehow we have reached the end of 2022 and I’m not sure about anyone else but I am certainly in need of a lie down for two weeks!
One of the more enjoyable responsibilities as Convenor was to address the members’ reception held earlier this month, kindly sponsored by Brodies LLP. The reception offered not only the opportunity to catch up with some familiar faces but also to recognise some of the achievements in the Scottish planning sector across the past 12 months – and there were many. Some of those recognised include Bob Salter, who has been awarded a fellowship of the RTPI for his distinguished service; Amy Bristow of Heriot Watt University, who was the recipient of the Early Career Researcher Award for her work on how to meet the housing needs of BAME households, Rhiannon Moore who was named Scotland’s Young Planner of the Year, Kevin Murray Associates scooping Small Planning Consultancy of the Year in both Scotland and the UK and Ireland, and by no means least, Fraserburgh 2021, who were crowned the inaugural overall winners of the RTPI Scotland Awards for Planning Excellence. It was also encouraging to celebrate the next cohort of Scotland’s corporate members of the RTPI given how much has been said about the need for new entrants into the profession.
2022 witnessed a return to ‘in person’ events, including the Scottish Young Planners’ Conference in Perth and the RTPI Scotland annual conference in Aberdeen that were both a roaring success. Major workstreams this year have included NPF4, planning apprenticeships, Future Planners, and digital planning. With that in mind, I would like to place on record my appreciation for the continued efforts of the small but ever industrious team at RTPI Scotland.
I’m pleased to say that Kirsty Macari is now the proud custodian of the ‘planning bunnet’ and is primed and ready to step up to Convenor in 2023. Ably supported by Pamela Clifford and Laura Robertson, I’m looking forward to the coming year and beyond with such a dynamic team continuing to advocate for planning and planners.
And so, with that I wish you and your loved ones all the compliments of the season and the very best for 2023.
Andrew Trigger, Convenor 2022
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In 2022 we organised 45 events or webinars which were attended by 1495 people. This was more events, but fewer attendees than 2021, largely because many events in the second half of the year were held in-person, with a limit on place numbers for site visits. Webinars continue to be recorded and shared on the RTPI YouTube channel.
Chapters
Chapters were, once again, energetic in holding CPD, social and site visit events. Examples of events held include:
- Grampian Chapter - Bon Accord Baths visit
- West of Scotland Chapter - Inter-professional Social
- East Scotland Chapter - 20 Minute Neighbourhoods
- Dumfries and Galloway Chapter - Discovering Dumfries, walking tour and quiz
- South East Scotland Chapter – Living Listed Buildings
- Central Chapter – Tour of Zetland, Grangemouth
- Highlands and Islands Chapter – James Attwood Lecture
National Events
The Sir Patrick Geddes Commemorative Lecture was, once again, held online. It explored “People, places and polymaths - does Scotland need more people like Patrick Geddes?” and was given by Susan Murray, Director of the David Hume Institute, on 11 October. Over 120 people tuned in, with 184 views of the recording on YouTube.
This year’s RTPI Scotland Annual Conference was held in person in Aberdeen It looked at Target Net Zero - Planning our renewables, buildings and places. Chaired by RTPI Scotland Convenor Andrew Trigger we had a range of speakers looking at The Future of Renewables, Future Buildings, Future Places, as well as the Role of Young Planners. The day included lively panel discussion around these topics.
Scottish Young Planners’ Network
The Scottish Young Planners’ Network (SYPN) continue to support their peers and organised 5 events including their annual Legal Update an the Scottish Young Planners' Conference held in Perth in May.
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Communications
We continue to spread key messages through our social media channels such as Twitter, Linked In and Instagram. The @RTPIScotland twitter account has over 4500 followers whilst the @ConvenorRTPIS account has over 1600 followers.
Scottish Planner
Three editions of the RTPI Scotland journal The Scottish Planner have been published in 2022 and distributed online. These have looked at land reform, celebrating planning, water and planning and Local Government.
Media
In 2022 we issued 6 news releases:
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National Planning Framework is a significant milestone in ambitions to tackle climate change, says RTPI Scotland, November 2022
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New Fellows elected to RTPI, November 2022
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New report highlights a need for more planners, July 2022
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Aberdeenshire Conservation Area scheme picks up top planning award, June 2022
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RTPI Scotland welcomes Scottish Government’s draft National Planning Framework 4, March 2022
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RTPI Scotland responds to parliamentary call for evidence on the draft NPF4, January 2022
We have seen continued coverage of Scottish issues and RTPI Scotland activity in The Planner magazine.
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New Fellows
Congratulations go to Bob Salter who has been elected to become a Fellow of the Institute.
New Chartered Members
We are delighted to welcome new members to RTPI Scotland and now have around 2100 across Scotland working across sectors, organisations and roles.
Congratulations to the following who became Chartered Members of RTPI in the year:
- Andrew Hoolachan
- Kerry Gibson
- Amelia Smith
- Byron Sharp
- James Allanson
- Kim de Buiteléir
- James McCafferty
- Alexandria Scott
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The Scottish Executive Committee is represented on the RTPI's General Assembly, committees and panels. The people who sat on the SEC in 2022 are:
Office Bearers
- Andrew Trigger, Convenor
- Kirsty Macari, Senior Vice Convenor
- Pamela Clifford, Junior Vice Convenor
- Barbara Cummins, Immediate Past Convenor
- Stefano Smith - Trustee for Scotland
Corporate Members
- Elected for 2022/23: Nikola Miller, Dumiso Moyo, Andrew Sim
- Elected 2021/22: Fiona Clandillon, David Leslie, Lisa Proudfoot
Student/ Licentiate Representatives
- Aaron Doidge
Chapter Representatives
- Central: Richard Callender
- Dumfries and Galloway: Mizzy Marshall
- East Scotland: Peter Noad
- Grampian: Laura Robertson
- Highlands and Islands: Michael Kordas
- South East Scotland: Alastair Bledowski
- West of Scotland: John Cooney
Other Representatives
- Scottish Planning Consultants' Forum: Stuart Salter
- Scottish Young Planners' Network: Jane Tennant
- Partners in Planning: Kevin Murray
RTPI General Assembly Members
- Andrew Trigger
- Kirsty Macari
The Scottish Executive Committee has a Planning Policy Sub Committee and a Communications, Education and Lifelong Learning Sub Committee.
Staff
- Director: Craig McLaren
- Policy and Practice Officer: Robbie Calvert
- Office Manager: Annette O'Donnell
- Communications and Events Administrator: Jennie Stansfield
- Intern Project Officer: Nick Springthorpe
- Digital Planning Programme Manager: Kirsty Holder