Next Chairs update coming soon.
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Joe Nugent - Chair's Introduction - January 2021
I am excited and optimistic in terms of entering into 2021 as the RTPI North East Chair. As we are all aware 2020 was largely dominated by the global pandemic with society needing to adapt to a new normal in terms of employment, recreation, education, healthcare, environment, and travel. 2021 continues the direct and indirect effects of 2020, with the additional matter of Brexit and the UK having exited the European Union on 31 December 2020.
As Planners it is essential to remain at the forefront of the UK recovery. Planning is able to directly deliver the sustainable socio-economic and environmental return to the required spatial development.
For Planners to effectively support the delivery of a UK recovery we need to be resilient. This can be underpinned by supporting our colleagues, peers, family, and their positive mental health. In terms of delivering sustainable development supporting a socio-economic and environment recovery this has the ability to generate positive effects across all age groups and therefore deliver mitigation to negative factors of mental health in society.
We should applaud ourselves for the intrinsic ability to effectively deliver a professional and complex service in an otherwise difficult, unexpected and abnormal environment. If we were having the 2021 Members Reception I would take the opportunity to applaud those attending and the profession as a whole.
In terms of taking on this year with a positive mindset we have demonstrated that Planners are resourceful, adaptable and agile in their ability to deliver in an abnormal, unexpected, inconvenient, and often onerous working environment. We are agile in terms of remote / home working, teamworking, delivering decisions / meetings / committee meetings / appeals, and online learning (CPD).
Continuing into 2021 we continue to create great places that support a healthy society, protect and enhance the environment, and support sustainable development.
I hope to see (virtually and hopefully in person) many of you in the coming year at our events.
Joe Nugent
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As we continue into 2021 there appears a light at the end of the (lockdown) tunnel as measures are being put into place to allow society to return to a degree of normality. Supporting positive mental health remains a key priority in my aims and objectives during my term as Regional Chair. This positive step is welcomed and I hope you all are able to embrace the transition to a more relaxed society.
Building on this theme, there are a number of RTPI webinars to look out for:
- Designing for Neurodiversity Part 1 – Autism Friendly Environments
- Planning and Human Rights
- Open Spaces – Lessons learned from the pandemic
- Online CPD – Planning for public health and wellbeing
This month I was pleased to join RTPI Chief Executive and the Regional Chairs across the UK as we discussed the RTPI’s Corporate Strategy 2020-30, this takes a strong and innovative approach in taking planning forward into the future.
The strategy includes four pillars;
- Promoting the value of membership and professionalism;
- Supporting planning services;
- Raising the profile of planning;
- Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity.
I would encourage you to read this to understand the corporate aims and direction of the RTPI at a time when exiting the pandemic and establishing ourselves as a nation post-Brexit.
We have also recently hosted the RTPI President- Wei Yang at a virtual event where we explored new woodland in Northumberland, picking up on one of her key themes for the year. Informative and interesting presentations were provided by speakers from the Forestry Commission and Northumberland County Council. We look forward to inviting Wei Yang to the North East later in the year for a traditional visit, fingers crossed.
I wish you all the best for the forthcoming months and hope to see (virtually and hopefully in person) many of you in the coming year at our events.
Joe Nugent MRTPI
RTPI North East Chair 2021