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On 1 January 2025, I had the great honour of of becoming Chair of RTPI NW.

The role was handed to me by my fellow colleague on the RTPI NW committee, Matt Dugdale, who has Chaired us expertly through 2024. Each year, an ancient, chunky medal is passed from the outgoing Chair to the new upstart. Its a strange object. It seems to depict a lady sat in a field. On her knee, she carries a tablet, labelled 'Lex' - which Google tells me is a Latin reference to Law/Rules etc. Either side of her are...who knows(?) I think it would be reasonable to assume however that these are 'competing priorities'.

My day job is running the policy team at South Ribble. I do the odd bit of tutoring for the Uni of Estate Management and private consultancy too.

I’m the first Officer to chair RTPI NW for about a decade. The problems facing LPAs are systemic and well known. NW has been at the forefront of trying to support its LPAs. It was the NW who originally came up with the ‘LPA Champions’ concept, now being piloted elsewhere. We’ve also been delivering on our LPA ‘Engage’ business plan, putting on low-cost training aimed at new Officers. This year will include using some of our reserves to fund 3x workshops for Officers exclusively about design and 3x CPD events on Heritage, BNG and Enforcement. 

Despite our efforts however, there are some LPAs who don't seem to be engaging with the RTPI anymore. These include:

  • Oldham
  • Tameside
  • Wirral

Sadly, numbers of Officers attending RTPI NW events are also dwindling from the Cheshire + Lancashire.

I can guess at the reasons. "We cant afford the fees". "We took Chartership off the job description". "You get pretty good free training from those 'Thought Leadership' marketing webinars nowadays". "Nothing bad has happened from me not renewing my membership". "The RTPI doesn't really do much...not for me anyway"?

My first priority is to try and win some Officers back. Sell the RTPI as a great investment…or at least understand and act upon the reasons RTPI NW isn’t working for them. If this message comes from a fellow Officer, I hope that maybe more will listen. 

Linked to this, will be to reconnect with our friends on the Isle of Man. During 2023, our President [Sue Bridge] and the RMB committee visited the island at the request of their Government. The subtext of this was a little cry for help. Training opportunities there are scarce. Staff are even more scarce. This year, I hope to try and involve the IOM more into our training offer. There is much to learn from each other. We’re fortunate enough to have an established International Task Group. As the IOM isn’t in the UK, I’ll be asking them explore this.

I’ve not forgotten the private sector! In 2023, I was elected to be an RTPI Trustee, which I (just about) financed through independent consultancy. In truth, I found being a Trustee…difficult. I missed the vitality and network of my local branch and didn't have time for both. I did however really enjoy my stint as a full-time Indy consultant. Indy consultants occupy an important space in the planning ‘market’. Some people clearly prefer to partner with an individual, rather than a company, particularly to deliver smaller schemes.

I became an avid fan of the RTPI Independent Consultant’s Network forum. The level of planning knowledge on that network is staggering. Proper GEEKY! There’s knowledge in that forum that I wonder whether more people should get to hear. Maybe a few of the region's sole traders would be interested in sponsoring some of our events. We've probably never asked. My final priority for 2025 will therefore be to reach out to Indy consultants. See how we can benefit each other.

The RTPI Chairs medal, now hangs just below my monitor as a reminder to try and deliver these priorities during 2025. Its shiny lady sending a clear message that its the ones who ultimately decide on competing priorities need our help the most right now.

Ben Vickers
RTPI NW Chair 2025
[email protected]