Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 8
Message from the Chief Executive
2008 certainly started at a cracking pace! Normal business apart, our main priority has been work on the Planning Bill.
The pilot scheme to fast track householder appeals went live on 2 January 2008. The objective is to test the FTHA procedure on a live, but voluntary basis, in readiness for the potential full roll-out subject to the necessary legislation being put in place. Read more about the pilot in this issue.
On 8 January, Leonora Rozee and I gave evidence about the Inspectorate’s work and the impact the measures contained in the Bill will have on the organisation to the House of Commons Committee considering the Bill.
At the end of January, we bade farewell to Mark Parkinson, Director of Operations. We wish Mark well in his new post of Director of Transport Services at Nottingham City Council. Peter Robottom has stepped into the breach until the appointment of a permanent replacement.
Congratulations to Susannah Guest, Senior Planning Officer, on becoming the RTPI Young Planner of the Year for 2007 and to Mike Hale, Higher Planning Officer, for his award from Sport England.
Last but by no means least, we send our congratulations to Liz Peace, one of our non-executive directors, on being awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List.
As always, I welcome your comments on the items in this issue, or suggestions for future articles at KatrineSporleNews@pins.gsi.gov.uk.
Katrine Sporle
March 2008
Contact
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The Work of the Planning Inspectorate in Wales
John Davies, Director for Wales, explains the work of PINS Wales and replies to comments made by members of the Welsh Customer Satisfaction Focus Group.
Read "The Work of the Planning Inspectorate in Wales" article >>
The Fast-track Householder Appeals Pilot
Sean Canavan, Special Projects Officer, discusses the Fast-track Pilot, the Inspectorate’s response to the requirement in the Planning White Paper to streamline the process for householder appeals.
Read the "Fast Track Householder Appeals Pilot" article >>
The Role of Planning Officers in the Planning Inspectorate 
Kath Haddrell, one of the Inspectorate’s Higher Planning Officers, explains their role.
Read "The Role of Planning Officers in the Planning Inspectorate" article >>
Stakeholder News
Stakeholders
Sheila Rice, PA to the Chief Executive, advises of a new procedure for call-in cases and the timetable for stakeholder meetings in 2008.
Read the "Stakeholders" article >>
RTPI Young Planner of the Year Award 2007 
The Inspectorate is delighted to announce that Susannah Guest, Senior Planning Officer, who leads the Planning Officer Group, has won the RTPI Young Planner of the Year Award 2007. Susannah was presented with her award at a ceremony at London's Hilton Hotel on 7 February. The award recognises outstanding achievement by RTPI members under the age of 35.
Susannah has been with PINS since 2001 and has worked directly with Inspectors, Senior Management, CLG and others to anticipate and resolve the challenges arising from the new DPD system and advise on the practical and policy implementation of examinations. She was selected to assist with several of the first examinations. Susannah also seeks to develop young planners and those with an interest in the profession, including through the Tomorrow’s Planners programme to address under-representation and inequalities of black and minority ethnic groups in planning.
Sport England Award
At an awards ceremony for the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Faculty of the Built Environment in November 2007, Mike Hale, one of the Inspectorate’s Higher Planning Officers received a prize from Sport England as well as a BA(Hons) in Town and Country Planning. The award - for the best dissertation by a student in the faculty on a sport or recreation related topic for that year - was for Mike’s dissertation about planning policy for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Mike is seen here with Ed Lockett from Sport England."
Newsletter 9
Issue 9 of the Newsletter will be published in early June 2008.
