NEWSLETTER

 issue number 3, Autumn 2005

www.peba.info

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

CPD Seminar: 24th November 2005.  Landmark Chambers. 5.45pm

Annual Dinner:  3rd February 2006,  Old Hall, Lincoln’s Inn

AGM and Chairman’s biennial Reception:  7th July 2006, Middle Temple

AGM 2005

The 2005 AGM was held on 15th July.  Robin Purchas addressed the meeting, identifying some of the Association’s achievements and activities over the previous year.  With regard to the forthcoming year he emphasised:

• that the Committee is looking for new ways to keep our specialist bar at the centre of the profession;
• that PEBA has created a strong base to take forward negotiations with PINS and other bodies over the coming year in respect of the new planning system and otherwise ; and
• that the Committee relies upon Members of the Association to give the Committee feedback and suggestions as appropriate.   

Drinks were held after the meeting.

CPD Programme

PEBA’s CPD Programme continues to flourish.  The Seminar with PINS on 12th May was a resounding success.  Over 50 Members attended and the event was both informative and enjoyable.  Thanks are due to the PINS representatives, Leonora Rozee, Keith Holland and Roy Foster, Mr Justice Ouseley for chairing the event, Ian Dove QC, Richard Ground, Neil King QC and Suzanne Ornsby for their roleplay, Morag Ellis for the bulk of the organisation and 39 Essex Street for hosting the event.  Similarly, the Seminar on 9th June was a great success, attracting 33 Members.  Thanks are due to Mike Purdue and Maria Lee for their contributions, and to Mr Justice Sullivan for chairing the event.

The next Seminar will be held on Thursday 24th November 2005.  Michael Cunliffe will speak on Planning Obligations.  The Seminar will start at 5.45pm at Landmark Chambers, 180 Fleet Street.  It will last for one hour and be followed by drinks.  The Seminar will attract CPD points and will include discussion on (inter alia) the mechanics of affordable housing s.106 agreements.  Attendance is free and open to non-members but please let us know well in advance if you intend to come: peba@2-3graysinnsquare.co.uk

Seminars being organised for 2006 include Environmental Impact Assessment, a planning law update and a session with the Planning Inspectorate.

Website

The website is now up and running in its updated format.  The address is www.peba.info. Please send comments to Peter Goatley at peba@no5.com. 

Handbook

The handbook is due to be republished early in the New Year.  If there are any amendments or suggestions for improvements in its format or content, would you please email or send them to Charles Mynors as soon as possible?

PINS Meeting

On 10th October Robin Purchas, Richard Harwood, Peter Goatley and Harriet Townsend met representatives of PINS and the Law Society at a “stakeholder’s meeting” in Bristol. There had been exchange of views and a useful meeting between the Law Society and us before the meeting and unsurprisingly there was considerable common ground. The meeting with PINS was very constructive with the opportunity to explore a range of current concerns, to which there was a positive and encouraging response.  Any members who are interested should ask Harriet Townsend for further information.  

APOS Consultation

The Committee has been consulted by APOS (the Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate).  APOS is required to produce an Annual Report to Ministers in England and Wales on professional standards within the Inspectorate.  The key elements of the Committee’s response were as follows:

• Concern was expressed about the role of third parties and the way in which the late production of evidence can lead to delay and the potential for unfairness;
• Concern was expressed about the delay that has arisen between getting material to PINS and its onward transmission to the Inspector concerned;
• The benefits of consultation prior to the introduction of changes in the planning system were emphasised. The Committee considers that such consultation has the potential to avoid the type of problem that arose for example with the introduction of the 3 month time limit on appeals;
• The Committee noted that many senior Inspectors are approaching retirement and stressed that it will be important to avoid a recruitment problem when this happens; and
• Concern was expressed that PINS do not keep a copy of the case papers distributed to Inspectors.

Members are asked to inform the Committee of any additional points of concern, in particular how the involvement of 3rd parties can be improved, and whether the practice of returning proofs submitted after the 4 week deadline has proved to be effective.

Other Meetings

A meeting is to be held with the RCIS this month and hopefully also with the RTPI. 

Silk appointments

The new system is now in place and it is in the interests of the profession that it is effective generally and from the point of view of our specialist bar.  We would particularly welcome any comments on the present procedures so that we can take them up with the Bar Council.  Members are invited to let the Committee know of any problems encountered with the new system. Please send to Harriet Townsend at peba@2-3graysinnsquare.co.uk marked “silk appointments”

Consultation responses

In addition to the response to APOS (set out above) the Committee has responded to a number of consultations.  Since the last newsletter, the Committee has responded to, inter alia, the consultation on the Bar’s response to Clementi and to the consultation on the Assessment of Soundness and SCIs. PEBA’s response to the draft planning obligations circular has been reflected in the recently published Circular 05/05.

Annual Dinner 2006

Next year’s annual dinner will be held at the Old Hall, Lincoln’s Inn, on 3rd February 2006.  The 2005 Dinner was a great success, attracting some 60 Members.  Further details will be circulated in due course, including details of the guests who are to attend.  Please confirm your attendance as soon as possible, and well in advance of the date itself to Melissa Murphy (assistant secretary) at peba@2-3graysinnsquare.co.uk marked “PEBA dinner”.

AGM and biennial Reception 2006

The AGM and the Chairman’s biennial reception will be held on 7th July 2006 at Middle Temple.  It is a good opportunity to meet other Members formally (AGM) and rather less formally (reception) and to discuss the Association’s activities.  Again, Members are warmly encouraged to attend.

Communication with Members

There is a real opportunity to influence the development of procedure and regulation through our continuing discussions with ODPM, PINS and other bodies.  We would particularly welcome any input as to current concerns.  There are a range of practical issues where a proactive lead could be of benefit, including examination of LDDs and, for example, the implications of pooling or related topics. 

The Secretary is setting up a database of Members’ email addresses.  Unless told otherwise, she will assume that it is acceptable to communicate via email to the clerk (or equivalent) at the relevant address in the Handbook.  Please ensure that the email address given for their practice is reliable as a means of communication and if you would prefer not to be contacted by email, or to be contacted via a different email address, let the Secretary know.

Committee Membership

Officers:

Robin Purchas QC   Chairman

Timothy Corner QC  Vice Chairman

John Litton                  Treasurer

Harriet Townsend     Secretary

Elected Members:

John Hobson QC

Michael Humphries QC

John Barrett

Joanna Clayton

Morag Ellis

Richard Harwood

Richard Humphreys

Rupert Warren

Co-opted Members:

John Steel QC

Peter Goatley

Kevin Leigh

Melissa Murphy

Charles Mynors

John Pugh-Smith

Robert Walton

The Committee is very pleased to welcome John Steel QC and Kevin Leigh as newly co-opted members of the Committee. 

Next Committee meetings

The next Committee meetings will be held on:

7th November 2005

12th December 2005

23rd January 2006

6th March 2006

24th April 2006

5th April 2006

17th July 2006