Gold Standard council accepted on prestigious planning scheme
Date Published : 18 May 2007
Walsall Council has been accepted into a prestigious Gold Standard scheme run by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), which will help continue to raise the high standards people have come to expect from borough planning officers.
The RTPI Learning Partners initiative will allow the council’s Regeneration directorate to maintain its commitment to top professional standards through investing in training and development.
Launched in January, there are now just ten Learning Partners in the country, equally spread across public and private sectors.
The directorate has already achieved Investors in People status and acceptance onto the RTPI scheme will help further boost the quality of planning service.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, cabinet member for regeneration, said “Personal development of staff is very important across Walsall Council and vital to the ongoing success of planning and the wider Regeneration Directorate.
“Successfully achieving Investors in People resulted in our applying to the RTPI for the very prestigious award of learning partner status. Staff are our greatest asset and this award shows we are doing something right.
“We enjoy high levels of staff retention with some of our planning officers having been with us for nearly 20 years – testament to our investing in career development and valuing our employees.”
The RTPI Learning Partner initiative allows the institute to engage more effectively with employers and understand the needs of all members in professional practice across all sectors.
Development Control Committee chairman Councillor Mike Bird said: “Acceptance onto this prestigious scheme is further proof that Walsall Council is leading the field when it comes to planning.
“Like the council’s trailblazing work as one of only a handful of UK planning authorities piloting the standardised online planning application form, this illustrates our commitment to providing an excellent service.”
The initiative is also an important means of working closely with employers to ensure all members and potential members are effectively supported in undertaking professional development activity throughout their planning careers.
The scheme helps ensure that planning professionals have the necessary skills and competencies to deliver sustainable communities.