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The following is only part of the Constitution; to see it in full download the document at the foot.
1. Name of the Society
1.1 The Planning Officers Society
2. Statement of Objectives
2.1 To act as an advocate for all local government planning and related services; to provide, through research, exchanges of information and best practice, an efficient and effective service delivery.
2.2 To provide assistance and advice to the local Government Association and to Central Government on planning related matters.
2.3 To promote the planning services within Local Government
2.4 To provide appropriate services and support to the members of the Society and their authorities in furthering planning in Local Government and enhancing service delivery.
2.5 To act as a centre of excellence in Local Government planning matters, for example by the production of advice notes, codes of practice and a network of Committees and Regional Groups through which information and best practice is shared between Local Government planning practitioners.
2.6 To act as a focal point for liaison between other planning professionals and those practising in Local Government and to liaise with the Royal Town Planning Institute and other related professional bodies.
3. Financial Year
3.1 The financial year shall commence on 1 April
4. Subscriptions
4.1 An annual subscription shall be levied for each member of the Society or for any organisation which has Corporate Membership. The rate of subscription to be levied will be determined by the Cabinet of the Society and shall be payable in advance by 1 April each year. A single 'lifetime' subscription shall be levied for each Retired Member who indicates a wish to remain active in the Society .
5. Membership
5.1 Persons in England and Wales shall be eligible for membership of the Society if they are:
i) The Chief Officer and/or Head of Planning Services of the Department within an Authority which undertakes the planning function; and/or
ii) The Designated Deputy and/or an officer who heads the planning policy function and/or an officer who leads the development control function and/or an officer who heads the implementation function for the whole of the authority's area and who report directly to a person named in (i) above; or
iii) The officer who heads a Strategic Planning Unit, an Advisory or Support Team to a Regional Planning Body, a National Park or other organisation associated with planning in Local Government and of comparable standing to a person eligible for membership named in (i) or (ii) above; or
iv) The Chief Officer and/or Head of Service for a function closely related to Planning or involving the exercise of Planning skills; or
v) Any other person of similar standing deemed appropriate by the Cabinet of the Society.
5.2 Each member must:
i) Be a Chartered Town Planner; or
ii) Hold such Planning Qualification as is recognised by the RTPI and/or confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Society; or
iii) Hold such other qualification or position as may be deemed appropriate by the Cabinet of the Society; or
iv) Be the Chief Officer or Head of Service responsible for all or part of the Planning function within a local authority, whether or not they have a formal Planning qualification.
5.2A Any organisation which is responsible for any statutory planning function is also eligible for Corporate Membership of the Society. Corporate Membership entitles the organisation to nominate up to five members of the Society though such nominees shall normally meet the criteria for membership set out above or shall exercise a significant management role for the Planning function(s) within a local authority.
5.3 Applications for membership within rules 5.2 (i) and 5.2 (ii) shall be determined by the Secretary.
5.4 A member or Corporate Member of the Society shall forthwith cease to be such a member.
i) If s/he is excluded by a resolution passed by three quarters of the members present at any meeting of the Society, for any action which is in the opinion of members, contrary to the interests of the Society;
ii) Should the subscription of a member remain unpaid for one full year. At the expiration of that period s/he shall forthwith cease to be a member; which fact shall be recorded in the minutes. S/he can only become a member again by formal application and the Society shall normally require payment of the arrears as a condition precedent to his/her re-election, including a reinstatement fee.
6. Retired Members
6.1 On retiring, members may elect to become a Retired Member of the Society. On payment of a lifetime subscription, to be determined, by the Society Retired Members may participate in the affairs of the Society.
6.2 Retired Members shall have no voting rights but may attend the annual general meeting of the Society and other social events.
7. Officers
7.1 The Officers of the Society shall be:
v The President,
v Senior Vice President,
v Junior Vice President,
v Immediate Past President,
v Secretary, and
v Publicity Officer and Spokesperson.
7.2 The term of office for President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President and Immediate Past President shall be one year. The terms for the other Officers shall initially be for one year renewable at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
7.3 The Annual General Meeting of the Society may also elect for the coming year any person it sees fit to the position of Vice President Emeritus in recognition of that person’s sustained and continuing contribution to the work of the Society.
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