# / . 4 % 8 4 - ! 2 # ( .OTES FROM THE CHAIR 4HE TRUTH BEHIND THE ANECDOTES ) HAVE JUST BEEN IMMERSED IN A MAJOR PUBLIC INQUIRY )T IS A CURIOUSLY ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU START TO LOSE TRACK OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK LET ALONE WHAT THE INSTITUTE IS UP TO 4HE UNREALITY OF THIS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE ALMOST ABSURD LENGTHS PEOPLE CAN GO QUITE LEGITIMATELY TO ESTABLISH THE RELEVANCE OF FAIRLY TRIVIAL FACTORS @7HICH VERSION OF -ICROSOFT 7ORD WAS THE LETTER WRITTEN IN WENT ONE QUESTION 4HIS PARTICULARLY STRUCK ME BECAUSE IT CONTRASTED SO STARKLY WITH OUR RECENT EXPERIENCE OF THE /$0- (OUSE OF #OMMONS 3ELECT #OMMITTEE TO WHICH WE PRESENTED EVIDENCE ON REGENERATION SEE /UT OF #ONTEXT P (ERE WE WERE LINED UP WITH THE #IVIC 4RUST FOR A STRICTLY LIMITED HALF HOUR OF QUESTIONS AND IT SEEMED TO MATTER LITTLE WHETHER EACH ISSUE HAD BEEN PROPERLY BOTTOMED OUT )NSTEAD THE PERSONAL INTERESTS OF THE -0S WERE AT THE SURFACE AND THE CHANCES OF SEIZING THE WRONG END OF THE STICK WERE TAKEN ALL TOO READILY )N THE FACE OF AGGRESSIVE QUESTIONING $AVE #HETWYN PUT UP A SPIRITED DEFENCE OF A COMMENT HE HAD MADE ABOUT THE CAPABILITY OF DEPRIVED COMMUNITIES 4HE (ANSARD REPORT HAS A 0YTHONESQUE RESONANCE AS $AVE TRADED BLOWS OF THE @9OU CAN T OUT DEPRIVE ME KIND 4HE FACT THAT THE INSTITUTE WAS INVITED TO GIVE EVIDENCE TO A SELECT COMMITTEE SHOWS HOW FAR WE HAVE COME IN A SHORT TIME BUT THE NATURE OF THE QUESTIONS SHOWS HOW FAR WE HAVE YET TO GO IN DEMONSTRATING WHAT WE SEE AS THE REGENERATIVE POWER OF BUILDING CONSERVATION !NOTHER THEME WAS THE ALLEGED LACK OF COOPERATION BY CONSERVATION OFFICERS 4HIS WAS EASIER TO REBUT !S FAR AS ) KNOW NO ONE HAS EVER COMPLAINED TO THE )("# ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM LOCAL AUTHORITY CONSERVATION STAFF &ORTUNATELY THE DEVELOPERS WHO WERE ON AFTER US WERE HAPPY TO CONFIRM THAT THEY HAD MUCH MORE HELP THAN HINDRANCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES (OWEVER THESE WERE THE ENLIGHTENED KIND WHO KNOW THAT SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION HAS TO BE MUTUAL /F COURSE ) AM AWARE OF THIRD HAND ANECDOTES SOME EVEN COMING FROM THOSE WE REGARD AS ALLIES 4HE BASIS IS USUALLY A FAILURE TO ACCEPT THE WHOLE STORY 4HE ANSWER TO ONE FOR INSTANCE WAS @9OU MAY NOT HAVE LIKED WHAT SHE SAID BUT IN THE END IT WAS HER CASE NOT YOURS THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE PLANNING INSPECTOR )NDEED SELECTIVE HEARING WAS A RECURRENT FEATURE OF MY PAST TWO WEEKS IN A COUNCIL CHAMBER 3O THE OFFER ) MADE WHEN ) TOOK UP THIS CHAIR STILL STANDS TO INVESTIGATE SUCH ANECDOTES AND TEST WHETHER THERE IS IN FACT A CASE TO ANSWER 7HICH REMINDS ME THAT MY THREE YEARS IN THE CHAIR WILL BE COMPLETED IN *UNE .OMINATIONS FOR THIS AND OTHER POSTS WILL BE SOUGHT SOON AND ) DO HOPE TO SEE AS MANY MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE PARTICIPATING IN THE INSTITUTE S FUTURE AT THE !'- IN $ERRY 9OU ARE STILL IN TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHEAP FLIGHTS THAT MAKE THIS SURPRISINGLY ONE OF OUR MOST ACCESSIBLE !NNUAL 3CHOOLS 7HY NOT ADD ON A HOLIDAY TOO "Y THE TIME YOU READ THIS THE FRUITS OF THE LAST !'- WILL BE STARTING TO SHOW 9OU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO SWITCH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FROM STANDING ORDER TO DIRECT DEBIT AS IT IS NOW A MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF COLLECTING REVENUE 4HERE ARE ALWAYS MEMBERS WHO FAIL TO COMPLETE ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES SO DO CHECK THE ARRANGEMENTS YOU MAKE 7E TEND TO ACCEPT OVERPAYMENT AS A DONATION 9OU WILL ALSO BE AWARE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE MODEST RISE IN SUBSCRIPTIONS WAS THE NEED TO RECRUIT A SALARIED DIRECTOR 4HIS PROCESS HAS NOW BEGUN AND ) VERY MUCH HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE A NEWLY INVIGORATED )("# AT $ERRY IF NOT BEFORE 7HILE ) WAS AWAY MY COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND UPGRADED 3O WITH A LITTLE STRUGGLE THIS IS THE FIRST OUTPUT FROM MY NEW VERSION OF -ICROSOFT 7ORD BUT WHO WANTS TO KNOW THAT %DDIE "OOTH CHAIR IHBC ORG UK
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