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LANDSCAPE INSTITUTE SCOTLAND: AGM 2018: MINUTES FIRST DRAFT

Annual General Meeting of the Landscape Institute Scotland held on Wednesday 25th April 2018 in Adam

House, The University of Edinburgh, 3 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1HT at 7.45pm

Before the AGM

Reflection Series

There were presentations on the Reflections Series ‘Then and Now’

The difference between graduating as a landscape architect in the late 20th century and in the early 21st

century is only 30-40 years. however the changes that have occurred in that timeframe have been enormous.

Four practitioners made presentations, each at a different stage in their career, some with experience of

working or learning abroad. They reflected on the changes and challenges that they had experienced in their

working life since graduating. The presenters were:

• Rebecca Heatlie – CH2M

• Anca Panait – AHR

• Liane Bauer – Urban Pioneers and rankinfraser

• Janet Benton –Benton Scott Simmons

Mark Turnbull Travel Award

This new award is for Graduate Landscape Architects using overseas travel to gain an insight into best and

innovative landscape practice to address some of the current landscape challenges facing Scotland and was

launched at this meeting.

The award will benefit future generations of graduate landscape architects in Scotland as well as the practice

of landscape architecture by bringing overseas experience and knowledge back to the country.

Mark Turnbull was one of the country’s most eminent Landscape Architects, winner of the Landscape

Institute’s Gold Medal Award and recognised for the contribution that overseas learning and experience from

his training and work in the USA brought to his practice in Scotland. The Chair thanked Sharon Turnbull for

making the award possible.

The timetable for this award is:

• Award Announced 25 April 2018

• Award open for Applications 30 April 2018

• Assessment Panel Reviews and applicant selection 22 June 2018

• Applicant notified and referees contacted w/c 9 July 2018

• Interview if required w/c 9 July 2018

• Applicant provides all details of trip/costings w/c 6 August 2018

• Announcement and award made w/c 6 August 2018

• Period of overseas project visit Sep 2018 – End Jan 2019

• Draft Report 28 Feb 2019

• Final Report Deadline 31 March 2019

• Presentation at AGM 2019 24 April 2019

Annual General Meeting

Welcome

• The Chair welcomed all members attending the AGM

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Present

Landscape institute Scotland

Honorary Officers

Rachel Tennant : Chairperson

Clare Winsch : Treasurer

James Spence Watson : Secretary

Nick Bowen : LI Council Representative

Committee and Support Members

Nicola Garmory

Jon Rowe

Sue Evans

Marc van Grieken

Hamish Neilson

Alan Cameron

In Attendance

Rebecca Hughes : Policy and Influencing Officer LI

Rachel Howe : Administrator LI

Adam White LI President Elect

Yvonne Mathews LI :Executive to CEO and Leadership Team, Office Manager

Members

Approximately 70 Members attended the Reflection Series presentations followed by the AGM

Apologies

Daniel McKendry

Cathy Johnstone

Dan Walker

Draft Minutes of 2017 and Treasurers Report 2017-2018

The chair, Rachel Tennant, summarised the minutes of the 2017 AGM held on 26th April 2017 at the Hunter

Lecture Theatre, Hunter Building, Edinburgh College of Art. These were previously circulated and now show on

screen. Acceptance of the AGM Minutes for 2017 was proposed by Rachel Tennant, seconded by Alan

Cameron and approved by the membership

Treasurers Report : 31 March 2018

Balance

• The balance at the start of the year was £22,086.15 and at 31 March 2018 was £1,428.17

Income and Expenditure

• Details have been circulated and are shown in the spreadsheet displayed on the screen

Grant

• LIS received a block grant of £28,044.88 which included six months’ fees for the Scotland Policy

Advisor (SPA). From 1 October 2017 the SPA was paid directly by the LI in London .

Expenditure

• Total expenditure decreased from £53,720.36 in 2016 to £50,961.71 in 2017-2018

Representation

• The greatest items of expenditure were the Scotland Policy Advisor’s fees etc at £15,318.90 and

publication of the advocacy document “Landscape for Scotland” at £11,827.22. The publication was

presented to Scottish Parliamentarians and other environment professionals and further copies of the

document were published and distributed at a cost of £5,003.68.

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Festival of Architecture 2017

• The Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) continued the Festival of Architecture into 2017

and LIS successfully bid for a grant of £1,500 towards exhibiting the “Prospect and Refuge”

exhibition at the Hidden Garden at Tramway and the Mitchell Library,Glasgow.

The LI’s touring exhibition was shown at SNH Battleby during October 2017 concluding LIS’s seven

venue display of this exposition of the value of landscape design in urban areas.

Events

• In addition to the Landscape for Scotland and Festival of Architecture events recorded above, the

committee organised seven events during 2017-2018

Education

• LIS supported the degree show at the ESALA and promoted the landscape profession at the

Horticultural Careers Day in Edinburgh Botanic Gardens and at Skills Scotland events.

Committee Costs

• Meeting room costs increased to £4,448.00 as the LI signed a year’s lease of office space at the

headquarters of the RIAS in Edinburgh. The office space was used for meetings by LIS and by the LI for

collection and review of the Mark Turnbull archive and for storage of LIS banners and exhibition

materials. Committee travel costs fell from £716.99 in 2016-2017 to £409.89

Bank Reconciliation

Bank Reconciliation CAF £

Opening Balance 22,086.15

Lodged in period 30,241.82

52.272.97

Drawn in Period 50,899.80

Balance of Bank Statement at 31.3.2018 1,428.17

Acceptance of the Treasurers Report for 2017-2018, previously circulated and with the spreadsheet now

shown on screen was proposed by Rachel Tennant, seconded by Hamish Neilson and approved by the

membership.

Presentation by Rachel Tenant

The Chair gave an illustrated presentation covering the aims, objectives and achievements of the last year and

plans for the future. The presentation included the following;

Welcome and Introduction

The Landscape Institute Scotland has over 440 members within a population of over 5 million people.

The Scottish Branch works to represent the Landscape Institute at local level in the interests of its members

and the environment to the Scottish Government, agencies, and the voluntary sector.

LIS Business Plan 2017-2022 : Objectives

The LIS is guided by the Landscape Institute’s Corporate Strategy whilst responding to the unique Scottish

environment (political, natural and man-made). The Business Plan was adopted at the AGM in 2017 and has

been updated to reflect the language of the Corporate Strategy. It covers 5 years from 2017-2022 and it sets

out a sustainable way to deliver its mission within the context of the LI’s aims.

Relevance

• Building the resilience, competence and relevance of the profession

• By supporting education

• By supporting LIS members needs

Influence

• Raising the profile of landscape and place

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• By promotion

• By advocacy

These objectives were shown in detail on the screen under the headings of;

• Key Questions

• Issues

• Action

• Timescale

• Outcome

Chairs Report 2017-2018

This report covered the activities of LIS Influencing, Events, Activities and Successes and demonstrates that all

work has been in accordance with the LIS 5 year Business Plan. In summary contained the following:

LIS Influencing Events, Activities & Successes

• AGM and the Gold Medal Award for Mark Turnbull 25 April 17

• RIAS Conference: LIS Chair on “Internationalism” 12 May 17

• Senior Practitioner Event “Landscape for Scotland” 26 May 17

• Year of Archaeology, History and Heritage : Brian Evans Talk 01 June 17

• Young Professionals Social 29 June 17

• FOA Doors Open Day : Horner McLellan Inverness 05 Sept 17

• FOA 17 Exhibition: Prospect and Refuge w/c 16 Sept 17

• Doors Open Day at Hidden Gardens and Mitchell Library w/c 16 Sept 17

• Reflections Series : Old and New Icons 12 Oct 17

• World Design Summit Montreal Oct 17

• RUL Exhibition at Scottish natural Heritage 2-30 Oct 17

• ‘Landscape for Scotland’ : Online Survey and Document July-Oct 17

• Scottish Parliament launch and exhibition of ‘Landscape for Scotland’ 14-18 Nov 17

• LI Awards-Scotland successes and Volunteer of the Year Award 23 Nov 17

• LI/LIS- Skills Scotland Glasgow 29-30 Nov 17

• Year of Archaeology, History & Heritage : Karen Fitzsimon, Preben Jakobsen 06 Dec 17

• LAUDF ‘Landscape for Scotland’& Delivering Landscape and Public Open Space 10 Dec 17

• Horticulture Careers Day Talk 14 Feb 18

• LIS Exhibition & Presentation : Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park 12-15 Mar 18

LIS Aims : 2018-2019

• Senior Practitioner Event : May 18

Development of the 5 key aims of ‘Landscape for Scotland’ and ‘reimaging’ the Landscape Charter

and the key questions to be debated at the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group.

• Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group June 18

Debate on ‘Landscape for Scotland’ in the context of the Scottish Government launch of

Scotland Now’

• Landscape for Scotland : 2018

Exhibition and Talks – Scottish Government, SNH, CNP

• Year of Youth : September 18

Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group Event: Youth Parliament debate with young practitioners from

landscape and other disciplines.

• RIAS Festival of Architecture : September 18

Contribution to Year of Youth – Adam White

• Autumn School : September 18

Year of Youth Autumn school with ESALA

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• Glasgow Garden Festival : October 18

Potential coalition event at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) celebrating 30 years on from the Garden

Festival

• Design Awards Showcase : November 18

Scottish parliament Cross Party Group event

• Skills Scotland : November 18

Education and careers event with Construction Industry Training Board

• Landscape Charter : March 19

Scottish Parliament Debate on Landscape Charter : ‘Can Scotland be a Centre for Excellence in

Landscape and Place’

• Annual General Meeting : April 19

AGM and the Mark Turnbull Travel Award presentation and LIS Lifetime Achievement Award

announcement.

Recognition

P2C Successes

Name Company Mentor

• Adrian Jones Waterman Aspen, Secondment to AWRP Paul Nicholson

• Alexander Burton Land Use Consultants Paul Macrae

• Anca Panait AHR Martin Robinson

• Graham Palmer Christopher Palmer Associates Christopher Palmer

• Mark Swithenbank AMEC Jon Rowe

LI Awards

• Dan Walker, LUC/LIS : Volunteer Award,

• Erz : Communications and Presentation Award

• Harrison Stevens : Design for a Medium Scale Development Award

• OPEN : Strategic Landscape Planning Award

• CSGNT with GSA : Landscape Policy and Research category – highly commended

• Helen Willey,Ross Barton ESALA Highly commended for their student portfolio

Honorary Fellows of RIAS

• Ian White Honorary Fellow ( 2017)

• Rachel Tennant Honorary Fellow and also a judge for the RIAS Awards 2018

LIS Formal Activities

• 12 Committee & Working Meetings in Edinburgh and Glasgow

• Branch Rep attendance at 3 LI Meetings

• Meetings with Scottish Government, SNH and MSPs

• Meeting with Heads of RIAS, RTPI & A+DS to encourage collaboration

• Meetings with potential coalition organisations for a re-imagined Landscape Charter

• Meeting with ESALA to encourage greater collaboration with our School

• Representation on the RTPI Planning Forum, BEF’s Scottish parliamentary Cross Party Groups on

Architecture and the Built Environment, Rural Affairs and Towns and Town Centres

• Members involved with A+DS and Urban Design Panels in Edinburgh, Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire,

Inverness and Aberdeen

• Sharing events with and from other organisations

Report from the Policy and Influencing Officer April 2017 – March 2018

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Main activities included:

• Planning Review Conclusions Report – review and consultation response April/May 2017

• Planning White Paper consultation – coordinate response with BEFS, Dec 2017- Jan 2018

• Landscape for Scotland Senior Practitioners breakfast May 2017 presentation

• Attend Hutton Institute Dundee meeting with LI President on future rural landscape June

• Landscape for Scotland brief/tender selection process/edit/contribute to drafts May-Sep

• Key Contacts list to LI Oct.2018

• LFS Exhibition in Scottish Parliament Nov.17- 3 days

• LFS Presentation to Bay of Plenty Rotary, New Zealand Feb.18

• Attend LI Policy and Comms. meeting Bristol, May and Nov 18

• Prepare and attend House of Lords Select Committee – Review of 2006 NERC Act with LI President

• Winds of Change Consultation response April/May 17

• People Places and Planning Report consultation response July 17

• Attend Observatree project conclusion event RGBE Sep 2017

• STHAG Plant Production Working Group preview liaison papers

• SNH Liaison

• PAD SG Liaison

• Other liaison eg RBGE/SHGA/SCNP/APRS

• Follow-up on LFS event and liaison MSPs/LLT staff

• Scottish Environmental LINK Observer & Liaison

• Contribute to LI’s Green Belt and Housing position papers

• Transport Scotland SG Liaison

• Paper to World Design Summit Montreal on TS Fitting Landscape Guidance

• Review of Topic Paper 6 Landscape Capacity and Sensitivity Guidance LI & Natural England

• Review of Residential Visual Amenity Assessment Guidance – Jan 18 and ongoing

• Attend LI 2 day staff meetings Oct.17 and March 18

LIS Lifetime Achievement Award

The chair reported that the last winner of the LIS Lifetime Achievement Award was Peter Daniel in 2012 and

that it was the intention to select another winner in 2018.

Opportunities to enhance the Profession in Scotland

By joining the LIS Committee or contributing to the work of one of the most active branches in the UK you can

have the opportunity to enhance the Profession in Scotland. The Committee would welcome expressions of

interest for one of the following:

• Student Rep – liaising between ESALA and LIS

• Public and 3rd sector members

• Events planning, organisation and graphics

• Communications and social media

• Education – Ambassadors for schools & careers talks to grow the profession

• Advocacy, promotion and consultations.

Election of Office Bearers for 2018–2019

No nominations have been received and the current Honorary Officers are willing to stand again:

• Chair Rachel Tennant

• Secretary James Spence Watson

• Treasurer Clare Winsch

• LI Council Rep Nick Bowen

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All were confirmed at the meeting: proposed by Rachel Tennant, seconded by Alan Cameron and approved by

a show of hands.

Election of LIS Committee for 2018-2019

The nominees are as follows:

Committee Members Committee Support members

• Dan Walker Sue Evans

• Nicola Garmory Marc van Grieken

• Wiktoria Szulik Cathy Johnstone

• Simon Garnett Hamish Neilson

• Douglas Coltart Alan Cameron

• Alex Burton Mike Harrison

• Anca Panait Robert Hewitt

• Danny McKendry Bill Cairns

Sonia Jackett

Next LIS Committee Meeting and Committee Confirmation

Potential new committee and committee support members were welcomed to attend the next committee

meeting on Thursday 17th May 2018 in LIS Office in the RIAS, 15 Rutland Square, at 6pm to 8pm.

This will allow new members to ‘get the feel of it’ and enable the final committee to be approved.

This proposal was proposed by Rachel Tennant, seconded by Rebecca Hughes approved by a show of hands

President Elect, Landscape Institute

The chair introduced Adam White, the President Elect of the Landscape Institute and invited him to address

the meeting. During his illustrated presentation he outlined the Strategic Vision for the LI under three

headings:.

• Vision

To be relevant, expert and trusted professional body, which develops the skills, knowledge and

professional behaviours of its members.

• Mission

To lead and inspire the profession to deliver for the benefit of people, place and nature, for today and

for future generations.

• Values

In giving trusted, authoritative and independent advice we will be:

• Caring and Nurturing

• Creative and Passionate

• Socially and Environmentally Aware

Adam White also illustrated by examples, his role in promoting nature play with the landscape profession and

his work on the governments Play Policy Forum, his involvement in the Play England magazine, and the

Landscape Institute Awards.

Summing Up and Closing Remarks

The chair thanked Adam White for his presentation and took the opportunity to sum up the proceedings and

offer thanks to all those who helped during 2017-2018. and again extended an invitation to new potential

Committee and Committee Support members to attend the next LIS Committee meeting.

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The chair predicted a busy and exciting year ahead and asked that members keep in touch via the Website and

Social Media and get involved.

• Web: <www.scotland.landscapeinstitute.org >

• Mail: <mail,Scotland@landscapeinstitute.org >

• Facebook: <https://www.facebook.com/LIScotland > 387+ followers

• Twitter: <https://twitter.com/LI_scotland > 1805+ followers

• Linkedin: <https://www.linkedin.com/groups/84351130 > 77+ group members

• Videos: Over 600 views

Any Other Business

There was no other business raised at the meeting and the AGM was accordingly brought to a close.

The meeting closed at 8.15pm

James Spence Watson, Secretary, April 2018

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