OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTRP

DOELWITTE VAN VRSS

The ACTRP was founded in 1986 in the then Transvaal Province and since its inception it has been providing educational programmes, seminars, newsletters and circulars to its members, whilst providing a professional information service to the public.

Die VRSS is in 1986 in die voormalige Transvaal Provinsie gestig.  Vanaf sy ontstaan het die VRSS opleidingsprogramme en seminare aangebied en nuusbriewe en omsendskrywes aan lede beskikbaar gestel en is 'n professionele inligtingsdiens aan die publiek gelewer.

The ACTRP was established to address the unique requirements and needs of consulting town and regional planners and to deal with specific problems and common issues to the benefit of consultants and the communities making use of their services.

Die VRSS is gestig om die unieke vereistes en behoeftes van raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanners aan te spreek en spesifieke probleme en gemeenskaplike sake tot voordeel van die raadgewers op te los en die gemeenskappe wat van hul dienste gebruik maak te dien.

MISSION OF THE ACTRP

MISSIE VAN DIE VRSS

To create a better quality of life for South Africans, the ACTRP has as its mission, to enhance the profession of consulting town and regional planning through:

·          continued maintenance and promotion of professional, moral and ethical standards amongst members;

·          the promotion of competent and efficient professional practise amongst members;

·          the rendering of an effective town and regional planning service to the community;  and

·          the promotion of the professional interests, rights and responsibilities of consulting town and regional planners.

Ten einde 'n beter lewenskwaliteit vir Suid-Afrikaners te verseker, is dit die missie van die VRSS om die professie van raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanning deur die volgende uit te bou:

·          volgehoue handhawing en bevordering van professionele, morele en etiese standaarde tussen lede;

·          die bevordering van bekwame en doeltreffende professionele praktyk onder lede;

·          die lewering van 'n doeltreffende stads- en streekbeplanningsdiens aan die gemeenskap;  en

·          die bevordering van die professionele belange, regte en verantwoordelikhede van raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanners.

The ACTRP serves and markets the profession and its high standard of work aggressively and freely.  Members have access to the ACTRP via a secretariat that collates and disseminates information to members.  This service ensures that members are always up to date with the latest planning standards, legislation, techniques and technology as well as any other matters that influence the consulting town and regional planning profession.

Die VRSS dien en bemark die raadgewende professie en sy hoë standaard van diens op 'n doelmatige en volgehoue manier.  Lede verkry toegang tot die VRSS via 'n sekretariaat wat inligting versamel en verwerk en op gereelde basis aan lede versprei.  Hierdie diens verseker dat lede op hoogte van die nuutste beplanningstandaarde, wetgewing, tegnieke en tegnologie bly asook enige verwante sake wat die raadgewende professie beïnvloed.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

The advantages of achieving the goals and aims of the ACTRP will make it worthwhile for any consulting town and regional planner to become a member.  Care is taken to ensure that members enjoy benefits other than those offered by other professional institutions and include :

·          the creation of a responsible professional body to act on behalf of the consultant with a degree of authority that the individual consultant could not achieve;

·          the creation of a forum for consultants where common problems can be discussed and where solutions can be sought on a joint basis;

·          the creation of a permanent secretariat to gather information from members and other organisations for processing and making available to all members.  This ensures that members are kept up to date with matters which affect the consultant in his daily task;

·          continuous training offered by means of autumn schools, seminars, conferences  and lectures to ensure a high standard of professional conduct amongst members;

LIDMAATSKAPVOORDELE

Die bereiking van die doelwitte van die VRSS maak dit die moeite werd vir enige raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanner om by die vereniging aan te sluit.  Sorg word gedra dat lede voordele geniet wat nie deur ander professionele instansies aangebied word nie.  Sommige van die vele voordele wat lede geniet sluit die volgende in:

·          die daarstelling van 'n verantwoordelike professionele liggaam om namens die raadgewer met 'n voldoende mate van gesag te kan optree wat nie normaalweg deur 'n individuele raadgewer vermag kan word nie;

·          die daarstelling van 'n forum van raadgewers waar gemeenskaplike probleme aangespreek kan word en oplossings op gemeenskaplike basis bereik kan word;

·          die daarstelling van 'n permanente sekretariaat om inligting namens lede in te samel en te verwerk en weer aan lede beskikbaar te stel.  Hierdie diens verseker dat lede op hoogte gehou word van sake wat die daaglikse taak van raadgewer beïnvloed;

·          volgehoue opleiding wat deur middel van herfskole, seminare, konferensies en lesings aangebied word ten einde 'n hoë standaard van professionele gedrag onder lede te verseker;

·          the introduction of consulting town and regional planners to government and other organisations and to regularly provide a directory of consultants to such organisations for convenient reference for possible appointments;

·          die bekendstelling van raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanners aan regeringsinstansies en ander organisasies deur die gereelde uitreiking van 'n register van raadgewers vir gerieflike verwysing wanneer moontlike aanstellings oorweeg word;

·          the formulation of guidelines concerning matters that affect consulting town and regional planners only (for example professional fees and conduct in respect of marketing);  and

·          die formulering van riglyne aangaande sake wat uitsluitlik op raadgewende stads- en streekbeplanners van toepassing is (byvoorbeeld die handleiding van professionele gelde en riglyne aangaande bemarking deur raadgewers);  en

·          negotiations in respect of group pension schemes, professional indemnity insurance and professional provident funds on behalf of the larger profession.

·          onderhandelinge wat namens lede ten aansien van groep pensioenfondse , professionele aanspreeklikheidsversekering en voorsieningsfondse onderneem word.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The ACTRP is currently organised in two major regions namely:

ORGANISATORIESE STRUKTURE

Die VRSS is tans in twee hoofstreke verdeel naamlik:

o         North Region

Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga,

North West and Northern Province

o         Noordstreek

Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Vrystaat, Mpumalanga, Noordwes en Noordelike Provinsie

o         South Region

Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

o         Suidstreek

Wes-Kaap, Noord-Kaap en Oos-Kaap

A subcommittee of the Northern Region has also been established to attend to the specific needs and requirements of those members located in Limpopo Province and more particularly in the area of Polokwane and environs.

'n Subkomitee van die Noordstreek is in die lewe geroep om die spesifieke behoeftes en probleme van daardie lede wat in die Limpopo Provinsie in die omgewing van Polokwane werksaam is, aan te spreek.

The main regions have both appointed executive committees to attend to the day to day functioning of the ACTRP.  These executive committees, comprise:

Die hoofstreke het elk 'n uitvoerende komitee wat na die verrigtinge van die VRSS omsien.  Hierdie uitvoerende komitees bestaan uit:

·          A Chairperson;

·          A Vice-Chairperson;

·          A Secretary;  and

·          At least four or more permanent committee members.

·          'n Voorsitter;

·          'n Onder-Voorsitter;

·          'n Sekretaris;  en

·          Ten minste vier of meer permanente komiteelede.

Committee members serve a minimum one year term in office although, in practise, most committee members stay on for at least two or more years to ensure continuity.  Executive Committees meet on average once per month.  New executive committee members are usually elected prior to or during an annual general meeting.  Written nominations for the election of new members are requested prior to the annual general meeting.

Komiteelede dien gewoonlik vir ten minste een jaar op die uitvoerende komitee.  Ten einde kontinuïteit te verseker dien die meeste komiteelede vir twee of meer jaar op die komitee.  Die uitvoerende komitees vergader gemiddeld een maal per maand.  Nuwe uitvoerende komiteelede word gewoonlik voor of tydens ‘n algemene jaarvergadering verkies.  Geskrewe nominasies vir die verkiesing van nuwe lede word voor die algemene jaarvergadering deur die uitvoerende komitee ontvang.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Although the original constitution was designed to permit both the individual consultant and the planning practice as members of the ACTRP, it was later resolved to amend the constitution in such a way that only a practice, company or firm may become a member of the ACTRP.

VEREISTES VIR LIDMAATSKAP

Die oorspronklike grondwet van die VRSS het bepaal dat beide die individuele raadgewer asook die firma of maatskappy as lede van die VRSS geregistreer kon word.  Daar is later besluit om die grondwet sodanig te wysig dat slegs die firma of maatskappy as entiteit 'n lid van die VRSS kan word.

For an individual firm or company to become a member, at least one principal, active within such firm or company must be registered as a Town and Regional Planner in terms of the relevant act.  Furthermore, such a principal must have at least 5 years’ post-graduate experience in order to qualify his firm or company for membership.  Two years’ experience in private practice is a further requirement.

'n Firma of maatskappy kan as lid van die VRSS registreer indien ten minste een prinsipaal. wat in diens van sodanige firma of maatskappy staan, 'n geregistreerde Stads- en Streekbeplanner ingevolge die toepaslike wetgewing is.  Voorts moet die prinsipaal oor ten minste 5 jaar nagraadse ondervinding beskik waarvan ten minste 2 jaar in 'n raadgewende hoedanigheid moes wees.

Currently, the ACTRP North Region has 181 registered firms and companies as full members and 9 institutions are registered as correspondent members.  Correspondent members are institutions or individuals which are associated with the planning profession and derive certain benefits from such association.  These include property development companies and allied professions such as engineers and architects.  The South Region has 37 registered member firms, bringing the total membership of the ACTRP to approximately 212 on a national basis

Huidiglik bestaan die VRSS Noordstreek uit 181 geregistreerde firmas of maatskappye en 9 korrespondent lede.  Korrespondentlede bestaan hoofsaaklik uit organisasies of individue wat met die raadgewende beplanningsprofessie assosieer en sekere voordele uit sodanige assosiasie put.  Hierdie organisasies sluit onder andere eiendomsontwikkelingsmaatskappye en verwante professies soos ingenieurs, argitekte en landmeters in.  Die Suidstreek bestaan tans uit 37 geregistreerde lede wat die totale lidmaatskap van die VRSS op 212 tot stand bring.

ACTRP ACTIVITIES

VRSS AKTIWITEITE

The following portfolios are currently attended to by elected subcommittee's:

·          Secretariat

·          Constitution

·          Newsletter

·          Public liaison

·          Seminars and conferences

·          Finances

·          Professional fees

·          Liaison Committees

Die volgende portefeuljes word tans deur die onderskeie uitvoerende komitees behartig:

·          Sekretariaat

·          Grondwet

·          Nuusbrief

·          Openbare skakeling

·          Seminare en konferensies

·          Finansies

·          Professionele gelde

·          Skakelkomitees

Liaison Committees

The ACTRP currently enjoys participation on a number of Liaison Committees where planning matters are addressed at provincial or municipal level in co-operation with the provincial and municipal authorities.  Theses forum serve as important platforms from which the ACTRP ensures effective communication with the authorities and other government institutions which are involved in planning or development matters.

Skakelkomitees

Die VRSS neem tans aan die verrigtinge van verskeie Skakelkomitees deel waar beplanningsake op provinsiale- of munisipale vlak in samewerking met provinsiale en munisipale owerhede aangespreek word.  Hierdie belangrike forums dien as platforms vir die VRSS om op 'n effektiewe wyse met die relevante owerheidsinstansies te kommunikeer. 

Examples include the following:

Voorbeelde sluit die volgende in:

·       Working Committee: New Gauteng Planning and Development Act

·       Werkskomitee: Nuwe Gauteng Beplannings- en Ontwikkelingswet

·       National Building Regulations Council

·       Nasionale Raad op Bouregulasies

·       Tshwane Mayoral Advisory Committee: Planning

·       Tshwane Mayoral Advisory Committee: Planning

SA Association of Municipal Planners

The ACTRP enjoys direct liaison with the South African Association of Municipal Planners and permits reciprocal representation at committee meetings.  This serves as an important mechanism through which liaison between municipal and consulting planners is dealt with in a structured manner.

SA Vereniging van Munisipale Beplanners

Die VRSS skakel direk met die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging van Munisipale Beplanners en wedersydse verteenwoordiging word op uitvoerende komiteevlak gehandhaaf.  Die forum dien as belangrike meganisme om skakeling tussen beplanners op plaaslike bestuursvlak en raadgewers op gestruktureerde wyse aan te spreek.

SAPI

The ACTRP enjoys reciprocal representation on the SAPI where matters which effect the wide profession, are attended to.

SABI

Die VRSS en die SABI handhaaf steeds wedersydse verteenwoordiging op uitvoerende komiteevlak waar sake rakende die wyer professie aangespreek word.

ADP

The ACTRP is also a full member of the Association of Development Professions comprising engineers, architects, land surveyors, quantity surveyors and town planners.  It is a joint forum which was specifically established to promote the interests and responsibilities of those professions active within the construction industry.

ADP

Die VRSS is 'n volle lid van die sogenaamde Association of Development Professions  wat uit ingenieurs, argitekte, landmeters, bourekenaars en stadsbeplanners bestaan.  Die ADP is 'n gemeenskaplike forum wat in die lewe geroep is om die belange en verantwoordelikhede van professies in die konstruksiebedryf te bevorder.

IFHP

The ACTRP is a fully fledged member of the International Federation for Housing and Planning which is situated in The Hague.

Redbook Steering Committee

The ACTRP is represented on the Steering Committee for Planning Matters with regard to the revision of the Redbook (Engineering services for township development), under the auspices of the Building Technology Department of the CSIR acting on behalf of the Department of Housing.

IFHP

Die VRSS is 'n volle lid van die sogenaamde Internasionale Federasie van Behuising en Beplanning wat in Den Haag gesetel is.

Rooiboek Stuurkomitee

Die VRSS word verteenwoordig op die Stuurkomitee insake Beplanningsaangeleenthede vir die wysiging van die Rooiboek (Ingenieursdienste vir dorpsontwikkeling) onder toesig van die Departement van Boutegnologie van die WNNR wat namens die Departement van Behuising optree.

Newsletter

The ACTRP regularly issues a newsletter containing important information on planning policies, professional fees and other information relevant to the day to day functioning of a planning practice.  The newsletter also contains less formal information and "gossip" regarding movements within the profession, the establishment of new firms and such like.  Advertisement space is sold in the ACTRP newsletter to offset the publishing cost so as not to unnecessarily burden the ACTRP budget.

Nuusbrief

Die VRSS reik gereeld 'n nuusbrief uit met inligting rakende nuwe beplanningsbeleidsriglyne, professionele gelde en ander belangrike inligting wat in die dag tot dag funksionering van 'n beplanningspraktyk gebruik kan word.  Die nuusbrief bevat ook minder formele inligting en "skindernuus" aangaande bewegings binne die raadgewende professie, die totstandkoming van nuwe firmas en ander interessanthede.  Advertensieruimte word in die nuusbrief verkoop ten einde die koste aan drukwerk soos laag as moontlik te hou.