19th April 2011, 03:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 19th April 2011, 03:46 PM by kevin wooldridge.)
P Prentice's last point is very valid.
Last year the IfA announced that they had received legal opinion suggesting that insisting upon IfA membership or registration, rather than being a constraint on trade could be held legal in certain circumstances. I and several other persons highlighted this on BAJR forums at the time of the announcement, but it didn't seem to strike much of a response..... Without second guessing the intentions of the government or the Southport grouping of the IfA, I would suggest that the effects of the recession and the spending cuts are moving us closer to that scenario and it is possible that it might effectively be achieved by default i.e if the vast majority of the excavating units and the DC officers left over after the wreckage is cleared just happen to be members of the IfA.
I am in two minds over the Southport Group. In trying to take the initiative with PPS5 they may be in a much stronger position to effect its wider implementation and in doing so I am sure are hoping to maximise the trading advantages of IfA/RAO membership. Again they might benefit from the default position here as being even only marginally pro-active with regard to PPS5 places them in a much stronger position than those in our profession who are adopting either a 'wait and see' policy or worse burying their heads in the sand. As an IfA member of long standing I think this is a positive move. From a purely mercenary personal point of view, it might need something like the meltdown of a large part of our industry to convince some waverers that IfA membership could be advantageous, if only that in years to come, it might rank slightly above possession of a driving licence on the top 10 CV requirements.
My difficulty with the Southport group as an entity lies in its relationship to the main body of the IfA.... I didn't for example notice that the IfA held an election for membership of the Southport group, despite the fact tha recently it appears to have been promoted as the public voice of the Institute. I wonder if that lack of democratic accountability may become a hindrance (or at least a target for critics) as this campaign develops....
Last year the IfA announced that they had received legal opinion suggesting that insisting upon IfA membership or registration, rather than being a constraint on trade could be held legal in certain circumstances. I and several other persons highlighted this on BAJR forums at the time of the announcement, but it didn't seem to strike much of a response..... Without second guessing the intentions of the government or the Southport grouping of the IfA, I would suggest that the effects of the recession and the spending cuts are moving us closer to that scenario and it is possible that it might effectively be achieved by default i.e if the vast majority of the excavating units and the DC officers left over after the wreckage is cleared just happen to be members of the IfA.
I am in two minds over the Southport Group. In trying to take the initiative with PPS5 they may be in a much stronger position to effect its wider implementation and in doing so I am sure are hoping to maximise the trading advantages of IfA/RAO membership. Again they might benefit from the default position here as being even only marginally pro-active with regard to PPS5 places them in a much stronger position than those in our profession who are adopting either a 'wait and see' policy or worse burying their heads in the sand. As an IfA member of long standing I think this is a positive move. From a purely mercenary personal point of view, it might need something like the meltdown of a large part of our industry to convince some waverers that IfA membership could be advantageous, if only that in years to come, it might rank slightly above possession of a driving licence on the top 10 CV requirements.
My difficulty with the Southport group as an entity lies in its relationship to the main body of the IfA.... I didn't for example notice that the IfA held an election for membership of the Southport group, despite the fact tha recently it appears to have been promoted as the public voice of the Institute. I wonder if that lack of democratic accountability may become a hindrance (or at least a target for critics) as this campaign develops....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...