Competition Grid

Chapter 17Community before Competitions

Discussion with Peter Wynne Rees

Question (Q): How would you describe politics in the context of your past role as the chief planner for the City of London?

Peter Wynne Rees (PWR): Of my 45 years of professional career, 29 were spent directing the planning of the City of London, or to be more accurate, the regeneration of the City of London. Working for the City Corporation, I was working for the only local authority in the country that did not have party politics. All elected members served as independent members. Therefore, policy creation was a matter for professional officers. Members took the role of the company board, reviewing the proposals put forward by the officers. Through a process of interrogation ...