Uniquely amongst planning consultancies none of our consultants have less than 12 years experience and most have been working for more than 20 years. TPS is also unusual in how it bridges the gap between the public and private sectors. Many planning consultants have not worked in the public sector which is a major weakness in negotiations with Councils. Our consultants have worked for substantial periods in both Councils and consultancy giving us a substantial advantage in presenting projects in the most favourable light to planning authorities.

Ross Martin (UK)

Ross Martin is a political analyst and policy advisor, specialising in education and political engagement for TPS, where he utilises his skills as a (still practising) teacher and former senior politician. Ross served as Convenor of the Lothian & Borders Police Board and then as Chairman of West Lothian Council’s Education Committee in his late 20s and early 30s. He is currently part-time Policy Director at the Centre for Scottish Public Policy.

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Phil Brown (UK)

Phil Brown is a specialist in Education Planning having been a Senior Statistics and Information Officer with Lothian Regional Council Education Department: from 1985 – 1996 and Midlothian Council Education Division’s Education Officer from then until 2006. In 2001 he prepared the Education Policy Statement on Education Capacity and the Methodology for Calculating School Capacity for the Midlothian and Shawfair Local Plans. Subsequently, he proposed the closure of a number of small primary schools, using the revenue savings to fund the construction of larger sustainable primary schools. Phil's methodology was used during his time at Midlothian Council to analyse each proposed housing development to see whether the development could be met within current school capacity, be met by a catchment area change, require an extension of a school, or for the largest developments, a new primary school. He was an expert witness at the Midlothian Local Plan Inquiry, which lasted more than 1 year, and presented the Education case for the Council. The Reporter upheld the Education part of the Council’s proposal.

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Helen Law (UK)

Helen Law has a BSc (Hons) and a Diploma in Applied Social Science. She was elected member for Fife Council from 1995- 2003 during which she was Chair of Education and Children’s Services, Chair of PPP Working Group (responsible for 2 new secondary schools and 1 new primary school now up and running). She has also been COSLA Education spokesperson and also gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament on behalf of COSLA on a range of issues. From 1998-2003 Helen was Chair of Childcare Partnership. She is currently on Lauder College Board of Management. In her time in local government she was Chair of Careers locally and sat on a national task group, housing working group (Fife) and also sat on Scottish New Opportunities Fund (NOF) committee. As a civil servant Helen spent several years within the DSS, giving advice and training on a variety of issues.

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