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Consultation on the ARB General Rules

Opening date: 24 May 2019
Closing date: 5 July 2019

Introduction
The Architects Registration Board was established by Parliament in 1997 to regulate the architects’ profession in the UK.  We are an independent public interest body, and our work in regulating architects ensures that good standards within the profession are consistently maintained for the benefit of the public and architects alike.

Background to consultation
The Architects Registration Board has agreed to hold a consultation exercise following its proposals to amend the Board’s General Rules.  The consultation will comply with ARB’s  Code of Practice for consultations which can be found via menu to the right.

Purpose of consultation
Before deciding on any course of action, it is important that we have as wide a range of views as possible.

Under Section 23(1) of the Architects Act 1997, the Board may make rules in order to carry out or facilitate the purposes of the Act.  The Board has established a set of General Rules for this purpose.

The Architects Act 1997 has previously been interpreted such that the Board makes its decisions, particularly those which have legal significance, by voting.

Schedule 1, Section 8 of the Act states that:

8. In the event of a tie in any vote of the Board the chair shall have an additional casting vote.

Schedule 1, Section 10 of the Act goes on to state that:

10. The Board may make rules governing its meetings and procedure.’

It should also be noted that this interpretation was established in the context of a partially elected Board.

Noting the above, the Board’s General Rules therefore include the rules by which the Board will vote at its meetings.  The Board also has guidance which supports the rules, identifying which decisions are legally significant and which do not require a decision in any formal or legal sense.

The current rules provide for a ‘parliamentary’ style procedure which includes the formal proposing and seconding of ‘motions’.  The newly constituted, and wholly appointed, Board has indicated that it would prefer to make decisions by consensus, where possible, in order to expedite its business. The Board’s General Rules therefore require some adjustments to be made to them to facilitate this, particularly in relation to the sections of the Rules which relate to the Board’s decision making processes.

Consultation documents
Please use the links below to access the consultation documents

Track changed proposed General Rules (PDF)
Clean copy proposed General Rules (PDF)

Consultation response form (word)
Consultation response form (PDF)

Equality & Diversity data form (word)
Equality & Diversity data form (PDF)