Increase to Annual Retention Fee

Increase to Annual Retention Fee (28/05/2002)

At the meeting of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) on 23 May 2002, the Board decided unanimously to increase the annual retention fee from £55 to £65, with effect from l January 2003.

Commenting on this decision, Chairman Owen Luder said:

“The Board has managed to maintain an unchanged retention fee for the past three years. However, due to inflation and increased costs in carrying out ARB’s statutory functions over that three year period there will be a financial deficit this year, which without an increase would become unmanageable in 2003. In these circumstances the Board felt it had no option other than to increase the fee.

He continued:

“Since the fee was last increased, ARB has taken on responsibility for the funding of the validation system, working closely with the RIBA. The Board has sought to increase the effectiveness of that very important area of its responsibilities. We now remunerate members of the profession for participating in this work, and provide them with first rate training. This has significantly increased our expenditure in this vital area. I have no doubt that the profession will agree that the future of the profession lies with ensuring that architecture students receive the best possible education and training to equip them for entry to the profession.

“We recognise that the profession, who pay for ARB– rightly, expect that their money will be used efficiently in its work in safeguarding the reputation of the profession as well as protecting the consumer. At £65 – an increase of £10, (which equates to 15p per week after basic rate income tax) this is still not an unreasonable fee to practise using the title “architect”. The ARB Board will continue to strive to keep the retention fee as low as possible, whilst ensuring that its work in regulating the profession and protecting the title “architect” reflects the changes in the profession, its clients and in society generally in the 21st Century”

Ends

For further information, please contact Karen Holmes or Tony Robbins on 020 7580 5861, or by e-mail on karenh@arb.org.uk and tonyr@arb.org.uk