The Powers and Duties of the Architects Registration Board

The Powers and Duties of the Architects Registration Board (30/09/2003)

At its meeting on 25 September 2003, the Board reviewed the legal advice that it had been given by Timothy Dutton QC in relation to its powers and duties in response to issues raised by Board Member Ian Salisbury at the meeting on 20 May 2003.

The Board has had before it a range of submissions and documents for consideration, including Mr Salisbury’s papers; the Opinion of Timothy Dutton QC; a paper issued from the RIBA; and representations which had been made to the Registrar by a few registered persons.

Having considered the information, and in particular having regard to the Architects Act 1997 for which the Board is responsible, the Board concluded that it had acted, and was continuing to act in accordance with the powers and responsibilities given to it under the Act in including Standard 8 in the Code of Conduct; to issue guidelines as to what might be considered adequate professional indemnity insurance under Standard 8; in requiring an architect to confirm that he or she has professional indemnity insurance that meets the guidelines; in including Standard 10.1 of the Code of Conduct; in prescribing a qualification under Section 4(1)(a) of the Architects Act 1997 in accordance with the Board’s General Rules and the Procedures for Validation 2000 and in making the duration of a prescription of a qualification subject to conditions; and in admitting a candidate to the Register provided that in the opinion of a panel of assessors that candidate meets the Board’s criteria.

The Board is currently preparing a summary of reasons for later publication.