ARB chairman delivers further rebuttal of the RIBA's proposals

ARB chairman delivers further rebuttal of the RIBA's proposals (09/11/2005)

In a further exchange of letters between RIBA President Jack Pringle and ARB Chairman Humphrey LLoyd, Mr LLoyd reaffirms the case why the RIBA Council’s proposals for regulatory change are not in the public interest and would cause additional costs for registrants.

Mr LLoyd points out that the Architects Act was passed to safeguard the public interest and that “the retention fee is amongst the lowest of all the Registration Boards.” Mr LLoyd responds to each of the issues raised by the RIBA, citing the ARB’s statutory duties and responsibilities deriving from the 1997 Act, and rejecting the RIBA’s case for change as unjustifiable. Referring to the minimalist approach of the ARB, Mr. LLoyd writes:

“By comparison to others with similar responsibilities to ARB, this is probably the most lightweight and limited professional regulatory regime in the country.”

Mr LLoyd concludes by saying that he is grateful that the RIBA Council will give his comments further consideration, but as the consultation process has now begun, he will not be pursuing any further exchanges of correspondence.

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Notes for Editors

ARB is the statutory body established by Parliament under the Architects Act 1997 to regulate the UK architects’ profession in the public interest. The Act requires ARB (amongst other things) to:

• Maintain the Register of Architects (Section 3)

• Prescribe qualifications for entry to the Register of Architects (Section 4)

• Deal with competence to practise (Section 9)

• Issue a Code which lays down standards of professional conduct and practice (Section 13)

• Regulate use of the title “architect” and prosecute those who use it fraudulently (Section 20)

ARB has a Board of 15 members, seven of whom are architects elected by the profession. The remaining eight are members of the public appointed by the Privy Council to represent the interests of consumers and users of architectural services.