Professional Conduct Committee suspends architect after a finding of unacceptable professional conduct

Professional Conduct Committee suspends architect after a finding of unacceptable professional conduct (03/03/2008)

At a Hearing of the Architects Registration Board’s Professional Conduct Committee in London on 26 February 2008, architect H Michael Cummings of CA&D, 3 Sheiling Court, Bentinck Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 2BW, was suspended from the Register of Architects after being found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct.

Mr Cummings admitted the allegations that he had held himself out as an architect at times when was not entitled to do so, and that he had provided misleading information on his firm’s notepaper.

The Committee heard that Mr Cummings had previously appeared before the PCC in October 2003, when he was issued with a nine-month suspension after being found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. ARB later received a complaint from a member of the public with evidence that Mr Cummings had been holding himself out as an architect during that period of suspension. His notepaper had also stated that he was a member of the RIBA when he had been expelled from the Institute, and included the name of an architect who did not work for the practice.

The Committee found Mr Cummings’ mitigation unacceptable, with the Chairman commenting that he had “showed contempt for the previous sanctions of the Board”. He was suspended from the Register of Architects for six months.

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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 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 unlawfully (Section 20)

It is an offence for any person not on the Register of Architects to use the title ‘architect(s)’ in business or practice.

Any monies from fines imposed by the Professional Conduct Committee are paid to HM Treasury.

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.

For more information about the PCC and its work, please contact Simon Howard at simonh@arb.org.uk