Report of Board Meeting on 24 October 2000

Report of Board Meeting on 24 October 2000 (01/11/2000)

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) met on Tuesday 24 October 2000 at 8 Weymouth Street London W1. The Chairwoman, Barbara Kelly, took the opportunity to thank Amanda Levete, who tendered her resignation during the previous week, for all her valuable work at ARB, and formally to welcome John Wright to the table.

The following notes provide an overview of matters discussed and agreed by the Board.

REGISTRATION

The Board reviewed and discussed a number of issues relating to registration, and noted that there are currently 30,033 architects on the Register.

The Board examined recent statistics comparing those passing Part Three examinations with subsequent registrations. The vast majority of those who graduate and who are eligible to Register do so immediately. However, there is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that some individuals, at this stage in their career, feel overwhelming financial pressures which may cause them to defer entry on the Register. The Board agreed to examine this situation, and to seek ways in which to assist those facing such problems.

As a response to requests from members of the profession, it will now be possible to pay the ARB annual retention fee by credit or debit card.

VALIDATION AND ASSESSMENT

The Board reaffirmed its policy of promoting the highest possible standards in the validation of courses in Schools of Architecture and the assessment of students. New procedures were agreed to improve the operation of the Assessment Panel in a number of areas, and the Board approved a paper from the Qualifications Advisory Group which set out ARB's roles and responsibilities, and outlined a process to take this work forward.

The Board also examined proposals to carry out a review of the criteria for the validation process in relation to the requirements for registration of architects in the UK - the Board expects that review to be completed by the end of 2001.

PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE 1997 ARCHITECTS ACT AND ITS SCHEDULES

The Board considered a number of proposals received from the profession and others regarding possible improvements to the Act and its Schedules. The areas covered included the implications of the EC Directive on Training, operation of the Board's disciplinary powers and, notably, the wording of the Act in relation to protection of title.

The Board agreed to approach the DETR to seek its views on the proposals it had considered, but in this context, the Board also recognised that as the statutory regulator, ARB's role was to operate, as efficiently as possible, the legislation currently in force.

FIVE YEAR POLICY OBJECTIVES

The Chief Executive & Registrar presented a paper to the Board outlining in draft the policy objectives for the organisation over the next five years, covering the key areas of Education, Regulation and Registration. This document will be published following the next Board meeting.

Finally, the Board agreed that in future, all meetings will be open to members of the public and members of the press, although it noted that matters relating to third parties who were not present at the meeting would need to be taken in closed session. Such matters might include, for example, complaints currently under investigation, and information relating to particular schools involved in the validation process.

The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday 20 December at ARB's offices, commencing at 10.30 am.