Professional Conduct Committee Decisions

The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) is the disciplinary tribunal constituted under the Architects Act 1997 to hear allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and serious professional incompetence against architects. These are the two “offences” under which an architect can be found guilty. The Committee has the power to issue reprimands, levy fines, and suspend or erase an architect’s name from the Register.

Section 15(4) of the Act requires the PCC to publish the name and offence of those architects who have been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence.

The Act is silent on the length of time that an architect’s name and offence should remain in the public domain, but the Board’s view is that it is against the principles of natural justice for cases to be publicised indefinitely. It has therefore adopted a policy whereby findings and penalties resulting from PCC hearings should be publicised for no more than the following periods:

Penalty	Publication period
Reprimand	One year
Fine	Two years
Suspension	For the duration of the suspension + two years after its expiry
Erasure	Five years

Ultimately, however, the decision as to the period of publicity lies with the PCC.

The following tables contain a list of all cases heard by the PCC since 1997. However, in line with the Board’s policy, the second table lists only the date, nature of offence and penalty imposed. The name of the architect is withheld.

Table 1

Key:
UPC: Unacceptable professional conduct
SPI: Serious professional incompetence
DC: Disgraceful conduct

Please click on the architect's name to view the decision.

Professional Conduct Committee : Decisions and penalties
Date	Architect	Nature of offence	Penalty
17 – 19 January 2012	Mr John Stephen (045012J) International Apartments 14b/4 Riversdale Crescent Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland EH12 5QT	UPC - failure to act with integrity in the delay/non-payment of professional fees; dishonesty.	Erasure
8 December 2011	Mr John Roland Bishop (030819F) Bishops 27 The Square Stock Ingatestone Essex CM4 9LH	UPC - failed to adequately set out terms of engagement in writing; failed to keep client informed as to work being carried out and of any increase in the cost; failed to deal with a complaint promptly and appropriately; failed to act with integrity and avoid any action or situation which were inconsistent with his professional obligations	£1000
21- 23 November 2011	Mr Eric Erikson (064730F) 32 Cheverton Road London N19 3AZ	UPC- failed to act in his client’s best interest and accordingly consistent with his professional obligation, and /or that he failed to act with integrity; failed to carry out his professional work faithfully and conscientiously; failed to carry out professional work without undue delay; failed to deal with a complaint about his professional work.	£1500
15 and 16 November 2011	Ms Kulbir Chadha (059655H) Flat 6 Argyll Mansions 303-323 Kings Road London England SW3 5ER	SPI - failure to have in place appropriate and effective internal procedures to deliver an effective and efficient service; Failed to carry out work without undue delay and within the time scale and cost limits agreed with the client; failed to keep clients informed of the progress of work and of any issue which may affect its quality or cost; Failed to deal with disputes or complaints concerning professional work or that of the practice promptly and appropriately	Reprimand
11 October 2011	Mrs Eileen Bryze Greenlands Farm Ribby Road Wrea Green Preston Lancashire PR4 2PA	UPC- failure to ensure the practice was under her control and management; failure to deal with a complaint promptly; and failure to respond to the ARB	£500
9 & 15 August 2011	Mr Philip John Paul Dadds (058249B) Philip Dadds Architect The Old Stable Block King George VI Memorial Park Montefiore Avenue Ramsgate Kent CT11 8BD	SPI – failure to carry out work with due skill, care and diligence UPC – failure to have in place effective internal procedures to include monitoring and review procedures; failure to exercise adequate supervision of staff; failure to co-operate fully and promptly with the ARB	£1000
11 & 12 July 2011	Robert Edmund Fish (055219D) Robert Fish Associates 1c Kelsey Park Road Beckenham Kent BR3 6LH	UPC – failure to provide adequate terms of engagement; failure to carry out work without undue delay; failure to inform his clients of the progress of works and increase in costs	Reprimand
21 – 22 June 2011 & 15 July 2011	Douglas Hugh Stuart (038335J) Douglas Stuart Chartered Architect 32 Church Street Inverness Inverness-shire Scotland IV1 1EH	UPC – failure to provide adequate terms of engagement; failure to carry out work without undue delay; failure to inform his clients of increasing costs; failure to have in place adequate monitoring procedures	Reprimand
7 June 2011	Mr Paul Dinsdale Price Dinsdale Associates Ltd 8 The Quadrant Buxton Derbyshire SK17 6AW	UPC – failure to act with integrity and made a statement which he knew to be unfair to others or discreditable to the profession and failure to ensure a client’s confidential information was safeguarded.	Reprimand
24 & 25 May 2011	Mr Peter Buxton 120b High Street Steyning West Sussex BN44 3RD	UPC – failure to disclose in writing a financial and personal business interest; having found his interests conflicted failed to obtain the agreement from his client before continuing; failed to deal with dispute appropriately; made representations in a letter which were unprofessional & offensive; Serious Professional Incompetence: failed to perform his work with due care, skill & diligence	£3,000
18 May 2011	Mr Raymond Oetgen OCP + Architects Windyridge Langford Road Burley in Wharfedale Ilkley West Yorkshire LS29 7NL	UPC – failure to act with integrity, failure to disclose potential conflict of interest and failure to issue adequate terms of engagement	£1,500
19 April 2011	049354F Mr Michael JRC Phillips 1a South Place The Promenade Kingsbridge Devon	UPC – failure to record provision for termination and dispute resolution and that he was subject to the disciplinary functions of the ARB; failure to ensure the practice had effective internal monitoring and review procedures in place; failure to keep clients informed of costs; and failure to handle the client’s or their legal representative’s complaint appropriately.	Four-month suspension
5 April 2011	Ms Frances Maria Morrow Frances Morrow Architect 45 North Bar Street Banbury Oxfordshire England OX16 0TH	UPC and SPI - failure to carry out work with due skill, care and diligence	£3000
30 March 2011	Mr Alexander Thompson Building Doctors 137 Percival Road Enfield Middlesex EN1 1QT	UPC- failure to act with integrity	£2500
19 – 21 July 2010 14 October 2010 23 January 2011	Ms Teresa Jane Blakeley (formerly Ms Jane Faulkner) Jane Faulkner Architect The Studio 4 Petit Port Close Petit Port La Route Du Petit Port St. Brelade Jersey Channel Islands JE3 8HJ	UPC – failure to issue adequate terms of engagement, failure to carry out work without undue delay and in accordance with timescales and costs agreed with the client, failure to keep the client informed as to the progress of work	£2500
12 and 13 October 2010	Mr Richard Lewis (041034I) Lewis Patten, 1 The Chase, John Tate Road, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG13 7NN	UPC and SPI – failure to adequately set out terms of engagement in writing; failure to carry out work with due skill care and diligence and failure to keep client informed.	£4,000
1 September 2010	Richard F Savage Savage Hayward 19 Station Road Hinckley Leicestershire LE10 1AW	UPC & SPI- dishonesty; failure to carry out work faithfully and conscientiously; failure to undertake work without undue delay; failure to provide terms of engagement; failure to deal with a dispute appropriately.	Erasure
26 July 2010	Clive Wille PCL Ltd 32 Engadine Close Croydon Surrey CR0 5UU	Criminal Conviction	Erasure
12 July 2010	Colin Wardle Design Two The Old Stables Greys Yard Morpeth Northumberland NE61 1QD	UPC - failure to record terms of contract in writing; failure to carry out work without undue delay; failure to deal with complaints about his professional work; failure to deal with correspondence from the Board.	£2500 penalty order
19 March 2010	Julian Marsh Marsh & Grochowski 16 Commerce Square Lace Market Nottingham NG1 1HS	UPC - failure to adequately set out Terms of Engagement in writing	£1000 penalty order
24 November 2009	Mrs Yvonne M Howie Howie Associates 7a Ailsa Road Twickenham Middlesex England TW1 1QJ	UPC – Making misleading statements	Erasure
10, 11 & 12 March 2009 & 20 October 2009	Mr Olatunji Olagunju Forthright Design Ltd 17 Aylmer Parade Aylmer Road London N2 0PE	UPC - failure to make it clear that his services would not incorporate the independent functions of an architect, failure to provide correct terms of engagement, failure to carry out work faithfully and conscientiously, failure to preserve the security of monies entrusted to him, and failure to deal with a dispute appropriately	Erasure
27 May 2009	Frank Pawlowski Flat 6 4 Portland Rise London N4 2PP	Unacceptable Professional Conduct	Erasure
27 May 2009	Soraya A Motevalli !01 Wellington Road London E11 2AS	Unacceptable Professional Conduct	Erasure
27 May 2009	Douglas Branson BCA / Doug Branson Studio 4 5 Thurloe Square London SW7 2TA	Unacceptable Professional Conduct	Erasure
7 April 2009	Ms Gillian P Beckingham Hazelhurst Kilmidyke Road Grange-over-Sands Cumbria England LA11 7AQ	Criminal Conviction	Erasure
25 February 2009	Derrick Matthews Walnut Farm Church Lane East Norton Leicester Leicestershire England LE7 9XA	UPC– failure to manage finances prudently; failure to maintain adequate and apppropriate professional indemnity insurance.	Erasure
28 October 2008 & 12 January 2009	Stefan Black Flat 26, Waverley Court 35 Venner Road London SE26 5EE	UPC – failure to provide evidence of Professional Indemnity Insurance; failure to respond to correspondence from the Board	Erasure
15 October 2008	Behzad Sharouz Sharouz Associates 4 Felix Avenue London N8 9TL	UPC – dishonesty and lack of professional indemnity insurance.	Erasure
29 July 2008	John Dowland Tomei & Mackley Architects LLP Ivy Mill House Ivy Mill Lane Godstone Surrey RH9 8NR	UPC - Failure to pay judgment debts, failure to notify Board of bankruptcy	Erasure
18 June 2008	Christopher Harrison (066721H) No address	Criminal Conviction	Erasure
17 June 2008	Neil Ramsay (050321E) Ramsay Architects 87 Beaumont Road London W4 5AJ	UPC –Failure to pay a PCC penalty order; failing to carry out professional work; failing to provide evidence of PII and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	Erasure
17 June 2008	David Hutchison (050206E) ARA BLU The Studio 6 Pony Farm Stable Lane Findon Worthing West Sussex BN14 0RS	UPC – failing to provide evidence of PII and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	Erasure
2 May 2008	Bjorn Nilsen (042051D) 10 Valleyfield Street Edinburgh EH3 9LS	UPC – failed to provide evidence of his professional indemnity insurance, failed to deal with correspondence from the Board	Erasure
2 May 2008	Robert Daw (054720D) 21 Shelley Crescent Monmouth Gwent	UPC – failed to provide evidence of his professional indemnity insurance, failed to deal with correspondence from the Board	Erasure

Table 2

Key:
UPC: Unacceptable professional conduct
SPI: Serious professional incompetence
DC: Disgraceful conduct

Professional Conduct Committee : Decisions and penalties
Date	Nature of offence	Penalty
12 January 2011	UPC – failure to respond to the Architects Registration Board in accordance with the timescale set out in the Code	Reprimand
8 December 2009	UPC– failure to maintain adequate and apppropriate professional indemnity insurance run-off cover	£1000 fine
29 & 30 October 2009	UPC - failure to issue correct Terms of Engagement in Writing	£750 penalty order
21 October 2010	UPC –failure to ensure the work of the practice was under the control and management of an architect, failure to ensure that the identity of that architect was apparent to clients and failure to inform clients of the disciplinary sanction of the Board.	Reprimand
1 September 2010	UPC- failure to report a serious breach of the Code to the ARB.	Reprimand
25 August 2010	UPC- failure to make it clear that his services would not incorporate the independent functions of an architect.	Reprimand
21 July 2006	Criminal conviction relating to his practice as an architect	Erasure
17 August 2010	UPC - failure to provide evidence of insurance in the form required by the Board; and failure to respond to correspondence from the Board.	No order
13 April 2010	UPC - failure to maintain adequate and appropriate insurance and failed to respond to the Board	Reprimand
12 May 2010	UPC - failure to maintain adequate and appropriate professional indemnity insurance work carried out in a private capacity	Reprimand
3 & 4 March 2010	UPC - failure to disclose a potential conflict in writing	Reprimand
15 December 2009 and 1 March 2010	UPC - failure to provide adequate terms of contract	Reprimand
26 January 2010	SPI – failure to perform work with due skill care and diligence UPC – failure to adequately set out terms of engagement in writing	Reprimand
25 June 2009	UPC- failure to set out Terms of Engagement in Writing	Reprimand
26 February 2008	UPC – holding himself out as an architect when not entitled and providing misleading information	Six month suspension
17 June 2008	UPC –failing to provide evidence of PII and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	£1000 penalty order
6 June 2007	UPC – carrying out work with no professional indemnity insurance, failing to ensure run-off cover after allowing her PII cover to lapse, and convicted of breaching sections 7 and 9 of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990p	One year suspension
07 April 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Erasure
07 April 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Erasure
07 April 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Erasure
07 April 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Erasure
24 February 2009	Ciminal conviction	Reprimand
26 November 2007	UPC - Failing to provide adequate terms of engagement, failing to charge client as promised, lack of PII cover and using the title 'architect' when not on the Register	£1000 penalty order
2 May & 28 October 2008	UPC – failure to provide evidence of Professional Indemnity Insurance; failure to respond to correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
18 October 2006	UPC: failing to provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	1 year suspension
28 September 2006	UPC: failure to provide a written contract to clients, failure to supervise staff and acting in a conflict of interest situation	Erasure
2 May 2008	UPC – failing to hold professional indemnity insurance and failing to respond to correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
12 June 2007	UPC – failing to have professional indemnity insurance in place, failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	£1000 penalty order
02 May 2008	UPC – failing to deal with a client complaint and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
13 March 2007	UPC: failing to deal with correspondence from both client and the Board	£1500 penalty order
28 February 2007	UPC: failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	£1000 penalty order
21 February 2007	UPC: failing to hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance	£750 penalty order
17 January 2008	UPC - Failure to manage work professionally and with regard to the interests of client	Reprimand
11-December 2007	UPC – Misuse of the affix RIBA; making misleading representations to client; failing to preserve the security of clients funds and failing to ensure personal and professional finances were managed prudently	Reprimand
18 June 2008	Criminal Conviction	No order
25 June 2007	SPI - failing to perform his work with due skill, care and diligence, and certifying work for a contractor when he should not have done so.	Reprimand
12 June 2007	UPC – failing to provide evidence of compliance with the insurance requirement and failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
24 January 2007	UPC: failing to deal with correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
19 January 2006	UPC: failure to produce evidence of professional indemnity insurance	£1,000 penalty order
19 January 2006	UPC: failure to deal with correspondence from the Board	Reprimand
24 November 2005	Criminal conviction relating to practise as an architect	No penalty
05 October 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Reprimand
12 July 2005	UPC: failure to pay a judgment debt	Reprimand & £500 penalty order
28-Jun-05	SPI: failure to administer contract correctly	Reprimand
14-Jun-05	UPC: failing to deal with complaints from a client properly, holding herself out as an architect when unregistered	£600 penalty order
15 March 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	£1,000 penalty order
15 March 2005	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	£1,250 penalty order
03 March 2005	Criminal Conviction	18 month suspension
24-Aug-04	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing	No Penalty
13 July 2004	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing and causing undue delays	Reprimand
09-December03	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing	Reprimand
16 October 2003	UPC: Failure to manage finances and deal with complaints	9 month suspensions
01 October 2003	UPC: Not agreeing terms of contract in writing	£1,500 penalty order
14 July 2003	UPC: not having adequate insurance	£1,000 penalty order
11 March 2003	SPI: falling below acceptable standards for an architect	Erasure
04 March 2003	UPC & SPI: lack of due care, skill & diligence	£2,000 penalty order
04 February 2003	UPC: practising without insurance	£1,000 penalty & 1 year suspension
15-January03	UPC & SPI: Misleading clients, practising without insurance & failure to deal with complaints	Erasure
29 October 2002	UPC & SPI: Inaccurate drawings, failure to submit plans, to supervise staff and provide a written contract	9 month suspension
11 Septemer 2002	UPC: Mishandling of client monies and failure to deal with complaints	Reprimand & £500 penalty
16 May 2002	UPC & DC: misleading planning authority & misappropriation of funds	2 year suspension
27 February 2002	UPC & SPI: Failure to administer contract	6 month suspension
26 Septemer 2001	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing	Reprimand
02 May 2001	UPC: Misleading a client in a planning application	2 year suspension
02 May 2001	UPC: Failure to manage business properly, undue delay and dealing with complaints inappropriately	2 year suspension
02 May 2001	UPC: practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	£250 penalty
02 May 2001	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing	No penalty order
24 January 2001	UPC: inappropriate termination of agreement	Reprimand
04 January 2001	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing	Reprimand
06 Septemer 2000	UPC: Failing to hand over documents	Reprimand
27 July 2000	UPC: failure to provide terms of engagement in writing and failure to deal with planning application	£800 penalty followed by Erasre for non-payment
14 March 2000	UPC: Failure to account for client monies	£500 penalty
16 February 2000	UPC: Flawed tendering process	2 year suspension
08 December 1999	UPC: Practising without professional indemnity insurance in place	Reprimand
16 November 1999	UPC: Failure to pay a judgment debt	4 month suspension
20 May 1999	UPC: failure to deal with clients money properly	Reprimand
20 April 1999	Criminal convictions for forgery and fraud	Erasure
19 December 1997	UPC: Contractual, tendering and inspection errors	Erasure