Contents

- Composition of the Board

- Regulations made by ARCUK

- 2 Questions : How does the Architects Registration Board answer inquiries?

- The wider remit : an observation on the claim of former Board chairman Humphrey Lloyd that "Arb only fulfils its statutory role, no more".

- 2006 election results : The profession votes for reform.

- A new Registrar.  On 17 March 2006 the resignation of Robin Vaughan, Chief Executive and Registrar was announced.  AARUK considers the possibilities for his replacement.

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Appointment of the Registrar

The announcement of the resignation of the former Registrar and Chief Executive on 17 March 2006 was clearly no sudden decision.  

It is encouraging that the appointment of Ms Alison Carr was made only after consulting a representative of the newly elected members of the Board, not only because the appointment of a the Registrar by s.2 of the Architects Act is the duty of the Board, but also because it is the Board including its elected members that Ms Carr serves.

It is the duty of the Board to "decide the period for which, and the terms on which, the Registrar is appointed."  It is therefore disappointing that the Board does not appear to have considered those terms before offering an appointment bearing in mind the expectation of the Government when the new constitution of the Board was devised.

Inquirers and policy-makers may well wish to consider the wide scope that was given to the Board.  Under the heading "Registrar" on page 3 of Baroness Denton's Consultation Paper, it was proposed as long ago as 1994 that "the Registrar would be a named appointee of the Board which would decide whether the Registrar should be an employee or a contractor.  This is intended to ensure that the Registrar is identifiable and accountable, but to allow scope for different methods of appointment".  It appears that no alternative to a salaried employee of the Board was considered.

AARUK wishes Alison Carr well in her appointment.

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