Board Committees
Introduction
The Board is assisted by a number of committees that carry out work on its behalf. By using the links below, you can find out who sits on these committees and what their terms of reference are.
Professional Conduct Committee
The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) is a committee that is constituted in its own right under Schedule 1, Part II of the Architects Act. The PCC is chaired by a solicitor nominated by the Law Society, and hears cases where unacceptable professional conduct or serious professional incompetence is alleged against the standards in the Code of Conduct. When sitting, it is usual for three members to form the Committee - one architect, one lay member and one Law Society nominated member. The Committee can impose a number of disciplinary sanctions, depending on the seriousness of the case. PCC hearings are held in public.
It can:
- issue a reprimand (a warning)
- impose a fine
- suspend an architect from the Register for a specified period of time
- order that an architect’s name be removed from the Register
The PCC can also make disciplinary orders following a criminal conviction for an offence which has material relevance to the architect's fitness to practise, or it can acquit the architect if there is no case to answer.
The PCC’s membership is composed of:
- four architect members of the Board, including at least one whose address in the Register is in Scotland , or (if there is no architect member who is willing to act) three architect members and one architect whose address in the Register is in Scotland ;
- three lay members of the Board; and
- three solicitors nominated by the President of the Law Society.
- six individuals appointed by the Board, including three architects, at least one of whom must have an address in Scotland .
Current members of the PCC are:
- Alexandra Marks
- Paul Housego
- Julian Weinberg
- Donal Hutchison
- Stephen Neale
- James Cuthbertson
- Judy Carr
- Linda Read
- Barbara Saunders
- Peter Coe
- Hans Eisner
- Alan Jago
- Myra Kinghorn
- Andrew Mortimer
- Richard Parnaby
- Susan Ware
The Committee’s terms of reference are as set out in the PCC and Investigations Rules.
Investigations Oversight Committee
Purpose
The Investigations Oversight Committee (the IOC) is responsible for:
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keeping under review the processes by which allegations of unacceptable professional conduct and serious professional incompetence against architects are investigated under sections 14(1) and (2) of the Architects Act 1997 (the Act); and
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assisting the Board in discharging its responsibilities under the Act.
Membership
Nabila Zulfiqar (Chair)
Arun Singh
Alex Wright
Members of the Oversight Committee are appointed by the Board and shall consist of no fewer than three members, one of whom shall be an architect and two of whom shall be appointed members. One of the appointed members shall be Chair of the Oversight Committee.
The Oversight Committee was established on 1 January 2013 and has not yet met.
The Committee's terms of reference are set out in the PCC and Investigations Rules.
Prescription Committee
The Prescription Committee’s key role is to oversee the operation of the procedures for Prescription of Qualifications. It also considers and develops policies relating to the prescription of qualifications. In addition, the Committee has a responsibility to oversee matters relating to ARB’s Prescribed Examinations, Part 3 Oral and the Competency Standards Group.
Membership should consist of no fewer than three appointed and two architect members of ARB’s Board. The Committee has discretion to extend its membership to include non-Board members.
Current members of the Committee are:
- Professor Alan Jago
- John Assael
- Peter Coe
- Richard Parnaby
- Susan Ware
- Neil Watts
- Vacancy for Prescription Committee Independent Adviser
Terms of Reference and Membership of the ARB Prescription Committee
Effective from 22 November 2012
The membership should consist of the following:
- At least four members drawn from the ARB Board; plus
- A further appointed member drawn from the ARB Board to act as Chair; plus
- A member of the Committee’s Pool of Independent Advisers (who will be an ex-officio member of the Committee)
The Chair of the Committee has the ability to reserve the right to add further Independent Advisers to the membership as and when the Committee's workload requires it or where the quorum cannot be achieved for any given item at one of the Committee's meetings. This shoudl be at the discretion of the Chair of the Committee but notified to the Board for information through the Committee's Minutes.
Quorum
The quorum of the Prescription Committee should not be less than half the number of members of the Committee*, one of whom must be an appointed member and one of whom must be an elected member.
Where the Chair of the Committee has co-opted one of the Committee's Independent Advisers on to the Committee for the relevant meeting and for the purposes of considering applications for prescription, that co-opted individual shall be considered as a full member of the Committee for the relevant item/s.
*In the event where the Committee might consist of an odd number of members, the quorum should be rounded up to be more than half, i.e., if there are seven members, the quorum would need to be four members etc.
Terms of Reference
To oversee the implementation of the Procedures for Prescription and, in so far as provided in them, to perform any functions given to it, and, on behalf of the Board, to take any decision or to make any agreement required in relation to the Prescription Process up to and including paragraph 2.9 for new applications; and paragraph 6.2 up to and including 8.5 for applications to renew prescription. To oversee matters relating to the ARB's Prescribed Examinations and the Competency Standards Group.
Regulation on Authority (agreed by the ARB Board on 22 November 2012)
- The Prescription Committee is authorised to exercise any of the functions of the Board set out in the Prescription Procedures up to and including paragraph 2.9 for new applications; and paragraph 6.2 up to and including 8.5 for applications to renew prescription.
- The Chair of the Prescription Committee is authorised to act on behalf of that Committee in respect of any of its functions (whether under paragraph 1 above or otherwise) if in their opinion it is necessary to do so before the next meeting of the Committee and it is not practicable to obtain the views of members of the Committee.
- Any action taken under paragraph 2 above shall be reported as soon as practicable to members of the Committee.
Audit Committee
Purpose
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board with its oversight functions. It will review the system of internal control and management of risks, the financial reporting process and the audit process.
Membership
Myra Kinghorn (Chair)
Ruth Brennan
Ros Levenson
Andrew Mortimer
- The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall consist of no fewer than three Board members comprising: the Chair of the Committee, plus at least one elected member and one appointed member.
- The Chair of the Committee will not be the Chair or Vice Chair of the Board. The Chair or one other member should have recent significant and relevant financial/audit experience.
- The Board may also appoint one external member to supplement the Committee’s skills base if necessary.
- A staff member shall act as secretary to the Committee.
Meetings and Procedures
- The Committee will meet at least three times a year.
- The Chair of the Audit Committee can call additional meetings at any time, giving a minimum of fourteen days’ notice.
- The quorum of the Committee shall be two. Both members in attendance must be Board members.
- Members of the Management team may attend all or part of the meetings at the request of the Committee.
- The external auditors may attend all or part of the meetings at the request of the Committee and will normally attend at least one meeting per year.
- The internal auditors will be invited to attend all meetings of the Committee.
- External auditors or internal auditors have the right to raise any issues with the Chair of the Audit Committee or request a meeting with the Committee at any time.
- The Committee shall have meetings or discussions at least once per year with the internal and external auditors without members of the Management team being present.
- Meetings of the Committee shall be minuted and submitted to the Board. Minutes will be placed in the open session of the Board, unless there are confidential matters which would necessitate the minutes being placed in the confidential session of the Board.
- The Committee should review, and where necessary recommend to the Board, amendments to its Terms of Reference.
Roles and Functions
After consultation with management and the external auditors, the Committee will agree with the internal auditors a rolling programme of reviews, which may extend beyond a year. The Committee will ensure co-ordination between internal and external auditors and will make recommendations to the Board concerning the resourcing of that function.
The Committee will carry out its review functions on behalf of the Board, and report to the Board on the findings and progress of the implementation of agreed recommendations, where appropriate, in the following areas:
- Review the adequacy and effectiveness of ARB’s systems of internal control, including its arrangements for risk management, fraud detection and corporate governance processes including securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness (value for money).
- Review and advise on the statements to be included in the annual report concerning internal controls and risk management, and where appropriate make recommendations to the Board for approval.
- Advise the Board on: the consistency of, or any changes to, the accounting policies and practices; compliance with the Government‘s reporting requirements and appropriate accounting standards; any issues arising from its review of the Statement of Internal Control and major matters of judgment relating to the Annual Financial Statements.
- Review the risks relating to the ARB’s reserves policy on a biennial basis and recommend to the Board any changes to the policy.
External Audit
- Advise and make recommendations to the Board on the appointment, re-appointment, resignation and dismissal of external auditors.
- Determine the level of remuneration of the external auditors within the budget set by the Board.
- Review with the external auditors the scope and nature of the annual external audit.
- Review the independence, effectiveness and performance of the external auditors.
- Review the findings of the annual audit and report to the Board on the process and outcomes.
- Monitor, within an agreed timescale, the implementation of the agreed audit-based recommendations.
Internal Auditors
The Committee will:
- Make decisions in relation to the appointment, re-appointment, resignation and dismissal of internal auditors.
- Determine the remuneration of the internal auditors within the budget set by the Board.
- Review and agree with the internal auditors the scope and nature of the annual internal audit work plan.
- Review the independence, effectiveness and performance of the internal auditors in the context of ARB’s overall risk management system.
- Review the findings of the internal audit work and report annually to the Board on the process and outcomes.
- Monitor, within an agreed timescale, the implementation of the agreed audit recommendations.
Reporting
- The Committee will submit an annual report to the Board on its work.
- The Committee’s minutes will be submitted to the Board for noting.
Remuneration Committee
Purpose
The purpose of the Committee is to ensure that the remuneration and reward package offered to all staff, Board members and advisers is reviewed and amended appropriately.
Membership
Beatrice Fraenkel (Chair)
Alan Jago
Susan Ware
Duncan Brown (Committee Adviser)
- The Committee shall be appointed by the Board on an annual basis and shall consist of no fewer than three members.
- The Chair of the Committee will be the Chair of the Board.
- The remaining members will be appointed by the Board and will consist of at least one elected member and one appointed member.
- The quorum of the Committee shall be two members.
- The Committee will meet at least annually or as necessary. Additional meetings can be called by the Committee Chair at any time, giving 14 days’ notice.
- Meetings of the Committee shall be minuted and submitted to the Board. Minutes will be placed in the open session of the Board, unless confidential matters were discussed which would necessitate the minutes being placed in the confidential session of the Board.
- The Registrar shall attend meetings, but will not be in attendance whilst discussion takes place relating to his/her own remuneration and reward package.
- At the request of the Committee, members of the Executive shall attend meetings.
- At the request of the Committee, external advisers shall attend meetings.
Duties
- To determine the principles and policies governing the pay and reward of ARB’s staff.
- To consider and agree changes to those principles and policies, as appropriate.
- To determine the appropriate means of relating performance and reward.
- To receive an annual report on how the policies governing pay and reward are being adhered to.
- To review the performance of advisers retained to advise the Board on benefit provisions.
- To receive and consider evidence of movements in the external pay and reward market affecting the recruitment and retention of ARB’s staff, which may include an external review of the pay and reward package offered.
- To consider and determine the pay and reward package of the Registrar/Chief Executive.
- To consider and determine the pay and reward package of the Deputy Registrar.
- To consider and agree the annual cost of living increase awarded to staff.
- To review and recommend to the Board annually the remuneration of Board members, panel members and advisers, including travel and subsistence payments.
- To provide an annual Remuneration Report to the Board.
- The Committee shall undertake any other matters as requested by the Board from time to time.
Reporting
The Committee will submit an annual report to the Board on its work.