Welcome to the September eBulletin.

This is my first message as Chair of ARB although I have served as a member of the Board for over seven years. I look forward to bringing my experience of the organisation in providing consistent leadership following the departure of Beatrice Fraenkel the former Chair, who was well respected by the Board and staff team.

As a Board we are fully committed to delivering on our statutory remit of regulating the profession in the public interest. The Board Members who joined us earlier this year have already made a significant contribution to the Board’s work, bringing fresh perspectives and experience which has informed our discussions and decision-making.

At the September Board Meeting, we agreed the registration and other fees for 2017. The fees are based on the principle of ‘user pays’ and whilst the Register has grown, we have been able to maintain the retention fee for 2017 at £107 for the third year running. This is in part due to our continued investment in IT to support the effective delivery of our services as well as the impressive efficiency of the staff team. Setting the fees is inextricably linked to the work plan and budget for the year ahead and so, at the recent meeting, we were also able to agree the 2017 business plan and budget. Additionally, as part of the planning process we revisited and refreshed ARB’s Statement of Priorities for 2017 to 2020. This document sets out the organisation’s statutory functions and the priorities and activities it wishes to achieve over the time span.

The September Board Meeting was also an opportunity to hear updates on ARB’s recent work including in the area of communications, where significant progress has been made particularly in the area of stakeholder relationships. In relation to the Periodic Review covering the regulation of architects, the Registrar repeated the update she had given at the July Board Meeting. She informed the Board that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) intends to publish the final report from the Review in the autumn, following a review of whether or not the referendum result impacts on it. We will keep you informed of any developments in this area.

Finally, I would like to say how grateful I am to my Board colleagues and all those who work for ARB for their support as I commence my tenure as Chair. As an organisation we benefit from a highly professional team who are deeply committed to our regulatory role.

Please do take a few moments to read some of the articles in this eBulletin which will give you a flavour of our current work.