27 10 310 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/4955637d6c938807250190160c62f70f.pdf f5ab61498263d237be9ee736cc3788c7 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/d17572da4bcc2c5fa2c17f38cab4efba.pdf 144ff3262e704c9b4f40f1e4888812af Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. </span></p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</span></li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Interim Proposals Subject The topic of the resource Six bullet points for an 'effective Public Design Service' Description An account of the resource Interim Proposals To achieve an effective Public Design Service the NAM Public Design Group proposes local authority design and build teams which are area based and which will be accountable to users and tenants. We suggest the following interim proposals which are feasible now and which create the potential for further change : : LOCAL AREA CONTROL OVER RESOURCES. x DESIGN TEAMS SHOULD BE AREA BASED INSTEAD OF FUNCTION BASED. . AREA DESIGN TEAMS SHOULD BE MULTIDISCIPLINARY. = JOB ARCHITECTS SHOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE. . ABOLISH POSTS BETWEEN TEAM LEADER AND CHIEF ARCHITECT. Public Design Group New Architecture 9 Poland Street London W 1 Movement * ESTABLISH JOINT WORKING GROUPS WITH DIRECT LABOUR ORGANISATIONS. For further information contact : Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource PDS Group Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/e61d45ec6196158c51a4458ec08dbf16.pdf de66bc96d1d88057c31f371333b80261 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Harrogate Founding Congress Subject The topic of the resource The Harrogate Congress was the founding of NAM. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Various Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 21-23 November 1975 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Press Release Subject The topic of the resource Press Release for 1st NAM Congress with proposals for Profession, Practice and Education. (4 sides) Description An account of the resource hit>LEg,Meuse oT The N.A.M. Congress was heid at the Royal Baths Conference Centre, Harrogate, from 21st/23rd November, 1975. It was chaired by Mr, Peter Whelan and Miss Nikki Hay, both freelance writers and non-architects. The congress was initiated and organised by the Architects Revolutionary Council (1.R.C.) which handled all the advance publicityand accomrodatiion, but emphasised that their function was one of organisation only. The congress having begun, A.R.G. became fust one viewpoint anong many. The conference particiuants repre ed wide spectrum of the architectural profession,: incir ; laried architects, principals, technicians, students, teachers, es well as non architects. The coneress was based on the nremis that therc exists a rapidly growing dissatisfaction with the arc itectural profession. This premise was borne out by the congres 's misgivings about Min. ee si 2 - Alun ae aa 2 7 1 7 The many issues debated included What eifect Jo centralisa nh anu bureaucracy have on architects in Local government : 4 SelfManagenent What woud be the implications orofits were chared by principals private vee 5 Redundancie What will be tne effect of in architecture * Could if both responsibility and and assistants alike in ths growing aumber of redundancies alternative forms of practising & nionisation architecture ? this spur on ane movenent towards what shouic the cpproach of architects be to the Unions which already exist ? i Hducation Rees Keenst 2% suail sector of ? Should architect- jLic, and if so, how Do architects need their own union ? If so, in what way would the function of vnat union differ from the R.I.B.A.? If not, Who should control accessibility to and certification of architectural education ° What sort of education should that be °? @ "7TEMP« 25rd November, 1975 The conpress:. decided on. the following course of action for the immediate future: ‘ The members of the congress would begin setting up discussion groups in their own ereas to debate relevant issues. These groups would include all those involved in the built environment, designers and users. A second congress would be held in about three months' time. Volunteers from this congress have agreed to organise this and to act as liaison and contacts until the next congress only, after which a new liaison group would take over, thus hopefully avoiding the creation of a bureaucracy. The congress agreed to pool its experience of working for change, including failures as well as successes, and to build up a body of written work based on this experience, that could be circulated for disucssion before the second congress. Contact address: 10 Perey Sirest, Loudon W 4 PROPOSALS ON EDUCATION The 2 'A' level entry requirement to architecture schools is not a worthwhile criteria for selecting students, and that the special entry facility should be used more fully. School leavers should be encouraged to spend a year out between school and college, and that colleges should offer deferred places to allow this to happen. Greater opportunities should exist. for mature students and special courses established for mature technicians, That college prospectii should include a student written section. That all schools .of architecture should have student societies with funds and self-government. nes Encourage all schools to fully participate in the Schools of Architecture Council. Tx Ensure staff and student representation on college academic and governing bodies. 8. Encourage staff and student exchanges nationally and internationally. 9. Students transfering colleges should need only the consent of the new college. 10. Expendpart-timecoursesandensuretheiradequaterepresentationonallbodies affecting then. 11. Gain student representation on a reformed ARCUK Board of Education. 12. Establish responsibilities between local schools and practices. Establish links between schools and the community. 14. Allow teaching staff time and resources to develop their own courses, 1D Encourage employment of short term staff, and discontinue the practice of academic appointments for life. 46, Inadequate staff should be dismissable at the instigation of staff and students, serie Encourage the development of self motivated courses and projects as these give greater educational benefits. 18, Course structuring should not be so rigid as to forbid random/spontaneous activities on occasions. 19. Traditional exams are an inadequate guide to the educational development of students and should be replaced by sensible forms of continuous, assessment. 20. Part I should be regarded as notionally equal in all 38 schools, while main- taining individual characteristics; this would allow transfer between all colleges at this stage. 2A. Part II courses should include students from other courses though the final . qualifications would be different in name. 226 Part III, as in the EEC, should be taken while at college. 23. The RIBA "Visiting Board" system, to be replaced by an ARCUK body that has 13+ equal public, studént, staff and practitioners representation, 26 a 4. Ie Cn 3e PRACELCH /ROPOSALS PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE PROFESSION By adopting the following Principles environment." "For the benefit of the public, environmental practitioners, practices and education are to maximize their potential to create a socially responsible The new movement can truly claim that its interests lie not with the finanoial client but with the public. Instead of starting from a charter that beiins,| with "the advancement of architecture", we start from a social commitment to the public. While in the past a professional has been able to exist by being competent and honest, we place his usefulness to society Natuaally, his usefulness will also rely on him being competent and honest. That ARCUK be reformed by government so as to ensure an adequate accountability to the public. That architectural education is controlled by a reformed ARCUK Board of Education equally representative of the public, academics, That the Scale of Fees charged by architects be controlled by the government. as the future deciding factor. practitioners and students. To relate architects directly to clients and users. Draw up 2 list of professionals willing to do voluntary work. That all offices introduce worker participation in the management, to include all staff. To instigate situations where architects have responsibilities to specific communities, either through adopting local government offices or by setting up a new situation, Town Planning and Building Regulations be revised to wake them more applicable to the principles of serving the public without waste of resources etc. To speak out on all controls that deprive the environment of a humane and responsible development: i.e. cost yard-sticks, individual building programmes, large scale developments, property speculation. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Press Release Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 22.11.75 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/4f44d6c8f639a5b5732aed0039f61420.pdf 2bd92f381891de8ed2e572aa5f30313f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alternative Practice Description An account of the resource This investigated other forms of organisation of architects' offices based around the concept of cooperative working and shared equity. Several members went on to establish their own practices adopting such models. A pre-eminent example was Support Community Building Design, which emerged from a small group of graduates from the Architectural Association which went on to create a cooperative practice focused on potential client groups in society which traditionally were not the beneficiaries of the architectural profession which, we would have said, was essentially the handmaiden of capital. These groups eventually included local authority tenants, women's groups including refuges, ‘black’ i.e. racially self-defined groups. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Progress Report Subject The topic of the resource Report prepared for the 2nd NAM Congress, Blackpool 11pp Description An account of the resource NAM � PRrvnTC WORKING CROUP The Net,' Architecture movement, North London Group November 1076 PROGRESS REPORT Prepared for the New Architecture movement Conference, 81 ackpool , November 26-28, 1976. 9 ADDENOUtm: Draft Propo'el for a more Representative, Lay—Control I ed ARCUK 10 Part One OUR POINT Research, analY9i9, debate and nctfnn towards moro democratic, effective end prcountahle oractire of architpcturp hag hardly hpqun. It i q our feel inn it 'dill not occur outside the context of gneci f f c campafnnq that en he lat'nrhod hy in the very near future. Such cemneinng nenerAte nuhlfcity and create the atmosnhere of credibility and action that attract to us the hum*n and material resources needed to carry out the task and will remove it from tho realm of idle groculation. We in the "Private Practice working Croup" have begun to enpronch our subject from that stand— noint. The privpte sector account9 for over half of the rrof999ion, and uri9hino won't make it on moreover, itå influence ig even greater than f ts "numerical 'trenotht' miQht sugpegt. Private practice hrs, by and large, orovided the model -——excess hierarchy and bureaucracy, elitism, over—central— i sat ion, nrofit-oriented accountino, lack of accountability, etc. ———for nuh— lic nrortire. Its influence on the structure of the orofeggion---its ethos, code- 2nd regulation-, control of nrofesgional even more nrofound, 99 is its influence unon architectural education. We are hopeful, therefore, that our analysis and proposals may be, at least in broad outline, relevant as well to the public practice of architecture. 'L'e do not believe, then, that the solution to the problems of orivate prac— t ice, from the point of viet,f either of the frustrated, exoloited and alien— *ted workers Within it or of the communities that suffer from its products, i 9 ten! ace it nublic practice we now know it. Vhile progressive chenoe in nublic practice may he both necessary end nosgible, we don't gee why chanoeg in private practice cannot go on concurrently. we believe that the shortest and suregt route from private practice as it now ig to a oract ice of •rchitecture Which is democratically—structured and directly account— able to the communitv i 9 the direct one. t.'e ere by now all familiar with the "crisis in architecture" end how it effects both the ','orkere in the orofe99ion and the communities who must use its nroducts. Without ignoring the underlying nolitical and economic frame— work of Which architecture is merely a minor part, we believe that the ta'av -echitecttJte is not,' rrpctised is prime cause of the trouble. for the •rchitecturel worker, private practice today means: lack of joh 90curitv end declininq real income; soeed-un and cuttinn of cornerr; excesqive hierarchy end bureaucracv; arbitrary and excessive division of labour; aliena- t ion of the nrchitoct at the drawino board from t" client, the uner and the product; count-or-productive competition betw on workers nnd division into etatug groups; excessive pay differentiale; undemocretic dociefon-makino structures; manaoement secrecy; etc. From tho noint of view of the community, the lack of accountehility 19 the key problem. Thi' 19 not unrelated to the effect9 of the profit orientation of nrivate practice: a lack of concern for the community which heg reached ncnndaloug proportione in cages like Centropoint, Summerland, end Poulson: end the generally poor quality of work regultinq from an inability effectively to mobilige the abilitieg end committment of architectural workers, an ineffective structure of responsibility, and the alienation of tho architectural worker from the product end the ugor. Part Two or ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE N.D. m. solution to the "cri9i9 in architecture" should be b*99d on the twin cornerstone's of workers' control (or "self-menanqment t') of architec tural practice end evqtem of direct eccountabflity to the local community which uses what i 9 produced. While we ought to make very clear our goals and criteria for developing a new model of architectural practice, thig model should not be too "utopian" or completely dooendent upon a prior totransformation of the political, economic and social structure of soci ety. We must, however, make clear What changes are needed in the existing context in Which architecture is practiced in order for any siqnificant prooress to be mede. We believe these changes include: 1. effective traHe union orqanigetion of architectural and allied workerq, 7. noeitive 9teoq towards restructurino of the entire industrv into 9 decentralisgH public degion (and eventually construction) service, and 3. orogresg towards fully-public control over the allocation of resources and investment. The criteria for develooino a new model of architectural practice follow from our analysis of the present problem. While these remain to he developed in detail, we can at least say that oractice ought to be democratic rather then puthoritaripn, itarian rather than elitist, decentrali99H rather than hier?rchicel , connerative rather comoefitive, efficient rather than I,tastpful, uqe-oriented rather than orofit-orientod, productive rather than bureucratic, sharino of various tasks reolacinp esceesively narrow d' vision lahour, etc. 'dork inc from such criteria, a credible model ran he develooed. '"e 999Ume it would call for basically small (but interdeoendent), locally—based gena non-profit basis. This need not rule or moro specialiged practiceq, perhapg non—imperialiqt export, Btr. '"e believe n model , the fol lowinn nreag urnent)y need 99,19tgm engurinn prcountahflftv to the user communftv, and method of oatronane (allocation of commissions) and definition of "congti tuency, size decision-makinq structure S. "manpower" allocation and enterinr end leavinp of staff, in relation both to functioninq of practice and individual career structure, 6. approach to the *i location of managerial, techriC91, clerical and menial tasks, 7 "scone" of the practice, includino it9 relation to related disciolines and to the construction 9ide of the industry, "inteqrity" of tho practice: its relation to other practices, degree and tyneg of specialisation. ond trance, relations nancing, legal structure, educational role, and IS. research role. "'e are convinced that a thorough study of the above-mentioned aspects, as well as a detailed evaluation of the isolated attempts Which have been made to set up "model" nractices, u'ill make very clear the need for general public design (and maybe construction) service as 9 context outside of which significant and extensive reform of orivate practice alono the 1 ineq we pro— oose be inconceivable. We are not yet in a position to oropoge What such a public design service (as a framework for small, locally-based col— lective rrpcticeg) WOU1d be. rts relation to (l)construction, planning end development control, (3) building control, (a) orofessional education, (S) research and development, (f) settino of "standards," (7) liability and insurance, (8) trade union organisation, and (9) nrofessional institutions •11 need to be carefully congidered. need to eddreqs as well thn cuegtionq of decent r?) i sat ion, control, r•eqources el location, h'ork location, end t s e relation in hoth the short and Iono term of guch a ouhlic ervice the orivate sector (i.e. , both nrivate oracticeq 2nd nrivate client'). thorouoh critical evaluation of National Health Service exrerience over the 1 Ast thirty years would be useful ouide In develooinq our nroposels. 0 Sit of research into the various architectural (and construction) sarvf cog are provided in some socialist countring %'0U1d orobably 9180 provtdo some "90fu1 19990n9. The next 9teo uyould be to outline 0099ib1e roads towards reali9inq tho new model .of architectural practice. We would obviously have to consider not only private practice 99 tho 9tartinq point but local authority and other oublic orectice 99 well. 'de should he oriented towardg both 9hort-term and lonq-term strateoieg. Any campeiong N. A.m. mipht launch or guooort renardfnn unioni92tion, the use of public patronage, ARCUK and then code of conduct" should take such 9trateqy into account. Some people in N. A.m. have urged that providing guidelines for architects wighino to convert a private practice into a gel f-managed "co-op" (or estab ligh a new practice along those lines) within the present totally capital int context should be orioritv of the "private practice workino oroup." While we don't u'Rnt to di9couraqe such pioneerinp efforts from beino made and ree thet there ig much to be gained by 9tudyino, evaluating and publici9ing their exoerience, we do feel that the main road to worker—controlled, account— able oracticeg lieg not through these "one-off" efforts but through the de velormpnt of ta'orkere' power (thus, unionisation), 9 public design service as a fr9mework, and far—reaching political changes. Dart Three ACTION camPAIGNS WHICH N.A.m. couto LAUNCH There ere three camnaions which we believe N. A.m. should launch as soon nossihle for concrete action in support of these proposals: trade union orqanisation of all architectural and allied workers, especi— 311 y in the almost totally unorqanised private sector, reform of the Architects Registration Acts (and ARCUK) in several key ways, end an attack uoon oublic patronaoe of practices which do not meet our critria. 0t the game time we should continue research, education end publ icity work on the subject of architectural oractice. As part of this, 99 well as in suoport of the three above-mentioned campaigns, we ask for your assistance in oromotino the "Interior Perspective" project Which is being launched at this conference. '-de believe also thet as part of its campaiqn for pccountabilitv, N. n. m. should try to develoo in collaboration with community action groups, tenants associations, trades councils, etc. joint campaion for tenant-control of housinm The housing aqsociation front may be particularly amenable to pro— �89 thi9 has been on area of frequent legislative concern and thn precpdent of tnnant-controllod housinq aggociationg already exists. 09 thig cnmpaiqn would depl nrimarily ta'ith the broader problem of accountability, the "private practice working group" hag not taken it on but hag concentrated its efforts on proposals for it9 three main campaigns. It should be noted, however, that housinq association, When doing its own architectural work "in house," provides an exist inq non-profit leoal form of orcani9ation which can be taken 99 en alternative to partngrships, companies, and local authorities. That scope for progrogs oxiot9 here hae been demonstrated by the Solon Housing Association, a comparatively democratic architectural or*ctice now being combined with tenant-controlled management. A campaign could at some point be launched to expand this little crack in the capitnl19t structure of the private sector, through publicity, lobbyinq for reform of housino association legislation and oregsure on thn government to channel it9 financial guroort, essential to housinp eggociations, into tenant-run hougino 9990ciation9 emnloyinq worker-controlled in-hougo or consultant architectural practices. In any event, ell democratically—organised, popularbased client qrouos are much more likely to patronise worker-run practices then ere authoritarian "establishment" clients and are, thug, deserving of our support and encouragement. 1. Ornanisation of Architectural and Allied Workers The "Private Prectire Workinrp Groun" is convinced that the democrati9Ation of prartice, as well thn development of accountability to users, can only occur through the act inns of architectural workers, who make uo nearly 904 of the "profession. Real control will never, to any significant extent, be handed over voluntarily by the hogseg. 'dorkerg' control requires workers' power, and Dower comes through solidaritv. Solidarity requires organigation. In our context, that can only mean trade unionism. Pt the oregent time, the 20,000 architectural workerq in the private sector ere almost comoletely unorganised. "Je get the highest priority, therefore, on the oreanisetion o' unorpanised architecture) ',torkers into qtrnnn, democr•tic 3nd hroed-mindod t rede union and the initiation thrownh that medium of milit9nt "shoo-floor" nnd "industry level" action for t,torkerg t control. This may nrovp to be a necessary orereouisite to effectively pur— suing the other two campeigns we ere oroposinr,. The subject of organisation has been dealt with in the Unionisation Working Croup's draft reoort orepared for this conference. 2. Reform of the Architects Reqi9tration Acts While there 19 a tendency to goe the Architects Reqi8tration Actg ag reac— tionary elitist and protectionist legislation, or at best meroly irrelevant, is our opinion that It 19 a fertile field for immediate N. A.m. action. The Architects Registration Acts established, however ineffectively, the principle of popular, lay control over the entire profession (even if it is by way of a pretty imperfect parliamentary system). Thi B principle could be exploited now in the context of great public disillusionment with the performance of the profession, following Centrepoint, Summerland, Poulgon and general dissatisfaction with the environment created (or destroyed) in the last 25 years. A campaign to reform the Architects Registration Acts, which form an interface between the public and the profession, will provide 09 99 well with an opportunity to spread our megsaoe and build solid base beyond the confines of the orofB9Bion itgelf and will coincide with effortq beinr; made for 1 ay control and accountability in other professions. The nrchitpctg Reti9tration Actg of 1931 and 193B restrict the use of the title, "architect," to those whose name rppears on the Register of Architerfs mefnfained hy the nrchitectg Reoiqtration Council of the United Kingdom (n o.C'-'V) %'hich established by the act. Entry to the Register ig now solely by academic exemination under the control of PRCUK'9 Education and Admissions committees. The Acts, unfortunately, rather than creatinn a "consumers' wetch— dog," put control of AECUK and of enforcement of tho Acts in the hands of erchitectural manaqemm t. Since its inceotion, ARCUK has by 2nd laroe deleoated ell its resnonsibilitåes for architectural education to the R IBP. The Architects Reoi9tration Acts thus established by statute a form of "man— power plannino" for the profession. In practice this has meant a loqally— sanctioned division of architectural workers into two classes, increasingly denyinn entry into the "orofesgion oroper" to peoole of workinn-clasg background or Who mipht otherwise tend to upset architectural management's neat little applecart. The increasing insistence on four or five yearg of full—time academic architectural education aims also to remove from the architectural employer his responsibility for on-the-job training and continuing education and to delay the architect's entry into the profession and into oroductive and remunerative work. Perhaos by that time the younn architect's awareness and expectations may be trimmed down to sixe and obl ined to take into account a family and a mortoape. The effects of this approach to the traininr of architects are, alas, for ell to see. ORCUK has also promulgated a Code of Conduct, which, in theory, must be fol- 1 owed by architects in order to remain on the Reoister. This code i 9 identical to thet of the employers' organigation and makes mandatory the use of the R IBP Conditionq of tnoeqement. The only parts of the Code, other AfiCUK regul t ions and provisions of the Architects Registration Acto which seem to be enforced urith any degree of seriousness at all are those Which aim to pro— tect the privileged position of architectural employers and keen competition among them operating in the interests of architectural employers ag a group. The Code does, however, clearly establish the principle of control "in the public interest" by ARCtJK over: I. what forms of practice are permitted among architects, 2. how architects may oet work, 3. hot.' erchitect9 may relate to one another and to their other employees, in business and orofeosional terms, and the architect' 9 resoons bility to "those Who may be expected to use or enjoy the product of his work" (which may be taken to mean both thoge who build buildinos and those who inhabit buildings). We believe that the main reason that ARCtJK has not exercised effective control over the profession in the nuhlic interest lieg in its control by ar— chitectural management. Of the 66 members of ARCUK, 56 (or 85<) are P. IBA members. There ere four non-RIBA architects and six "laymen" (04). Who are the six Four are nominees of the Councils of chartered institutions in related building orofessions and the remaining two represent employers in the building industry. Of the 60 architect members of ARCUK we have been able to identify the occunational status of 57 of them. (The other three ere, in any event, 911 R IBA members.) Of these 57, no less than 31 are partners in private oractice end two more are chief architecte in Biq Business. Thus, 58 4 ere 509999 in the private sector. Eight are chief architect9 or deputy chief architects in the public sector and three are professors or heads of schools of architecture. Thug, 44 of the 57 (or 77'.) are architectural menegement, ell RI BD.. Of the galaried architects, eight are in the public sector and only four in private practice. Some of those are presumably of "associate" status. So architectural workers, 'Jho make up at leagt of registered architects, have *round of the architects' representation on ARCUK. Yet oartners in nrivate nractice, who amount to about 15"' of registered archi— tects, have of the architectural representation on ARCL'K. We oropose that tho Prchitectural Reqistration Acts he amended to establish lay control over the profession, which will make a beoinninq towards account— ability. gy "lay control" we mean a lay majoritv on ARCUK, and a lay majority rerresentative of the general public es a whole, the real "consumers" of archi— tecture. The minority of architect members must also be more renresentative Of the nrofesqion. To encourqqe this, we nropose •n end to the nomination of architectural reoresentativeg hy the PI gn Council and similar bodi99, substituting direct elections within eech of the different interest orouD9 in the profeseion, with each group's representation baged on ite numerical 9trenoth In the profession. Pregumably, the orouoo would he, employers of, three or more peoole, other self-employed architecto, salaried architectural management, and all other 981aried or unemployed architectq: the architectural workers. We have already developed one 0099ih1e proposal for a more reoregentative and lay—controlled A9Ct!K. This nonearg in detail in the nppendix. In addition to rgform of PP.CIJK, we feel that N. n. m . should develop a reason*blv credible pronogal for chanqinn the restriction on the toge of the title, "erchitect," to rtJ1p out its use by architectural businessmen and bureau— crafs t,'ho have long 9ince ceased to desion buildinnq, prenare plans, and gunervi99 construction, as the word architect 19 commonly understood. They ghould oerhan9 be allowed to use titles like "ex-architect" or "erchitecturel executive." While such a proposal is unlikely to pet far enough to obl ine us to support the principle of protection of the title of architect, it might be useful for educational, organi9inp and oublicity ournogeq. r'Tther wo-k involvod Ir. d.n veloning a campafqn to reform the Architects Registration Acts would entail proposing a new, more explicit statement of purpose of the Acts and of ARCIJK'g brief, in line with N.A.". '9 goals of B democraticelly—organiged "profesgion, t' directly accountable to the community. We could outline a more epproprlete Code of Conduct or suggest a better way of ensuring accountability, democrecy, and competence. We would el so need to make proposals regarding ARCUK's control over architecturel education, ending its delegation to the RIBA and regarding entry into and removal from the Register. Ultimately, a realistic and equitable means of financing and structuring ARCUK as an effective working organisatlon In the public Interest would also need to be worked out. If N. A.m. Is to go further on the subject of the Architects Registration Acts, it Should be it can develop, mount end etJ9t9±n an effective campaion. If are not 9trong enough, the employers' oroanisetlone Will take the ornortunfty to ough throtJ0h harmless, phoney "reform." That, of course, may well haooen even tJIthotJt our Initiative. We are in a bit of a vicious circle, 29 well, since, we believe, only through such campaigns will N.A. m. be able to build up its strength. 3. Positive use of Public Patronaqe N. A.m. should immediately begin to develop criteria of industrial democracy, fair employment practices, and accountability, and system of applying these crftnrfn In the dl'penolnq of public patronage of architecture, as over of all architectural work 19, apparently, funded by the state. 'Je ought to research exactly where and to what extent the government ultimately pays the architect" foos and begin to demand that this money not bp used to support practices which do not meet these criteria. we might begin with a campaign to avoid supporting the most reactionary practices. In any case, a suitable strategy remaing to be developed. 'Je have as yet done little urork In th19 area but believe it could prove quite fruitful. It certainly COU1d begin to divert the "patronage debate" from the lese produc— tive arena of a simple conflict between the public and private sectors, where it ultimately workg mainly to the bosses' interests. 991 E r BIBL Ken Coates and Tony Tonham, The New Unioni'm: The Cage for Workers' Control, Penguin Books paperback, 1974. ESSENTIAL READING. Louis Hellman, "Democracy in Architecture," RIBA Journal, August 1973, PP 395-403. malcolm macEwen, ttWhat Can Be Done About The Architect Journal, 19 November 1975, op 1063-1084. Adam Purser, A Short History of the Architectural Profession, 1976. APPENDIX Draft Proposal for a more Representmtive. Lav-Controlled ARCUK Assuming 60 members of ARCUK, should ropregent the "profession" and the "lay" public. Of the 27 architectural representatives, 2 should be chosen by students of architecture and 3 elected by architectural technicians and assistants. The remaining 24 should be elected by registered architects. Each of the four groups of architects llsted below WOU1d be epportloned seats on ARCtJK in direct relation to its share of the total number of architects. Each group would then directly elect the required number of representatives from among its own number. The four groups are, architects who employ three or more people, other self-employed architects, salaried architectural management: chief architect9 and their deputies in public practice and private Industry and architects with positions of a comparable level in architectural research, education, etc., architectural workers: all other salaried or unemployed architoct9. The "lay" contingent would be open only to anyone not eligible to be elected to the "architectural" group. Of these 33, 14 9hOU1d be trade unionists nominated by the T.U.C. No more than half of the 14 should be union officials. At least of the 16, likewise split into officials end "lay" trade unionists, should be from the construction industry. The other 19 lay members, for 1 ack of a better system, could be nominated by the Secretary of State for the Environment, as follows: 1 . Five of these should be elected politicians, including two m.p.'g and three local councillors. Of the three locals, one should be from the GLC or a London borough, one from another urban county, end one from a rural county. Atleest one of these three should be from Scotland and another from Wales, unless ARCtJK to be devolved into ARCE, ARCS, and ARC'J. Two ghould be chosen from tenants' associations. Two should be chosen from gel f-managed houglng associations. Two should be chosen from voluntary associations. 5. Two Should be chosen from industrial and trade (employers) associatione. 5. Two Should be chosen from emong building control officers, district gur— veyors and public health officers. 7. Four should be chosen from other professions (e.g., engineering, law, medicine, planning and surveying), giving preference to those profession• not already represented. These 19 should be nominated after the other 41 have been selected end according to the f01) owino conditions. The 19 nominations must be used to redrege the balance in the total council of 60 to ensure, as as possible, that the followino groupg are not undor-ropreoonted on the Council In proportion to their percentage of the population of Britain: 1. womon, (non-management) employees, end people under the age of 45. Although all this may seem complicated, the principles are simple: lay control of the profession and e Council ag democratically-repregentative possible of the various interest groups within the profession end within society as a whole. ARCUK t 9 education and admissions committees ehould be constituted arrordfrq to agoug rr t,ncirlns. �4th N. A.M. Annual Congress 1978 Cheltenham 'Alternative Practice' Some Notes to Guide Discussion There has been no specific interest group in NAM concerned with alternative practice or 'community architecture' though there is a great deal of overlap vith the PDS group . ibvever there have been a number of developments which make it important for NAM members to clarify their position on these topics . These are The growth of groups such as Support , ARCAID , the Foinist Design and Build Group and so on . The attempts of the RIBA to get Government assistance and credibility for their ideas of 'coamunity architecture' The growing interest in co—operative models of employment in the private sector Firstly there seems little doubt that iB is feasible for a group like Support to be set up and find fee earning vork vith tenants , cotnunity; trade union and radical groups . The details of hov thig happens and the associated problems can be discussed . There are contradictions in vorking in the private sector and a debate vith the PDS group which may emerge at this congress but the demand for such a service from groups who vould shun conventional RIBA Architects must be acknowledged . By dealing with real and immediate problems it would be possible to carry out research and propoganda which vould aid the long term proposals of PDS . Meanwhile the working class and labour movement can be more effective if it has good buildings to live in and vork from Secondly there are some who advocate co—operation between NAM and the RIBA to support the Cotnunity Architecture Ibrking Group proposals for a Cocnunity Aid Fund . They are asking Reg Fresson for E 2 million . If we are -to critiscize the RIBA these critscisms should be more articulate and videiy understood . There are 'progressives' involved vith CAWG who would make overtures to NAM but independent approaches to FReeson are more likely to be in our interest . Thirdly there vas a very succesful seminar oa October 20 attended by about 30 architecst and others which discussed co—operative forms of organisimg practices . Mary Rogers vill be able co give a report on the results of this meeting It is suggested that in the morning vorkshop ve discuss general and political issues and the points of conflict and co—operation be discussed with the PDS group in the plenary . At 6p.m. in the evening ve hope that a nt.-caber of NAM members from different groups vill give short presentations vith slides about vork they have been doing Tom Woolley � Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Private Practice Working Group Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA/JM Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Nov 1976 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/bdcb1e5fdef071a1b04041ff93d18d9c.pdf 960b920713f417388b2488233e51864e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Report on Meeting of group at Burnham Overy Staithe Subject The topic of the resource Report on Meeting of group at Burnham Overy Staithe (windmill) 22-24 Feb 1980 (4 pp) Description An account of the resource The RIG group convened at an unusual and outct:.noinc landmark from ßebruary 22nd — to dizcuco current and future icsueg concerning SLATE and I',RCUK. The venue was the Tower lilili , a dioused windmill at Burhara Overy Statthe on the Norfolk coast. lie were unfortunately not able to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside as time wag short and tho issues vere many • wag pointed out during the weakond that rnany people do not understand the tern "unattached", especially in relation to ARCUK councillorg. It was also noted that these"unattached" councillors were the only elected ones on ARCUK. decision wag therefore taken to refer to them ao "electodj• councillors ag opposed to RIBA or other constituent body "nominee" councillors. llhcther or not thic title will stick remains to Oe geen, but they bc referred to as such for the purpo=es of this article. During the weekend we decided to carry out an initial collation oxerciue of replies received so far frorn the elected ARCUK councillorc' questionnaire published recently in the AJ, of there were corae 500—600. At the of writ inc this article the full analysis is not available. ilowever two points uorthy o? note were: 'i'he vast raajority of RIBA members who replied were in i't•.vour of direct elect ion of council lorg to ARCUK; considerable nurauer of unattached architects had not received nomination or election papere for tho ARCUK elections thic year. information led to a lerurthy debate conccrnxnc the zp.,ortionrnunt of on tho Council toeether with general conduct and the obstruction of buginess 'tithin the council chamber. Tiu•oe discuccionz finally inanifested 'j 'iihe aurhata Charter" to head the "Clean up ARCIJK t • campaign, tho draft o? v;hici• in 1.uU1fuhed here. TO An approach to elected councillors by another non— architect ARCUK councillor, intending io mediate between our— selves and the ill IBA, vtao discuooed. It was cenerzlly felt however that ','iiile not uichinc to detract from l•ir. Lej%ütt'g intentions, jaore yooitive action and Uel•aviour in tho Council chamber could be brought about by procr.otion and of Durham Charier. Initial moves to establish cotamunicationu the Electoral "eforra Society concerning ARCUK elections have yet not aet with creat enthudiacrn, they apparently consider their province covers conduct of the election machinery ag it exists and not conctitutional arrancoracntg, even if these aero conzidered "faulty beyond tolerance" • another major of the weekend revolved around amendments to the Code of Conduct, particularly in relation to (ärectorshipg, advertising and I imitea Iiabiiity. A atrong argument wag put in favour of al 10%ing thegc on the grounds that in practica they ail but exist anyway, often to the disadvantage of unattached architects. Amendments "10 the Code allowing them would help to deotroy any misapprehensiong Lhe lay public may under about the professional integrity of many architect3, and this action could thus be considered to be in the public intcregt. Gtrong and preoaatic argument ' vor operating within the capit:.list '„'az, houovor, not adhered to unanimously and unfortuxat.tuly the opponents to the idea on fundamental idcolocicul etl'icai uere not to put forward their view::. uxnouni of t ivaov.•as openi outside funding for PIG, cuch ag charitable iruüts. Theca argumentu were reminiøcent of past Liaioon Group discussiono and no real conclusion wag reached. �Time wag set agide for diccugoion on the future of and SL,'ITE, bearint»• in rnind the decigion of the lact Congresg to holdu jpecial conference thio spring on the future stratecieg Tho concengun appeared to be that NAM wag ecoential ao a foe. I point in order to identify the icsuec for which it ctood. No discusoion took place regardinctho future form of except that the orcanigation of an Annual Congregg and AGI.L should definitely continue, providing an open forum for debate It appearo that local croupa continue on their own moraentum rogardlece of whether or not they come under the umbrella. In both Cardiff and Leedo regular local Ineetincc and action cont inue althouch larcely unreported nationally in miOit help tho communication network could bc Strengthened. TLC London croup is apparently about to obe rocurrocted from the crave due to the efforts of Ken Eierce among others. It io understood that thoy intend to organisc a ueriec of diocusciono on current isoueo during the comin ear, and it uag guc€ested at the FIG gatherin.% that thoue could be focuogod on oubjcc I—orientated forums discunsing •i.he effecto of the cuts and hou to co:nbat +vhern. 'i'he key to all theoe oucgegtionc appeavc to revolve aroun€i SLATE, %hicii it is understood ig in deeperate need of both obi 11ed 1 abour and material on groupe' activiticc, intcrcotg and opinions. ',liiile nothing particularly congtructive forth— corning on now to 001 ve the labour problem, it ougcocted tiw.t SLA'QI:; should at 1 cast ( or caoot) reduce i to publ icationz to per annum (auguaning i' inanco and labour are forthcojaing). •securdinu FIG resolved to nake more concerted effort to keep particularly SLR'iiE regularly informed of cll itg activitieo, provigionally uoinc Ian Cooper ao a collecting point for forwarding inforc•ation. ßnclooed are •Lected councillor nominationc for cormitteo repreeontation on ARCUK for 1980—81. The "Gentleman i s Agreement" guarantoeg thege nominationu being accepted. : ARCIX Regiotrar from : 'Unat tached t Councillors 20 February 1980 Re egentation on the Gentlemen' 6 Agreement The following are the under the Gentlemen's board of Architectural Education : *dui6Gion Committee Finance & General Parposes ComLIttee Professional Comui±t board and Committees of Council: •Unattached • Councillors' noni-nations for the year 1980/81:— David John wurney Robert maltz Peter John Cutmore Peter William. dove Norman Fränk Arnold Edward walker John Stewart Allan uavid Roebuck Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Prof Issues Group Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Feb-80 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/4243e952d017e2617a01f095787d585a.pdf 7fd22cea8cfbc4c80d0ca2000aeb0233 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Education Description An account of the resource Many NAM members were engaged in the field of architectural education, either as staff or students, and pursued new ideas for course content and pedagogy, reassessing existing course structures and priorities in conventional architectural training. The concern to focus on socially necessary buildings and to find new and meaningful ways of engaging with building users and the wider community- both central NAM themes - illuminated much of the discussion. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letters Subject The topic of the resource Correspondence re Board of Education (5 pp total) Description An account of the resource RADCLIFFE S & CO. SOLICITORS 10 UTTLE COLLEGE STREET. WESTMINSTER SWIP 3SJ Kenneth J. Forder, Esq. , Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom, 73 Hal lam Street, London , w1N 6EE. Dear Ken, Board of Education Telephone: 01-222 7040 Telex: 919302 FAX GP 01-222 6208 LOE Box No. 113 Your ref KJF/CK/171 /87 Our ref G/DF 7th September 1987. I refer to our telephone conversation on 2nd September and write to confirm that in my view you can invoke regulation 18 so that, as you said in your letter to Angus of 21st August, nothing needs to be validated. I also take the view that the November meeting of the Board of Education can go ahead with the 18 persons named in Park Nelson's 19th August letter playing their full part. So far as the question of the relevant governing bodies is concerned I confirm the views I expressed to you through the telephone, namely that in my opinion you are not dealing with institutional bodies that have identical constitutions prepared for them on a uniform basis. There is a considerable number of bodies involved here, all of whom wil l have different documentation, and I think you could tell Park Nelson that there is not very much you can do about it except ensure that you draw to the attention of the educational bodies concerned that an issue has been raised as to which is the correct governing body. The sort of wording you might wish to incorporate into the letter to Park Nelson could be on the following l ines:- "On the question of what is meant by "the governing body" and whether this relates to the actual School' of Architecture or the University or Polytechnic concerned I do not think I can do more than draw to the attention of the various bodies the fact that the Act requires that the nomination should be made by the governing body as laid down in the second Schedule. I think you must bear in mind that we are not dealing here with uniform constitutions of Universities and Schools which were all drawn in identical terms. It cannot be for me to attempt to subject the constitutions of al l the various Schools, Universities and Polytechnics to a minute examination with a view to discovering what is the true governing body in each case. It must be for the institutions themselves to ensure that their nomination come from their governing body. " Whilst I am firmly of the view that it is not for you, as the Registrar of ARCUK, to have to undertake the task of going into the matter in great detail in respect of each educational body and decide P R H DIXON A G f. YOUNG C.C. SIMON• N A. BONHAMCARTER 0 W, t€AIPWORtH• 98 GREENHOuS AC HANCYMUefCKS Conlinualion Sheet 8 Co. 10. LtrrtE COLLEGE STREET. WESTMINSTER. SWIP 3SJ 19 for yourself which is the governing body, I do nevertheless tend to the view that you have taken, namely that the nomination should be by the Department or School of Architecture concerned rather than the University or Polytechnic. I say this because if you read through the Act, and in particular the second Schedule, there are various pointers which tend to confirm that interpretation. I will quote you some random examples of what I mean. In paragraph of the second Schedule there is reference to Vice-Chancellors and Principals of Universities in Great Britain and Ireland. If the intention had been that the University or Polytechnic concerned should nominate then one would have expected there to have been reference to the Vice-Chancellor and/or Principal rather than "the governing body" The first section of the second Schedule refers to the Governing Body of the University of Cambridge whereas later on and further down there is reference to the governing body of the Cambridge University School of Architecture. It is unlikely that it was intended that these two different descriptions should refer to the same body. If these two are the same body then the language is inconsistent. If, as I suspect, the Nottingham School of Architecture is attached to and part of the University of Nottingham then significantly, in my view, when it is referred to as one of those bodies which can jointly nominate four persons, it is merely described as the Nottingham School of Architecture and there is no reference to the University as such. In the first part of section 1 of the second Schedule the Governing Bodies of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London are referred to in capitals, whereas later on in the reference to the governing bodies of the Schools of Architecture capitals are not used. Arguably this suggests that the •governing body of the School is not quite such an important or official body •as to the Governing Body of the University. I accept that these are only minor pointers and I don't know that one could make a very strong case out of them. They do nevertheless tend to support the view which you have expressed. I must say that I haven't spent a lot of time on this aspect of ghe matter. I didn't think you would want me to clock-up time in that way but it may well be that there are other examples in the Act of this type of thing. I shall be away now until the 17th of September and unfortunately Angus will also be away this week. If, improbably, anything does arise whilst we are away then could you please have a word with my Partner, Paul McAndrews, whom I have briefed fully on the background to the present situation and he wil l know what to do if any emergency arises. Yours sincerely, D.W. ANDREWS ///7/ßt/L 4 PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE WHITEHALL. LONDON SWIA 2AT Tel.No. 270 0510 12th August 1987 Kenneth J. Forder, Esq., M.A., Registrar, Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom, 73, Hallam Street, London, WIN 6EE. RECEIVED f 3 I am sorry I have not replied sooner to your letter of 24th July about the interpretation of paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to the 1931 Act. The construction you describe in your letter which you are being urged to put upon this provision clearly leads to absurdity. If that were the only permissible construction then • I should have thought the case for amending either the regulations or the Act would be a strong one. There is, however, a presumption in favour of putting a benevolent construction on such provisions and an interpretation which leads to an absurdity is one to be avoided if equally valid or better interpretations are available. 2. Implicit in the argument described is an assunuption for which I can find no foundation. The argument appears to be that the Board's conclusion that it is desirable that a School of Architecture not specified in paragraph I of the Second Schedule of the Act should be represented is good only for a year at a time. I do not think that this can be right. 3. I am conscious that Parliamentary debates are not an authoritative source of interpretation. They are, however, usually a useful indication of Parliament's intentions. I have, therefore, glanced at the proceedings on the Bill which became the 1931 Act. A number of drafting amendments were made in Committee in the House of Lords to correct defects and clarify the intentions of the Bill. One of these was the insertion of what is at present section 5 of the Act. In its earlier form the Bill' had left doubtful whether the Admissions Committee was to be a permanent body. The amendment was made to make clear that that Committee was intended to be permanent and the same consideration applies to the Board of Architectural Education. I take it that there has never been any suggestion that the recommendations made by the Board under section 5(2) of the Act required to be renewed every time the Board is annually appointed. I would certainly regard such a suggestion as wholly misconceived. Similarly the Board's judgement about the need for an otherwise unspecified School to be represented is a once-for-all action unless and until such time as the Board may change its mind. Paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule was an amendment introduced in the House of Lords at the Report Stage of the Bill. As the Schedule was originally drafted a School was entitled to nominate a representative if its examinations were accepted by the /R.I.B.A. R.I.B.A. as an exemption from their own final examination. This was thought to be too open-ended. The power of securing that additional members of the Board might be appointed was accordingly transferred from the R.I.B.A. to the Board itself subject to an overriding maximum to be fixed from time to time by the Council. There is nothing in this amendment, or in the reasons given for it, to suggest that Parliament contemplated that the recognition of additional Schools would be an annual exercise. I appreciate that the appointment of paragraph 2 representatives involves one stage more than is required in the case of paragraph I representatives. take it that, in the case of the latter, the Schools concerned simply submit their nominations to the Council before the March meeting and the Council then simply formally makes the appointments. The names of paragraph 2 representatives, however, have to be submitted to the Board which, in turn, submits them to the Council. I cannot, however, see anything to stop the nomination of a paragraph 2 representative who is to serve in, for example, 1988-89, being made to the Board and by the Board to the Council during 1987-88 so that the candidate is ready to be appointed with all the other representatives at the March meeting of the Council. 5. Handled in this way, which appears to me to comply entirely with the requirements of the Act and the regulations, I cannot see that any difficulty need arise. 6. I have, however, one or two other general comments which reinforce this conclusion. The first: that I am not aware of any doctrine to the effect that a body like the Board can operate only through a meeting. A meeting is obviously necessary if any kind of substantive discussion is required. Similarly if there is a division of view and a vote has to be taken it may be difficult to avoid dealing with such business other than in a meeting. If, however, the members of a body of this kind are of like mind and are happy so to signify in correspondence there would seem to be no objection to such a course. 7. I also note that the effect of regulation 21(g) as applied by regulation 23(b) is to give the Board freedom to direct its owr) procedure. This would appear to give power to adopt rules of procedure designed to facilitate the handling of problems of the kind you describe. This would include authorising officers of the Board to take the action necessary to implement any of the Board's recommendations cn the lines indicated in the fourth paragraph of your letter. 8. I hope that you will find these comments helpful. (7 (G.I. de Deney) KJP/CK 24 July 1987 G I de Denoy E.q Privy Council Office Whitehall London SWIA 2AT Dear Hr de Deney i am facing problems beuuøe of the Implementation of paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule to our 1931 Act as read vith the new regulation C (1) made on the 7 November 1986. The problem 10 that It 18 being auerted to ne that thio a three stage proce88. When It hag decided that a peticular School eligible the first 8tage for the governing body of the School of Architecture to nake a recommendation. The gecond stage 18 for the Board •to nominate the person who hag been recmended; and the third etage for the Council to accept the nomination. If this 1B played out stage by 8tage then the result ig going to be ludicrous. The Board only laste one year and then hag to appointed again (Section 5 (1) of the Act) and In that period it hag only tvo Netlncg. one In May and one In November. hat 18 being assorted that the firot stage Nco—endatlon be put to at 'Its firat meeting and then approved by the. Council go that the representative can take hig geat at the November meeting. But that the lagt meeting of the year. hat I have done In March of this year (at our Annual General Meeting) vas to get the Chalrzan of the Board of Architectural Education to •Ign the recomenda— tione on behalf of the Board (thug obviating the Board having a special meeting for this •ole purpose). I ghould value your view on thig procedure and your advice on hov the system should be operated In future. Out of Intereøt I have Suet received the encloged letter from the Head of the Schooö at Kingston Polytechnic vhlch ig I think gelf explanatory. If we follov the strict interpretation I have outlined above It meane that the Kingeton Polytechnic must recomend that Peter Jacob be made a member of the Board, the Board at Ito November meeting make the nomination and the Council in muøt appoint him to be a member of the Board. But he never attend a meeting: The Council dleo in March and so doee the Board. A nomination cannot be nade this year for next year because by that time the Board vill cong18t of completely different pereone. Yourø 81ncere1y Regl•trar Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Radcliffes/Privy Council Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 7 September 1987, 12 August 1987, 24 July 1987 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/7413e7d83382f3c9ef6dcc70af396cde.pdf 36996f13d5762201ce0abfa00ec164ec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Trade Unions and Architecture Description An account of the resource Themes included action on asbestos and Health &amp; Safety, and involvement with Direct Labour Organisations and Building Unions. Following comparative research of possible options, NAM encouraged unionisation of building design staffs within the private sector, negotiating the establishment of a dedicated section within TASS. Though recruitment was modest the campaign identified many of the issues around terms of employment and industrial relations that underpin the processes of architectural production. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Asbestos - The Killer Dust Subject The topic of the resource Warning Leaflet Description An account of the resource A Rank and File Factsheet ASBESTOS : The Killer Dust Howwidespread iscontact with asbe: stos’ reverytinyinded.Inoneinch,youcanfitside Butisn'ttheasbestoshazardmainly athing of the past? rehavenot,of course,beenanycourtcases agaistihepersonsresponsibleforthisslaughter, insulationisapureafterthought. Youflingupa building and then after you've done it you hire someone to fling on some asbestos. The purposeis not toprotect people butpi nd itmatters littleapparently. that this"protection’ exposes millions upon millions of people to disease. remember, wheneveryoucomeacrosssomething unsafe at work, don’t work on it or near it. h But people in important positions are saying that asbestos, even blue asbestos,isalrightin‘residential bought and paid People keep saying that white asbestos is safer than blue. Is this true? mite know about what's going o Your life is in your hands! Noir re Whit bys »)human hairs.Hat10th sameinchyou Nothing could be further from the truth. Asbesitsoevserywhere, ininsulation, pipelagging, in acoustic ceilings, in screwlix, brake linings, corrugated sheting, lino backing. And although stofurther companies’ profits, notto Asbe it should be banned and placed with alternatives, But the mn kent, ever anxiousto protectth refuses even to consider Hinder them: asbestos companies’ slaughter isofcourse Sectorcutsmeannvenleseffectiveinspectorate and les and les inspectors fandwomen{0 safet id that hildren.[tisuptotennea scandal:ofasbestosisbecomingsowidespread, anywhereandeverywher: Iiguecandiightlkosbellé-forthetiteefaub= RI) showed, the Health and Safety and file workersofigtohcomtpel thegovernm tochange tack Nowthatthey'remectingtroubleinBritaiand stitutes. Thesesubstitutes, Executive ind the rest arecontinuing with the Organisations such astheAsbestos Information Committee keep talking pout safelimits.Are there any? asbestos for road signs, airplane parts and a thousandandoneotherthings. hazards of asbestos and cynically murdered people? Safety Executive and the Factory Inspectorate?Aren'tthey incontrol of the situation now? Theappallingscandalofasbestosshows just what theywill doif they get even half a chancenottoaffordsafety concentra replied: cannotp Motmaethatstatement,1wishIcould, Huge. Morethanthat,it’sdificulttosay, though the foremost American researcher Dr IrvingSelikoffestimatesthatonemillionpeople wil die from asbestos induced disease in that country by the end of the centu OK. So what can we do about the hazard? The only therefore And anyone who tels u,Sometimesthe TntheGlasgowlaggersbranchoftheTransport What'smore, thisslaughter forprofit, involving flagrantbreachesofthesafetyregulations,went on with the ful knowledge of the Factory Inspectorate. 40relyonyourown strengthandorganisat Make linkswithyourfelowworkers nd ByDlckingasbestos,buildingworkerswillnot yotouthec Union, at least 10 union members have met a tragic and premature death from asbestos in the last nine years! one-tenth of the branch membership and there's many more members who wildieinthefuture. only be defending their own health. be defendingthehealthandsafetyofeae occupant of the houses and buildings they put up, of every person who chances to walk past a site where asbestos shets used to be Cut up wate them mast o forfrontsoftheasbestosemployers At Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, Cape Asbestos have murdered 50 people so far, with another 20 estimated asfuture deaths. Are there ready substitutes for asbestos? rank and file workers gcta massiveapowball itsofany kind What's the scale of death and dis- ease’ word—yes, They most certainly did know how hazardous asbestos was in theearly years of this century. By 1931 laws regulating the process- ingofasbestoswerebrought for40years after this, the asbestos employers cynicaly exposedworkersatHebdenBridge,Barkingand many otherplacestothedangersofasbestos Mostdefinitelynot.Thaerer80e,000 policemen in Britain for protecting the outside of factories, on picket lines etc. There are only 800 inspectors foralthefactorainedsworkplacesinthelan ed urd) to rely on the ugh if you'rfrcwelloMoemepniageatwtCocdelsfron Rank and file workers who come into contact withasbestosshouldstopdoingso,Theyshould blackthesul. Theonlysafeasbestosis‘blacked asbest truly world-wide, Thousands upon thousands of lack miners inSouth Africa and Rhod the long term we must fight for a society thebigasbestoscompaniesareswitchingto teenslaughteredbytheirlustforprofit.Peo oesighsproperyivewaytotherights hat’smore astheRankandFileOrganising Committee'sprevioussafetypamphletonthe yworking diferentformsofinsulationmaterialnowthatthe havediedinIreland,France,Belgium,Germany, ofhuman intheshorttermweshould Health‘andl Safety at Work Act, ACAUSE FOR alsopushingfornewusesofa atKinnersly,authorofthebest-sellingbook theUSthey'removitoncgount hazardous. Thereforethey ionofpersuading employertso afordsafety ardsofWork,hasstresedthisintworecentieiodasePoeatEneaKCraREeneceoncdWiththesameprecautionsasthelawissupposedAexperienceshowsthatoertimeand leterstoTheGuardiannewspaper.TheGuardian Taiwan toinsistonforasbestos, timeagain, havetobeforcedtoaffordsafety refuses to print his leters although it does of forced by the endeavours of good stewards and courseprintpaidsupplanedmadverntistemsents Are you saying that the asbestos But what about the Health and activists, forced by the rank and file. fortheasbestosindustrywhichextolthevirtueosf companies knew about the health There are substitutes such as fibreglas, rockwool and foam. But the truth isthat most jelagers ani workers who've been fighting the asbestos monopolies for years. know of various groups of workers in your area who are concerned about conditions in theirworkplaces, inhospsichotolsaanldesta,tes, informal asbestos action group with a phone number for people to ring to get informa- Mion and advice. Publicise it widely in the local tradeunionmovement andinthelocalpress and please let the Rank and File Organising Com- The Rank and File Organising Com- mittee has organised dozens of safety schools with expert technical and trade union speakers. Ifyou are TION OR ADVICE ON HEALTH AND SAFETY, contact: ROGER COX, 214 Roundwood Road, London, NWI0. TELEPHONE: 01-451 7039. a OW TOFIGHT THE KILLER DUST FIBREGLASS me vend3¥58° wherever posible asbestos 14) dustproducing,workshouldbe Inadition, you should have plastics. But hisstu canTcherpleura istheoutercasing of Convince the American medical the lungs, Asbestos causes Community thatfibreglasitselfwas mesothelioma, which iscancerin a problem the pleura of people, so evidence of = rePrice10p Grose, Postage More post tr pagesof injee ak h1oOWweto,eiadeas’on Blue asbestos dust has long ben recognisedasparticularly lethal inany quantity. Itshould be banned. As itis, although it’s pecpleraturaliyoe anwonderingl If asbestor produces canect in Htcould hurt ople its chemical ® ned about a PcoP F Bothersome. itching, a burning TMake-up. the towear. They usehasdeclined,itisoftenfoun in de-lagging operations, or in: Tests on laboratory animals and examination of workers, however yielded) no conclusive evidence of ticles that causesthe cancers, cationcanbe. tndthayiarenota6¢ sly’sbok,ait-fedhoodswhichtakeyoucutThelawdemandsonlythat Even very rect lesmay frequently bein hesam trasdescribedinmedicallit uresin snbestosparticles,and of the atmosphere altogethe blue asbestos should be storedin special air-tight contain as ‘biologicaly inert are similarly persistent. In 1961 acase was reported ofa But wherever you use one, you that employers give 8 days make su your hi orfits,thatyoucanwear Inspec s F in 1969, Dr MearlF Stanton at problems from fibreglas. His job the National Cancer Institute porary removal of the respirator ina safe part ofthe factory. jone’ in isolation from other proper showers and airpressure workers. Ifasbestos orasbestos decontamination, You “should products are dampened before ecnuriaad work is caried out, much les Pesratle daly, froeot charge: Tathemid-1950s,aphysicianin In1972,speakiasnymgpoasitum. Saranac Lake, New’ York—the famous tuberculosis inLyons, France,Stantonrevealed Devonport dockyard’s prac: ti roviding air-tight space suits with air-fed hoods should be used as a guide, but never eguiation 7 forgetthatexhaustequipment town-—reported serious lung his findings. He said: eis carta that inthe he equipment must be installed tfaoseaincomlbajbnoratiorny oafnifmiablrsegleaxsposaend plas of smal diameter isa potent deed where lagging has roted On the other hand, if it is the physical character of asbestos par- premisesand al plant andequip- process (likely, tol crest whichc dustin oy process. (Regulations are an absolute necessi and rust be used forthe sskeof your ‘own health and that of your family. Do not do anything which could mean you could take the dust home with you. You should have @ proper changing room designedsoasto preventtherisk of asbestos dust contaminating your own clothes. (Regulation fold hot water heaters, and Gloudyoffibreglassurroundedhi1970and1971, 3 OSCE aCe ing! snd "washing facilitiesarenat@luxury. Th ever miled some. fibreglas. p Seea oaloet McFactor downtosmallersizesandimplanted hadtoremovepart‘foneJung. theminlaboratoryanimals ment clean and fre {rom asbestos dust ofa asbestos waste and dust factory where dust couldiget in cently. several researchers The only conclusion you can haveconcludedthatshetmetal sonablydrawisthatfibreglasis workers.and.insulationworkersdangerous,Ifitisoffetroeyoduasa Sulfer‘long-termuperrespiratory Al loose asbestos and NOT INCONTANERS... estoswastemustbestored anywhereasbestosdustislikely ‘andmovedinclosedcontainers, tobeproducedorfound.These air-tight plastic sacks, which shouldmakeclearthatnoquanti iritation’fromhandlingfibreglas replacementforasbestosyoumust insistthatyouareaffordedalthe protection the law ix supposed to Bnd protective clothing provided prevent the escape of dust ty of asbestos dust, however Regulations15and16).Workers smal,canbesaidtobesateand insistonforasbesto: tromFiberGlasbyi Cover shows MrBobSmith,46(foreground),withhis. MrSmithworkedfortheCentralAsbestofastheCro,mp2a3iyearsolder. The Killer Dust shouldrefusetohandleasbestos orasbestosproductswhichare in such containers and should insist that this standing risktohealthshouldnotbelefton thepremisesoranywhereelse. that al workers who risk breathingthedustarerisking their health, Montague than ny, Bermondsey,foreightyears.‘Ihadneverheardof4isbestosis Inaddition, workers under 18 pgested that chronic ‘bronchitis TENbeafictingsomeives AsStanfonresent)ad Cx wo ‘considered tainlythissemstrueforthepleura must not by law be employed on yoeveitie.andibreglasewasstill_ oftherat, anditisunlikelythat Considered safeoralltobreathein_sliferent mechanisms areoperative moderate amoutnts. mi HIcomplaintstomanagement shouldbeinwritingandminuted bytheunioncommittee. inpeople. Intact,asbestos1snow considered the most dangerous Meter Asso buildingmaterialinusetoday, {nmEnvironment’Vo16lNo7.1973 unti1wlas told Ihadit, he says. Thickenoifntghe} ofthesymptomsofthedisease. Jingersisone BEWARE nfibreglasbegancoming becauseolsremarkablecapacity intocommereis usearound1940, toproducecancers sensation in their eyes, and vTeOry Tidaengersou tion of fibreglas nger, and. fibreglass fibreglasmaybeayeryhazardous retlabeledrolepeaymfustanceindeed.Fibreplass_par- ee eesaah chemicalcompositionoffibregla isquite diferent from asbestos. Evenwhenastudyoffibreglas cancerinthepleuraofratsisof workersuncoveredevidencewhich interestalso Printed by SW Litho (TU alDepts) London E2 IF YOU can't compel your ticable This is not good enough s respirators can wastoearthefibrelassinsulation reportedthatlarge-sizedibreelas roduce Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rank & File Committee Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Undated https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/a666ab45cd5645053d4383aaafe9c7dd.pdf d6cee64d2291bac3e49b071f90698cc0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Education Description An account of the resource Many NAM members were engaged in the field of architectural education, either as staff or students, and pursued new ideas for course content and pedagogy, reassessing existing course structures and priorities in conventional architectural training. The concern to focus on socially necessary buildings and to find new and meaningful ways of engaging with building users and the wider community- both central NAM themes - illuminated much of the discussion. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter Subject The topic of the resource Letter to all Councillors re postponement of AGM at RIBA request Description An account of the resource Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ARCHITECTS (REGISTRATION) ACTS 1931 TO '938 73 Hallam Street London WI N 6EE Registrar. Kenneth J. Forder M.A. &morandum Tel: 01-580 5861 To: All FEmbers of 1987—8 Council Ref: KJP/CK From: Registrar Date : 16 March 1987 The Annual r•ketlnq of the Council scheduled for the afternoon of this Wednesday March 18 has been postponed at the request of the President of the RIBA. The Ordinary Meeting of the Council for this Wednesday remains unaffected. 2±mbers of the new Council are nevertheless invited to attend the Ordinary >Eeting participating) if they so wish. The .postponed Annual FEeting will be held at 2 pm on Monday March 30 1987 In the Council Chamber of the RIBA. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Registrar Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Allan Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 16 March 1987 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/60ec73b367e25055618f477fc1cd5696.pdf 74f8762803fcfc3cf097bfc8339d2962 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter to J Allan Subject The topic of the resource Letter to J Allan re Constitution of Board & Committees of Council + Gentlemens' Agreement 4pp Description An account of the resource Dear Sir Constitution o? the Board a At, its knee ting held on 12 December 1 984 my Council approved the terms of the Gentlemen T s Agreement, as set out in the attached copy, in respect of the representation (which is not regulated by the principal Act) of the architectural constituent bodies on the Board of Architectural Education and on the various Committees for the year 1 985/86 . You will note that under the Agreement, the representatives of the "unattached" have the right to fill the following vacancies with their nominees: — Board of Architectural Education 2 representatives Admission Committee 2 Finance & General Purposes Committee 2 Professional Purposes Committee 2 (B) After the nominations under the Gentlemen's Agreement have been made, there will remain the following vacancies which must be filled by election (by ballot if necessary) at the meeting of the Council on 20 March 1 985 : — Board 16 registered persons Admission Committee 3 registered persons Finance & General 6 members of Council for Purposes Committee 1 985/86 Professional Purposes 6 members of Council for Committee 1 985/86 Discipline Committee 14 registered persons, one of whom must be practising as an architect in Scotland Nominations for these vacancies, together with the required particulars in respect of heading (B) , should be in my hands not later than 27 February next. A list of the persons nominated by the several constituent bodies will then be circulated to ali members of the Council. A form is attached which may be used for this purpose. The Council has ruled that no nominations either for the constituent body appointment or for free election will be put before the Annual Meeting unless delivered to ARCUK offices by 5 pm on Wednesday, 27 February 1985. �Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT 1. As at pregent constituted, the Genclanen t s Agreement provides ag fo lovs : Board of Architectural Education Of the 24 regi8terea persons Co be appointed by the Council:— 2 •shall be nominated by the Royal Ingtitute of Briti8h Architects 2 Incorporated Aggociacion of Architects and Surveyor 8 2 Faculty of Architects aqd . Surveyors • 2 Representatives on the Comcil of the 'Unattached c Architectß leaving 16 to be freely chosen by the Council. Admission Coanictee 3. 8 registered persons shall be appointed by the Council of whom: — 2 shall be nominated by the Architectural Association 1 STAMP section of UCATT 2 Repregentativeg on the Comcil of the t Unattached' Architects leaving 3 to be freely chosen by the Council. Finance and General Purposes Coamitcee Profesgxonal Purposes CanmiCCee 4. Each of the above Couznictees 8ha11 consist of 13 members , exclugive of the ex officio member 8, appointed as follows : — 1 by the Royal Ing tituce of Brici8h Architects 1 . Incorporated Association of Architect g and Surveyor 8 1 P acuity of Architects and Surveyor 8 1 Architectural Association STAMP sect ion of UCATT Representat ive 8 on c he Counc i I t he Unattached Archi cectS 6 to be freely chosen by the Counci I Candidates for frec election . Thac vich regard to the candidates for free election by the Counci l , che following infomacion shall be provided, by those nominating, in not more than, say, 25 vords age, naue of archi— tectural constituenc bodies of which candidate is a member (if any) , present post and type of practice, and reason for nomination; and chac che nanes shall be submitted to the Council in alphabetical order. Dates for nominations . That nominations for vacancies to be filled by free election together with the required information about the candidates, must be sent to the' Registrar, 21 days before the Annual Meeting of the Council, in order that the lists may be circulated to Council members prior to the meeting. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Registrar Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 14.2.85 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/3e998fd2e403c32bee45e36343837474.pdf 4258e1ea64fa8a075eadff3e5395ca55 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Professional Issues Description An account of the resource A cohort of NAM members became engaged with the professional registration body, standing as elected councillors on the Architects Registration Council and its various committees. Hitherto entirely dominated by the RIBA bloc, the Council began to yield to a new dynamic through NAM's involvement, enabling fresh perspectives on such issues as mandatory fee scales, greater lay representation on the body, ethically-based standards of professional conduct, etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Copy of RIBA submission to Construction Industry Study Team on PI problems Subject The topic of the resource Copy of RIBA submission to Construction Industry Study Team on PI problems (12pp) Description An account of the resource Submission by the Royal Institute of British Architects to the Construction Industry Study Team on Professional Liability Problems INTRODUCTION 1.01 The RIBA welcomes the opportunity to make a formal submission on professional liability problems to the Construction Industry Study •ream. In accordance with the Study Team's invitation this submission broadly follows the structure outlined below: 1 . Problems perceived in the current arrangements (Section 2 ) Action taken by the RIBA to combat these problems (Section 3 ) Priorities for reform (Section 4) 0. How these reforms can best be implemented (Section 5 ) 1.02 Representatives of the RIBA would be pleased to meet the Study Team Chairman and Secretariat to discuss this submission. Should further information be required we shall endeavour to provide it. 2 2. PROBLEMS PERCEIVED IN CURRENT ARRANGENENTS The State of the law 2.01 The present state of the law in relation to defects in buildings is identified in the Atkins Report (Latent Defects in Buildings: An Analysis of Insurance Possibilities, Building EDC, 1985) as a mess . It is uncertain and, often, unjust. It serves the interests of neither those who produce nor those who, as tenants or owners, subsequently use and enjoy buildings. 2.02 Although written before the Latent Damage Act 1986, that statement remains true today . The 1986 Act, which closely follows the recommendations in the 24th Report of the Law Reform Committee on the subject of latent damage, fails in our view to satisfy the Committee's own criteria of justice and equity to claimants and defendants alike. 2.03 Those who suffer damage as a result of defects in buildings require certainty of compensation and, more particularly, payment of that compensation without delay in order that they shall have available the funds necessary to repair the defect and so contain the damage. A right to compensation is illusory if the route to that remedy is prolonged and costly, if the defendant, being a company, no longer exists or being an individual has died or does not have the means to pay. Yet in seeking to alert the Government and the public to the seriousness of this situation, the professions have found themselves rebufTed on the grounds that they are simply pleading their own cause, and even accused of being interested solely in some form of limitation of their own liability. European considerations 2.0/1 In the Bulletin of the European Communities (Supplement 6/86) the Commission recalled that - "The first impetus for consumer protection policy was given by Heads of State and Government in October 1972. Meeting in Paris, on the eve of the Community's first enlargement, they called on the Community to adopt a programme to augment and co-ordinate national measures in favour of the protection of consumers. This policy was formally inaugurated in April 1975 with the adoption of the first programme for consumer protection . This set out to guarantee five basic consumer rights protection of the consumer against health and safety risks; protection of consumers' economic interests; improvement of the consumers' legal position (help, advice, the right to seek legal remedy); — improvement of consumer education and informat ion ; appropriate consultation and representation of consumers in the taking of decisions affecting their interests. " 2.05 The problems arising from the state of the law outlined above involve potential infringement of all of these consumer rights, since in the context of the provision of professional services the client is the consumer. Collateral Warranties 2.06 'l'he unsatisfactory state of the law has led to a marked growth, particularly in the commercial field, in the call for warranties to be given by a professional firm to a company which is not the client but which is providing finance for a proposed development. The RIBA has seen a number of such documents which would have the effect of requiring member firms to act with more than the professional standard of reasonable skill and care even to the point of warranting the performance of a building. Those requesting such an undertaking appear unaware that the attendant liability would not be covered under the normal indemnity insurance policy wording. The policy issued under the RIBA Insurance Scheme, for example, includes the following under a heading of General Exclusions: "The policy shall not indemnify the Assured in respect of . any claim arising out of performance warranties, penalty clauses or liquidated damages clauses unless the liability of the Assured to the claimant would have existed in the absence of such warranties or clauses. " Joint and several liability 2.07 The majority of claims arising out of building industry operations involve a number of defendants. If' more than one defendant is found partly responsible for damages, the courts will hold them jointly and severally liable for all damages . Each defendant is fully liable for the total judgement even if a particular defendant was negligent only to a slight degree. This leads to the inevitable view that a claimant is much less concerned with whether or not a defendant is at fault than with who is in the best position to pay for the alleged damages. Those who have insurance cover, who tend to be the consultants, are regarded as the more rewarding target. Building is a risky business 2.08 Any building operation carries risk for those involved, whether as owners, designers, builders or suppliers. Almost every building is its own prototype. Defects will occur, often without any of the participants being at fault. The cost of repair or replacement is high by comparison with many other artifacts. There needs to be a proper allocation of responsibilities among all of those involved, including those responsible for the continued maintenance of the building and for the renewal of its short-lived parts. Avoiding or reducing risk involves checking mechanisms which are costly particularly where there are innovative methods of construction. The cost of this checking has to be balanced against the cost attendant in the risks themselves, and the consumer has a right to choose where the money is to be spent. 2.09 As owners increase their requirements for the performance of the buildings they commission, so those buildings become more complex. A shortage of adequately skilled building operatives, coupled with deficiencies in site supervision by contractors, means that the incidence of defects rises. The difficulty of obtaining compensation leads to delay in making repairs, and hence to further increased costs. Professional Indemnity Insurance 2.10 Architects, like other professionals, have witnessed a sharp rise in the cost of indemnity insurance over the last few years. Premiums have roughly trebled to a point where today they represent on average about 7% of fee income, with some firms paying in excess of 10%. Firms have had to accept higher excesses and many have reduced the level of cover. Some have even chosen to practise without cover. 2.11 A growing number of clients, particularly in the public sector and following the lead of the PSA, are requiring cover to set levels related to fee income. Government Departments are seeking an undertaking from their consultants that they not only have the required cover but will maintain it for a period of six years from the completion of the project. This is creating problems since such cover is only available on a year by year basis, and no firm can anticipate what the cost may be in the future. This point has been strenuously made to Ministers and we are informed that the position is being reviewed, but firms are still being required to give an undertaking which, through no fault of their own, may prove incapable of fulfilment. 2.12 Insurance cover is at present generally available to firms at levels sufficient to meet the Government's requirements, but at a price. If a firm is unable to pass any increased premium costs on to a client in increased fees this can have a serious effect on the cash flow and profitability of the business. firm forced into liquidation before a claim is received will be unable to meet that claim when it does arise. Members in retirement 2.13 There are also problems for the member in retirement from practice, which could be at a relatively early age. He or she has no business income from which to maintain cover, and even if other means of maintaining it are available, the premiums will not be tax deductible. A continuing practice can sometimes provide cover for its former members in retirement, but probably for a limited period only. A scheme developed by the Architects Benevolent Society can provide limited cover for a reasonably modest premium, and is some help to those who have been retired from all practice for a number of years. Yet this may be beyond the reach of the frail and elderly retired architect, or of the widow of an architect who is the beneficiary under the Estate, who can receive notice of aclaim many years after practice ceased. We recently received information of one such possible claim against the Estate of an architect who died on 19 May 1982. That Estate could be represented by the widow's present home. 3. ACTION TAKEN BY THE RIBA TO COMBAT THESE PROBLXS Promotion of the case for change in the law 3.01 In July 1977 the RIBA submitted a memorandum to the Lord Chancellor's Law Reform Committee concerning limitation of actions. A copy of that memorandum was included in our response dated 25 April 1988 to the Study Team's questionnaire. In it we called for legislation to fix definite limitation periods of reasonable duration and to provide for co-ordinating and integrating existing insurance arrangements so that the public at large, as owners, tenants or visitors, are adequately protected. The RIBA memorandum was referred to in a footnote on page 17 to the Law Reform Committee's Twenty First Report, and the Study Team has a copy of this. 3.02 The RIBA submitted evidence to the Law Reform Committee in January 1982 and in March 1985 we commented on the Committee 's Twenty Fourth Report on Latent Damage . The Study Team has a copy of this comment, in which we found that whatever small benefit might accrue to a few potential claimants and defendants was by far outweighed by the added complexity and confusion of rules which would apply if the recommendations were passed into law. We called for the report to be rejected by the Government. 3.03 When, in 1986, the recommendations in the Twenty Fourth Report were translated into the Latent Damage Bill, the RIBA and others in the construction industry sought amendments which, in the interests of the consumer, would lead to greater certainty. Those amendments were opposed by the Government, and the Bill became law. �Project Insurance In December 1985 we made proposals to the Building EDC Insurance Feasibility Steering Committee in response to the Atkins Report mentioned above. The Study Team has a copy of these proposals which were for a system of latent defects insurance taken out on a project by project basis in the joint names of all the producers of the building for the benefit of the users . Call for a Government Inquiry .05 In February 1986 the Councils of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, in Scotland and in Ireland submitted a memorandum to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on Professional Indemnity Insurance and limitation of liability. The conclusion to this memorandum called on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to set up an inquiry into the desirability of and the possible methods of effecting limitation of liability for claims of negligence. The RIBA was among those who supported the ICA memorandum. 3.06 Further calls for change in the law came in a debate in the House of Lords in March 1987 on Civil Liability and the Professions, during which the Duke of Gloucester, speaking as an architect, made a powerful contribution. The RIBA provided briefing material for the Duke. • 07 In April 1987 a delegation of the professions including the ICA, the Law Society, the Bar Council, Patent Agents, the ACE, the RICS and the RIBA met Paul Channon, then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to press the case for reform. Further submissions followed on the availability of insurance and on the requirements of the various professions for their members to hold insurance. It is understood that this joint invitation by the professions may have led to the setting up of the present inquiries which the RIBA welcomes. The RIBA Insurance Scheme The RIBA Insurance Scheme was launched in April 1986, at a time when the insurance market was extremely volatile, with premiums escalating. It is organised by the RIBA Insurance Agency Ltd, a joint company formed by the RIBA and Architects and Professional Indemnity Agencies Ltd (APIA) who have been involved in architects t indemnity insurance since 1920. The RIBA Scheme is open to architectural practices where at least of the principals are members of the RIBA and at least of the work is carried out in UK ofTices for construction in the UK. Special arrangements may be available for those who do not meet these eligibility requirements. The Scheme is based on a standard policy for 2250,000 in respect of each and every claim, with additional layers available up to at least Although is the recommended minimum cover, for very small practices the Scheme will in suitable cases make available cover of moo,ooo. Central to the operation of the Scheme is a continuing dialogue between the professions, the brokers and the underwriters, providing feedback in both directions concerning liability, claims experience and statistics. The RIBA receives a small proportion of the premium income to the Scheme which is devoted wholly to reducing the vulnerability of members to claims of professional negligence. This includes counsel ling and educational initiatives, promoting and pursuing legislative changes and seeking improved insurance protection. A particular feature of the Scheme is the RIBA t s right, if requested by an assured, to intercede with underwriters where there is any dispute about repudiation of a claim or voiding a policy. The Scheme has grown steadily since its launch, and there are signs that its introduction has had a steadying effect on the insurance market. Indeed, at the last renewal, many of those insured under the Scheme found their premiums slightly reduced. Promotion of Sound Practice 3.12 Over the past 25 or so years the RIBA, alone and with others, has mounted a sustained programme in support of sound practice, through the publication of a series of handbooks, guides, practice notes and other aids with the aim of improving the management of architectural practice and thereby reducing risk. Among the best known are the RIBA Plan of Work for Design Team Operation, the Handbook of Architectural Practice with a fifth edition in preparation, and the Job Book with a fourth edition to be published this autumn. The Practice supplement to the RIBA Journal, first issued in 1984, aims to inform members of developments in the law, in forms of contract, in conditions of appointment, in planning and building control, and other practice matters. The recent publication of conventions for co-ordinated project information, including the Common Arrangement of Work Sections for Specifications and Bills of Quantities, represented the culmination nine years combined efTort by architects, surveyors, engineers and builders, with Government help, to improve the quality of the information that passes between the various members of the building team and to reduce errors. 3.13 Continuing professional development will become compulsory for members of the RIBA in 1993. Distance learning packages covering all aspects of practice are currently being produced in a collaborative venture with the University of London. A range of support services including seminars and conferences is provided on a commercial basis by RIBA Services, and a new edition of the National Building Specification, in Common Arrangement format, will be available to subscribers early in 1989. Guidelines to sound practice, incl uding reference lists, were first published by the RIBA in 1986 and were issued free to all members. They are part of the syllabus for the RIBA Examination in Professional Practice. They have just been revised and will shortly be re-published. Sound Practice is further encouraged by explaining and promoting the concept of Quality Assurance. Research 3.14 The RIBA has been involved from its inception in an international study of post-contract liability being carried out by a working party of the International Council for Building Research Studies and Documentation (CIB) . An RIBA working party is studying methods of building procurement with a view to clarifying the roles, relationships and responsibilities of the various parties. This is leading to amendments to the RIBA Architect's Appointment and to the JCT forms of building contract to sharpen the definition of' these roles. Disputes and Complaints 3.15 The Architect's Appointment provides for the resolution of differences and disputes between architect and client. Where such a dispute relates to fees charged and the parties agree to refer it to the RIBA, the RIBA will give an opinion provided that that opinion is sought on a joint statement of undisputed facts and the parties undertake to accept it as final and binding upon them. There is separate provision for arbitration in which the RIBA takes no part. 3.16 The RIBA has also developed a procedure for the resolution of complaints by clients about the services of architects by conciliation. The intention is to restore accord between willing parties by the persuasion of a conciliator whom they trust. The procedure is informal and confidential. Either party can withdraw at any time without loss of rights in law. By definition it is imprecise, and this quality is both its strength and its weakness: strength in flexibility, weakness in authority; dependence on a willingness to resolve a difference. The scheme is operated on a regional basis and relies wholly on the skill and judgement of experienced members. 3.17 Separately a working party is investigating how best the RIBA can ascertain the nature and extent of any deficiencies in the performance of its members in respect of which complaints relating to quality of service are received, and considering how disciplinary aspects should be handled by the Institute. PRIORITIES FOR REFORM Objectives 14.01 Because of the complexity of the problems that arise from latent defects in buildings, it may be helpful to the Study Team if we set out the objectives that should be aimed at in any reforms. What follows is based on part of the RIBA submission to the Lord Chancellor's Department in March 1985 on the Twenty Fourth Report of the Law Reform Committee on the subject of latent damage . 0.02 In our view the objectives for reform should be: a. Certainty of prompt compensation Both certainty and promptitude are necessary, if only because the owners of defective buildings seldom have the funds available to enable them to mitigate their losses and prevent progressive deterioration. Prompt remedying of defects in buildings would substantially reduce the total damage bill. Attainment of this objective will almost certainly involve insurance provisions of some kind. Certainty as to the period during which compensation will be available In order that the risks may be insurable there has to be a known or readily ascertainable date on which responsibility clearly passes from the producers of the building to the owners. We are informed by insurers that 90% of all latent defects are manifest within ten years of completion. Ten years is a period in harmony with much EEC practice. It is a period after which the residual risk would be reasonably insurable as an extension of normal building owners' policies on an annual renewal basis . Certainty ag to the amount of compensation which is available At present, provided that culpability can be established, there is in theory no upper limit to the amount of compensation that may be awarded. In practice unlimited insurance is not available, while the assets otherwise of those found culpable are finite. There may therefore be a right without a remedy. Legislation is needed to limit available compensation possibly with a factor for inflation. Risks of substantial consequential loss should be insured by owners, who are the only parties to have the knowledge of the sum to be insured. The producers of buildings cannot insure nor can underwriters estimate the risk of future consequential losses. d. An equitable sharing of the burden of compensation The present law, particularly that relating to contribution, can operate with great inequity. Minor tortfeasors can find themselves liable for the whole of the loss for the simple reason that they are the only parties left extant and with means. A fair allocation of risk demands that a particular defendant is liable only for that share of the damages which is judged to be caused by his or her own negligence. e. The incorporation of provisions in respect of' the building control inspectorate Local authorities are commonly joined in litigation relating to latent damage where there is risk to health and safety. The same considerations will apply to any private alternative through Approved Inspectors under the Building Act 198 14 , always assuming that satisfactory insurance arrangements can be found for such persons . The need to resort to litigation only as an exception Under present arrangements, litigation or at least the threat of it is the normal route to compensation. Because of the complexity of the building process and the many parties involved, legal and witness costs represent by far the greater proportion of the total costs suffered by defendants and their insurers. If claims could be settled without recourse to litigation these costs would be substantially reduced. In the final analysis, the cost of defects assurance becomes a charge on the product. Any reduction in legal costs would be to the benefit of consumers. �Sound Practice 4.03 While working towards the achievement of these objectives for reform the RIBA will continue to promote sound practice through continuing professional development, with a view to reducing the incidence of error. HOW THESE REFORMS CAN BEST BE IMPIMENTED Amending Legislation There is no way short of amending legislation that the objectives for reform described in the previous section can be achieved. The RIBA has in the past urged that defects in building, because of their complexity and the number of parties involved, cannot readily be dealt with by generic legislation. We find it strange that that argument has met with resistance, particularly since building is already subject to a special regime of control and legislation. The Defective Premises Act 1972 is a precedent for the kind of reforming legislation that we are proposing, although only applicable to dwellings. The legislation that we are seeking, very much along the lines of our memorandum to the Lord Chancellor's Law Reform Committee of July 1977, would be applicable generally to defective premises and would establish the date on which a cause of action accrues; limit the time within which any action may normally be brought ; . limit the amount of compensation by reference to building costs or professional flees or to that which it would be reasonable to cover by insurance ; exclude liability for consequential loss; provide for each tort feasor to be liable only for his or her own torts. Defects Insurance Reference has earlier been made to the RIBA t s submission to the Insurance Feasibility Steering Committee of the Building EDC. The report of that Committee is eagerly awaited. If, as we understand, the Committee will be recommending some form of defects liability project insurance, then this is likely to enjoy the support of the RIBA. We will hope that early effect can be given to any such recommendations. 12 Compulsory Insurance 5 .014 Given reforms on the lines described, the RIBA considers that it would be right and proper for professional firms to be required to carry an appropriate degree of professional indemnity insurance cover, and for schemes to be considered which would meet claims against the uninsured, claims where the professional person had died and the estate had been distributed, and claims against those in retirement. The RIBA would expect similar provisions to apply to all the others concerned with the design and construction of buildings . The Public Interest 5.05 It will be clear to the Study Team from what has earlier been stated that the reforms mooted here are regarded as being very much in the public interest. RIBA September 1988 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource RIBA Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived JA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Sep-88 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/3fd5a982419ece9db9e84c952716eb3d.pdf cd009f1deaa07117f289570b38386c55 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Public Design Group Description An account of the resource <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Argued that it was only through the public sector that the majority of people could have access to the land and resources needed for housing, education and other essential services. The task was therefore to reform the practice of architecture in local councils to provide an accessible and accountable design service. The Public Design Group proposed reforms to the practice of architecture in local councils to provide a design service accessible and accountable to local people and service users. The following 6 Interim Proposals were developed which were later initiated and implemented in Haringey Council 1979-1985 by NAM members. </span></p> <ul><li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Local area control over resources </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Design teams to be area based </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Area design teams to be multi-disciplinary </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Project architects to report directly to committee</span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Abolish posts between Team Leader and Chief Architect </span></li> <li style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-weight:400;">Joint working groups with Direct Labour Organisations</span></li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE Subject The topic of the resource RIBA CAWG Report setting out case for a Community Aid Fund. Report opposes local authority public architecture services Description An account of the resource THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE: the case for a Community Aid Fund. Royal Institute of British Architects. fe , t yei Jy, ery >Do>s a) Baa ’2 : [ oh p20ae ob Ate eet23 Are sorte Beat AS Ah 7oN This paper sets out the case for a Community Aid Fund to be established within the framework of the Government's urban programme. The Fund would make professional services available directly to groups and individuals to satisfy needs at present unmet through existing channels. Introduction community groups. community. —— ape 1. The Community Architecture Working Group of the RIBA was formed in late 1976. It was established as a result of the increasing concern, within the profession, at the difficulties encountered in attempting to provide adequate professional services for certain community needs. The nature of those needs and the current attempts to provide services to meet them are indicated in the case studies which accompany this report. Whilst they vary widely in scope they all show a clear need for professional assistance and in certain respects share a common background in the These problems continue to raise fundamental questions both about the nature and organisation of professional assistance itself and more particularly 2. In carrying out this task, the Working Group has gathered evidence In response to these concerns the Community Architecture Working b) to explore the problems involved in providing such services. c) to identify areas of current and future need. d) to recommend appropriate action to enable professional skills and resources to match more adequately the needs of the wider from national bodies including the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Town and Country Planning Association, Shelter and the Civic Trust, and has examined over 60 case studies where community groups have received or are S ————— receiving, professional help. 33 of these studies are annexed to this report. problems of obtaining and financing that assistance. about the organisation and level of funding for the physical environment. Group was set up with the following broad terms of reference:- a) examine the kinds of professional services currently provided to Evidence From The Case Studies conclusions:- :2’ be met in the future unless radical changes are made. shown to exist. accessible. 3. The evidence from the case studies suggests the following a) (that there is a strong demand for professional help to community groups which is not being met adequately, either by public service or by private practice, and that it is unlikely to that at present the types of demand vary widely, ranging from the improvement of older properties to environmental education. The eight types shown in the attached list of case Studies highlight the gaps between the main areas of finance for the physical environment and specific community needs. Even if the legislative and professional framework changes in the future to meet these needs it seems likely that others will be that these needs are not a temporary phenomenon and demand is likely to continue and grow particularly if professional services are better advertised and made more readily that there are considerable social, environmental and economic benefits to be derived from meeting this demand quickly. Where residents, whether tenants or owners, have added their own efforts to over-stressed local services these have manifested themselves in a better maintained physical environment and greater public spirit. Community projects represent good value for money by ensuring appropriate solutions and reducing maintenance and vandalism costs. Also where local people have been prepared to do work for themselves there have been considerable savings in capital costs, provided that the necessary professional support is available to carry out proper co-ordination and ensure adequate quality. Moreover, particularly in housing, the arrest of further deterioration now is helping to avoid the cost and disruption of subsequent demolition and replacement. e) _that the existence of professional help can enable communities jto derive maximum benefit from existing legislation, for instance by helping to speed up the take up of improvement grants for older housing and by ensuring the quality of the work carried out. The existence of such expertise can therefore make a positive contribution to the success and cost effectiveness of Government programmes. Current Problems In Meeting The Demand and thirdly the lack of resources for fees. providing professional services. 4, From the available evidence it emerges that the main reasons why the demand for professional services is not being adequately met are firstly the present structure of local authorities, secondly lack of legislative provision 5. In the public sector, some of the problems of local authority professional services have already been identified by the New Architecture Movement's report on Community Architecture. They include lack of resources both financial and staff, in some cases lack of commitment to the idea of community architecture, both among staff and elected members, and an organisational inability to respond quickly and sensitively to local community needs. Furthermore, an additional fundamental point, not adequately dealt with by N.A.M., is that there can be inherent conflicts of interest between, for example, particular community groups and the policies of their local authority. This can arise,for instance, in the case of local groups objecting to specific Compulsory Purchase Order proceedings or lobbying for alterations to Structure Plans. If public service professionals, as currently employed, were to aid community groups in such cases they would be acting against the corporate policies of their employing authorities. This is sometimes done but it cannot be judged to be a satisfactory means of 6. The form of legislation can create problems which effectively restrict access to adequate professional advice, as in the case of Urban Aid schemes where costed sketch schemes are often required before a grant is made but no support is available for the preparation of the inception work. A similar Situation arises in the cases of work on Manpower Services Commission projects and Improvement Grants, where the use of adequate professional advice is inhibited by the lack of specific financing provisions within the legislation. - for aid. or carry the financial risks involved. 7. In the private sector, the profession is unable to provide an adequate service for projects when no provision is made for fees or when payment of fees is inadequate or seriously delayed. From an analysis of the case studies it is clear that where it has been possible to ascertain costs, architects have received no more on average than 1/6 of the fees to which they are entitled. In almost all cases, they have pointed out that the inception of a project up to feasibility stage is more difficult in working for a community client than for any other. The client as an identifiable organisation may not yet exist, or if it does, it may be unclear about what is required or what is achievable. Considerable time and effort have therefore to be devoted to the project to bring it to a stage at which a local authority, or other sponsoring body, can approve it and determine grant, if indeed the project is accepted as qualifying 8. The uncertainty experienced by private practice over payment, particularly for feasibility studies, means that few practices, especially small ones of the kind best suited to this work, can afford to offer a full time service. Accordingly, professional input is either reduced to a point at which ‘it is barely effective, or is carried out on a part time basis, which in the end benefits neither the community nor the profession. The recent state of the building industry means that very few practices are in a position to subsidise 9. It has been suggested that financial help for professional services is available through Legal Aid, but this is seldom the case. Legal Aid is only available to those with very nominal disposable assets. Householders who wish to improve their homes for instance, who in most cases have to find their share of the cost of doing so, will obviously have some disposable assets, so although they may have no other resources with which to pay for professional advice, the very fact that they are in a position to require aid usually renders them ineligible for Legal Aid. Suggested Action 10. There is already an awareness within the Department of the Environment, the professions and informed public opinion, of the social necessity for communities to be more closely involved in determining their physical environment. There are many overlapping developments ranging from changes in tenure and control, as shown by the ‘tenants’ charter' and the co-operative movement, to changes in participation and access as shown in recent planning and housing legislation. The RIBA itself is involved in studies concerning the matching of professional skills to needs, including the study of the Role of the Architectural Profession in the Work of Public Authorities, and investigations into alternative forms of practice which will indicate medium and long term lines of development. The specific recommendation of this report however is for immediate action in the short term to provide a source of funds for communities to pay for their own professional advice on environmental matters. us To some extent, some of the cases examined could, and arguably shoud, have fallen within the responsibility of the local authorities concerned. However, if local authorities are to meet the demand for professional services sensitive to the needs of local communities then both professional and political attitudes and structures will have to undergo radical changes. However desirable such changes may be, they are long term solutions. Even if such changes were made there will still be situations where residents are at variance with the established authority or where the authority has no particular involvement or no resources are available. For these reasons it is Suggested that there will always be a need for independent professional advice and services both to assist community groups and to act as conciliators when conflicts arise. Furthermore this service should be seen as a valid and important extension of public service in the broadest sense. CommunAidtFuynd 13. The RIBA therefore proposes that a national Community Aid Fund be set up, sponsored by the Department of the Environment. Such a system would involve problems of accountability and clearly it will be necessary to establish some machinery whereby the authenticity of projects and the bona fides of community groups can be ascertained as there is no precedent in this country for channelling public funds direct to community groups. The following alternatives may be worth considering: by analogy with the Law Society and Legal Aid, money could be channelled through a joint professional committee or it could be channelled through a joint professional committee or it could be channelled through the National Council for Social Services or system could be organised here. programme. 12. The need for these services is pressing now but is likely to increase in { the near future as the new initiatives to encourage the involvement and | concern of communities in the development of their physical environment, take effect. The services, as shown in the case studies, include community environmental education, for residents to learn about their opportunities and rights as well as professional assistance for specific problems. The former, although very important, is largely outside the scope of this report: it is to " In the United States, the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is currently considering a programme of grants direct to neighbourhood organisations which could, in part, be used to provide the professional advice they need, and the National Endowment for the Arts {an approximate equivalent to the British Arts Council) is empowered as an independent agency to make funds available to private individuals and the latter that the recommendation is addressed. through an independent agency siinilar to the Housing Corporation. 14. Examples from overseas also serve as a useful pointer to how such a community groups through its Architectural and Environmental Arts In Holland a scheme has been introduced whereby private practice architects can be paid out of public funds to work with local community groups. The scheme operates in a number of towns including Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and early results indicate that the Dutch Government expect it to be expanded. Recommendation 15. The RIBA recommends that joint discussions be arranged through the Department of the Environment with all interested parties to develop the practical shape of a Community Aid Fund to meet the needs described in this report. These discussions might examine the extent, scope, management and | accountability of such a fund. The RIBA believes that these aspects are capable of solution and that a Community Aid Fund would be a valuable contribution towards satisfying certain basic environmental and social needs. a) South Field Square, Bradford Archite-cJothn Brunton & Partners. Cli-eSnheltter Housing and Renewal Experiment. Project: The improvement of the properties and subsequent preparation of evidence for a public inquiry against clearance. 75 properties. Briefed May 1974, first fees received November 1975 from a housing association. Actual cost of fees £887, including voluntary help, total cost including voluntary help estimated at £2,000: money received - £500. The local authority has refused to remove South Field Square from its clearance programme, which means there is no public source of funds to finance this sort of work for the local residents. The Square is a listed building. Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales Architect -Chris Whittaker of Stephen George & Partners, Client - South Wales Anti-Poverty Action Centre, followed by Merthyr Housing Group, followed by Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association. Over a hundred small old houses have been looked at and schemes prepared for two infill sites since 1976. So far the cost to the practice has exceeded £10,000. No money has yet been transferred to the Houstng Association. In this long development stage there has been a lot of wastage while the association the council, the Housing Corporation, and the District Valuer open up that narrow band of houses that are too poor to find private buyers but which can still be rehabilitated. The practice now has an office in the town, but should it have had to Carry the costs so far on its own? Confidential Community Case Studies Category 1: Poor Housing Areas b) The following case studies illustrate the variety of community projects for which professional services have been required; they are typical of the activities which would benefit from the establishment of a Community Aid Fund. They are listed under 8 main subject areas. The DOE's 1976 Housing Condition and Social Surveys indicated that nearly 20% of the country's housing was in need of attention, mostly of repair, and that the need was greater where there was a concentration of elderly people and poorer families. Although the surveys show a decline in the number of unfit houses, particularly in whole areas, there are still a number of existing situations where residents, either singly or in communities, are threatened by demolition and clearance. It is in this category that the Fund would have an immediate benefit, in providing residents with professional help both to defend their homes against clearance and to prepare alternative proposals, and also to improve them. St Andrews Street, Development Co-operative, Beverley A project involving 30 new-build and 30 rehabilitated houses for a housing co-operative; involving bringing the residents together, establishing the co-operative, carrying out the professional work, and establishing credibility for the co-operative, without which the street would have been demolished and the community dispersed. The professional skills provided came free from three members of the Hull School of Architecture. No fees were paid, but the assessed cost of the professional service was approximately £3,000. The benefits of their efforts is demonstrated by the fact that the houses are now being rehabilitated. d) e) c) f) g) Qucens Road, Kingston-upon-Hull Representing 168 house owners against demolition proposals at a public inquiry. Preparation of scheme up to public inquiry took 15 months, estimated cost of professional help £2,000. Help came from members of the Hull School of Architecture, free of charge. Professional work included detailed house survey, a comprehensive social survey, structural report, plans for rehabilitation, preparation of specification, costings, preparation of an alternative plan for the area, a phasing programme, organising a case for a public enquiry. RedevelopmenotfpriorityareasintheAngel, Islington,London Staff and students of the Polytechnic of North London were first approached in September 1973, and work was carried out over the following year. The purpose of the project was to translate the planning proposal for the area into architectural design for the benefit of local community and for council members. The principal contribution the project made was to demonstrate to members of the council and their architects’ department that considerably more rehabilitation of so-called ‘poor building’ was possible than that proposed by their planning study. As a result of the demonstration, the council had adopted a policy of fewer 'clean sweeps’. The cost of professional services has not been assessed. 13_150-year old cottages, the Meadows, Kidsgrove Rod Hackney Associates were bricfed to represent the owners at a public enquiry. The time involved in the preparation of material, and the assessed cost of professional feces are not stated. No fees or expenses were paid. Parton, West Cumbria Representation by Rod Hackney Associates on behalf of local residents at a public enquiry to save Bank Yard Row and White Row. A housing association was prepared to acquire the houses and rehabilitate them. Bank Yard Row was saved, but White Row was not. No professional fees or expenses were recovered for White Row. They are likely to be recovered for Bank Yard Row as part of the rehabilitation costs. ' -10- Moor End, Northenden, Manchester Rod Hackney Associates represented all the local residents at a public enquiry at which Manchester City Council withdrew its case , so allowing residents to carry on with improvement proposals. The architect had to finance his professional work over five years from first being asked to help the residents until such time as they received their grants for improvement. 1 - 23 Nealden St, Lambeth, London The study and investigation of an alternative form of renewal in Nealden St, as against the comprehensive redevelopment proposed by the Borough. The study was carried out by the Housing Renewal Unit on behalf of the Solon Housing Association and a residents association. Actual cost of fees- £7,000; money received £2,500 in instalments during the project. The money came from Solon, which does not normally have the money to finance studies of this nature. Despite that, however, the HRU's proposals turned out to be substantially cheaper in terms of capital investment requirement and more cost effective in social terms than the development proposals by Lambeth. Leedsbatcobkacks A survey by the Housing Renewal Unit of a cellular renewal approach was applied to Leeds, with the Leeds Civic Trusts and the Leeds Community Housing Working Party as clients. Cost of the study in professional fees £1,000 but only fares were paid. The purpose was to explore the opportunities of a gradual approach to renewal for the remaining 30,000 back-to-backs in Leeds. There is no official source of funds to pay for such theoretical and general studies which would be done on behalf of local authorities. ASSIST, Govan, Glasgow The project started within the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde, with a grant of £10,000 each from the Wates Foundation and the Scottish Development Department. The sced money has borne fruit in a changed attitude to rehabilitation of tenements in Glasgow. This is manifested by some 12,000 houses now in housing action areas all over the city which might otherwise have been destroyed. As is customary in such projects, the money received was from special sources. It was hard enough to raise the money in 1971, and might now be impossible. Carlisle and Cumberland, Portsmouth The Housing Renewal Unit prepared detailed evidence and alternative proposals for 85 houses - phase 1 of a clearance area of approximately 350 houses. Project included survey of house conditions, household attitudes and decisions on the range of rehabilitation options. The professional work involved is likely to cost up to £5,000, and a fee of £50 is to be paid. The money will come from Shelter, the client being a combination of the residents association and Shelter. The Consultants are now carrying out Phases Two and Three of this job for no further fee. -ll- m) -ampaign Nottingham a) Camlachie School, Gallowgate, Glasgow A project to defend 77 old properties apainst a Compulsory Purchase Order, and make representations at a Public Inquiry. Work included educating the inhabitants on procedure, social and house surveys, preparing alternative plans, and making the case for the enquiry. -The architects, D Nicholson-Cole and M Chiuini will receive no fee unless the residents win their case, although the solicitor involved will receive his costs through Legal Aid. Much of the architects’ time was spent on giving quasi-legal advice, planning matters, housing legislation, and doing surveys. Category 2: Community Buildings Community groups May wish to use a building, usually an existing one, for their own community purpose. They require professional assistance to prepare a technical argument in order to secure finance. Conversion work partly carried out by Community Industry with specialist contractors, initiated by the teachers running the community school. ASSIST provided advice on feasibility, on conversion, negotiations with Education Authorities, Fire Master, Building Control, Planning etc. designed the conversion, negotiated with the electrical] and plumbing contractors, supervised their work and co-ordinated the Construction process. Problems included the high level of vandalism and theft from the site, and the unreliable nature of the community workforce. Architectural input in such projects must have continuity given the inexperience of the client. To expect such projects to be Squeezed into any office as unpaid work handed from architect to architect is to invite disaster. Assessed cost of fees £1,500: fees received —nil. Dixon Hall Day Centre, Govan Hill, Glasgow Conversion of a public hall for use as a day centre for pensioners. ASSIST were asked to produce ideas for the conversion, and to produce a scheme sufficiently detailed to form the basis for an Urban Aid Grant. This necessitated taking the project to production drawing Stape, as the local authority had to be assured that all necessary building regulations were complied with. If work does not proceed, assessed fees would come to £2,500 of which ASSIST may receive £1,000. Note: Much of ASSIST's work is at stages A and B (inception and feasibility). Most grant giving bodies do not pay for this stage of the work. c) Govanhill Community Rooms, Govanhill, Glasgow This is the conversion and alteration of two temporary school class- rooms for the Govanhill Youth and Community Youth Association. Problems included those arising from the use of job creation labour, and the fact that JCP programmes allow only 10% over salary costs for overheads which is wholly inadequate to cover the real costs of housing, supporting and supervising young and fairly inexperienced architect. There is uncertainty about the liability for professional negligence of a practice sponsoring a JCP architect. ASSIST receive no payment for supervision, nor for providing accommodation, phones, nor secretarial services used by the JCP architect. The architect was financed under the JCP programme but the JCP Grants are insufficient to cover adequately the professional services. Bridstow Village Hall, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire The repair or renewal of the village hall for which grants would be available as long as work began before April 1979. In rural areas, the village hall or community centre is more often than not the focal point for social and recreational activities. Yet most organisations using them are generally short of funds. They are reluctant to spend part of their very limited resources in engaging professional consultants. The result is that they either attempt to do it themselves in which case they may fail to meet the criteria for funds, or are led into a package deal without adequate safepuards on their side. When the committee sought grant aid from the County Council, they had not sought any professional advice and had wasitd valuable time. The result was the village hall committee failed to seek professional advice early enough in the year to ensure the most economic solution to the problem was found, and the application was not submitted in time for planning permission. Brilley Village Hall, Brilley, Herefordshire The extension and improvement to the village hall, a converted redundant village school. The committee did not seek professional advice and submitted a grant application which did not make the best use of the money or space. The estimate of costs first submitted by the committee for their own scheme turned out to be based on the use of voluntary labour. Now the scope of the work is fully appreciated it is apparent that the work will be beyond their capabilities. The project will now have to be carried out in two phases spread over two years due to insufficient thought at the initial stage regarding the way the building was to be improved and the cost of this work. Although redundant village schools can make extremely good village halls with careful consideration at the design stage, committees, usually short of funds, attempt to design the conversion themselves without professional advice. The result is unnecessary delay, additional costs and in some cases the aborting of the project. =a ai d) e) Lenton Community Centre, Nottingham Nottingham Community Arts and Crafts Centre The conversion of the Old Dispensary at Gregory Boulevard, into an Arts and Crafts Centre. David Nicholson-Cole prepared proposals ior a group of local people, and did the typing and graphics for the report. He thereafter worked on the preparation of a Manpower Services Commission application. All professional services were donated although the architect had a university salary on which to live. The project had dual objectives in aiming to provide working space for craftsmen to earn their living and also to teach their craft, both of which would alleviate inner city problems. Architectural advice was necessary but there was no moncy to pay for it. Merseyside Carribean Centre, Liverpool8 Since the project is funded under the Urban Programme, the Merseyside Carribean Council had to apply initially to Liverpool City Council. In order to make a proper application, a substantial amount of architectural services was required in advance: - agreement of the brief, finding them a site, negotiations with various local authority departments, site appraisal and investigation, sketch plans, outline of a realistic cost estimate. These services were provided by James Hunter Associates, Liverpool planning approval, and the production architects. If the application Programme applications in Liverpool have a success rate of 1 in 10) the Council would have been unable services. A community aid fund would make it easier for voluntary organisations to take a positive attitude towards environmental change. The reason is that the absence of expert knowledge can cause organisations to come unstuck when regulations and legislation surrounding architectural and environmental issues. The value of preliminary work prior to grant aid application being made was approximately £2,500. Nottingham City offered the Tenants Association a portion of a baths building built in the thirties, £2,000 conversion. Architect David Nicholson-Cole produced a feasibility study for the cheapest possible plan which cost £9,000. After that the City Council architect did the necessary working drawings and provided other professional services, and David Nicholson-Cole's task was to monitor the building work and help the residents. Services were donated free by the architect. The Tenants’ Association, being composed of council tenants, had no finance to pay for professional fees, yet the architect's help multiplied the money available to tenants by four and a half, simply by finding out what they needed and working out the best plan. The action of the City Council doing the architectural drawings based on the architects drawings, negotiating with the builders and supervising the work was the ideal compromise. had been unsuccessful (Urban to pay for these architectural confronted with a host of was offered to pay for the Day Work andCentrefor Radford Community Care Group,Nottingham David Nicholson-Cole was asked by the Action Resource Centre to prepare plans for a site selected by the Radford Care Group to provide a day centre in which old people could spend the day. Architect prepared plans for the site, obtained costings from a builder, and fresh drawings for local authority approvals and tenders. No fees received for feasibility work; fees payable after an Urban Aid grant is received on a time basis. Without the professional work, the old people of Radford would have been unable to accept the donation of a redundant prefab nor make an application for an Urban Aid grant for the new building. A Community Aid Fund would have enabled the Radford Care Group to feel that the success of the project did not depend entirely on the continuing generosity of one person. Category 3: Conversions Similarly in kind to Category 2, this category includes the conversion of buildings for a variety of uses, including the provision of small scale workshops. a) Margaret Street Baths, Everton, Liverpool 5 100 years old building closed in 1974. Local voluntary organisations assisted by the Liverpool Council for Social Service, produced a scheme for the conversion of the baths to a sports centre for use by un-clubbable teenagers who were causing havoc on the streets. This required detailed negotiations with various councillors and officers of the local authority. Initial design work, costings and organisation of the funding was worked out by architects Jim Hunter and Nigel Worth. Without expert knowledge it is certain that this scheme would have floundered in early stages. Architectural services for inception and feasibility were donated free to the project. The value of these services was approximately £2,000. In addition to this, assistance had been provided by the staff at LCVS. b) Rotherhithe Workshops, Hope Sufferance Wharf, Southwark, London SE16 The renovation of warchouses and conversion to craft workshops and a dance studio on behalf of the Industrial Buildings Preservation Trust. This was a particularly difficult task in converting historic warehouses into low cost workshops, using paid direct labour teams, and inexperienced site management. The professional fees involyed came to at least £7,000, which were paid in full. However they were paid out of a number of grants, which took a very long time to assemble. In addition to that, initial feasibility studies were provided free of charge -although without those feasibility studies the project would never have been started. The immense amount of inception work which this project required was provided on a voluntary basis. The lack of funds for the planning stage undoubtedly led to higher costs later on. Sis c) Brunel Exhibition Project, London Si:16 d) Working out schemes _that Category 4: _Anti-vandalism a) ‘ Angela Street, Liverpool The project consisted of landscaping a former junkyard, followed by the restoration of Brunel's Engine House for the Thames Tunnel. The scheme was funded by a variety of charities, an appeal, local authority and DOE funds. There have been many difficulties causing substantial delay including obtaining the use of the site, the release of funds, the necessary approvals, agreement on specification, and raising more finance. Once again, the body of the work was done by Nicholas Falk on a voluntary basis. Some £3,242 worth of professional fees have been incurred to date by the architects Duffy, Eley, Giffone Worthington in addition to £1,938 worth of abortive work. Total amount of money received so far - £500. This case study reveals yet again the difficulty of getting schemes started -particularly where they involve older buildings which require very much more negotiation than the construction of new ones, and hence more professional fees. t mest fall within approved government prograanmdmbuedgsetse.g.inrelationtotheD.O.E.'sIndustrial Improvement Areas or the M.S.C.'s Special Opportunities Programme. Often 'third force' agencies are needed, particularly where there are multiple objectives and several sources of finance to be tapped. A good example of this problem is the difficulty that the Job Building Action Group (JAG) has had in setting up a training workshop and related flatted factories in Lambeth. Thougn Wicholas Falk helped the group devise a scheme involving a number of different voluntary groups, JAG lacked the capacity properly to evaluate the various possible sites and press the case’ for one of them. The Industrial Buildings Preservation Trust has spent around £500 on working up schemes for converting buildings owned by the GLC into workshops, and it is easy for a voluntary body's resources to be exhausted if nothing goes ahead. Local residents' or tenants' groups require professional help to combat vandalism, often in post-war developments, where the built environment has contributed to the problem. Hunter Associates of Liverpool were commissioned under the Inner Area Studies to carry out a scheme of Defensible Space in blocks of four storey walk-up flats in inner demonstrated the extent to which living conditions in those flats were virtually untenable, and it tested out some methods of improving them. The point of the inclusion of this in these case studies is that the money came from a special research fund. There is no normal source of finance to pay for this sort of work, although it is essential if improved living conditions for tenants are to be achieved. Liverpool. This experiment b) Tower Hill Estate, Kirkby, Knowsley c) Withens Centre, Cantril Farm, Liverpool Category 5: Use of derelict land The Lively Arts Centre, Dock St. London On behalf of the Half Moon Community Theatre, the Community end Resource Planning Group prepared a report looking at the revival of the surrounding area near Wiltons Music Hall. The report recommended refurbishing empty and derelict warchousing, out of doors activities on derelict land, the provision of low cost housing, #nd associated industrial units, whereas the centre of the square will be used by the local community for various activities. Joint clients were the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and the professional fees were assessed at £5,500. No fees have been received, and none are likely to be unless the scheme proceeds. =n lie a) This is a virtually uninhabited scheme of deck access, multi-storey maisonettes with low income families. In addition to the unsuitability of accommodation for low income families, the construction of the buildings is technically poor. Pre-cast concrete cladding panels leak at the joints, access decks leak water into the flats below, and condensation is rife. The tenants commissioned Hunter Associates to prepare technical reports in some cases required to back up legal action undertaken under Section 99 of the Public Health Act. Although some of the services can be obtained under the Legal Aid scheme, in practice the time scale relating to such payments is too long to work. A community aid fund would allow harrassed tenants groups to participate in the improvement of their own living conditions. The value of the consulting work was approximately £1,000. No payment received. This is a multi-level district shopping centre in the centre of an overspill estate. Residents are harrassed by delinquent teenagers who use the centre and the communal deck access as an unofficial adventure playground. Cars parked in the underground carpark are prone to break-ins and vandalism. Hunter Associates were asked by the residents to report on ways to make this centre safer. This report involved a considerable amount of study, and produced 8 proposals. There is no finance available to pay for the preparation of this report or the recommendation. The availability of a community aid fund would allow similar groups of residents to purchase technical expertise and to contribute to the decision making. Value of consultancy work approx. £1,000. No payment received. Community groups can often find a short term use for waste land and need help in securing it and in providing a technical solution for its community use. The services provided by Inter-Action's NUBS in helping the establishment of Urban Farms fall into this category. =aia b) Use ofland bencath motorways The study of land beneath an elevated motorway showed that it could provide facilities for the local community including a self-build theatre, low cost community facilities, a shop, landscape improvements, and a community hall. These projects were completed by a group of local architects acting individually or as a member of the community design group over three years (1971-74). The funding was organised through a charitable trust, and fee paying projects subsidised unpaid or voluntary work. Not all the proposals have been taken up, and there is a large amount of derelict land still unused, Category 6: Area Studies c) Other references There are a number of publications on this subject giving details of projects carried out. They include the Civic Trust's Urban Wasteland” report and Norwich City Council's "Heritage over the Wensum". Local people not only require explanations of the planning authority's proposals, but also need to commission independent studies, and obtain advice in formulating alternative proposals. a) A continuous programme in Canterbury Involving students, local groups and professionals refining and developing plans to mect the needs for people living in the area. For example, a recurring problem was what to do with cars in the city centre. The local authority proposed a multi-storey car park. One result of the studies demonstrated that almost as many Cars as could be accommodated in the multi-storey, could be parked in the existing surface car parks simply by laying them out properly. Potential saving of £2 million. Secondly, alternative proposals were made for a site for a large office development in a residential area. The public enquiry came out in favour of those alternatives. Thirdly, the design and negotiation of a community garden on land that had been blighted by road proposals in the middle of a conservation area. This garden is now proceeding. None of these projects would have been carried out without the area studies produced free of charge. b) An investigation into the effects of industrial development upon rural communities for the Easter Ross residents group in Scotland. Community and Resource Planning Group (CRPG) were asked to report on the likely effect of major industrial decisions upon existing rural areas. The report was made available to residents of Easter Ross, was summarised on television and radio, and was discussed in the House of Commons. Publication of 2,000 copies of the report was funded by the residents group. Assessed cost of professional fees £15,000; fees received £5,000. c) Category 7: Adult Education and Environmental Education a) Environmental Education for Adults and Schools Involvement of the public in planning matters is now central to Government policy. Some planning decisions-on _ rehousing, relocation, transport etc - have a direct bearing on individuals and on companies. Yet there are few methods by which the non-professional can acquire the know-how to survive and prosper. One of the root causes of urban troubles could be the lack of such education, and the subsequent apathy or antipathy toward environmental matters. Work done in Urban Studies Centres and the Newcastle Architectural Workshop demonstrate the need for special educational units or centres. Best linked closely with a School of Architecture and within the area of a sympathetic local authority the unit should draw together different design professions and teachers. Sao Opinion survey of industrial development around the Moray Firth in Easter Ross. CPRG was asked to undertake an opinion survey of 5% of the families living in Easter Ross with a view to discovering the extent of movement of people into and out of the area, the adequacy of employment and local amenities, the views of local people concerning existing industry, and the attitude of local people towards communication of official information. The document demonstrated a clear picture of life in Easter Ross with rapid acceleration of people moving into the area during the last five years; the desperate need for more jobs and a general desire for industrial development to be more closely related to the size and scale of existing communities. Assessed cost of professional fees: £5,000; fees recieved £900. There is a pressing need for people to be more aware of their urban environment, its quality, need and potential. Innovation in the community architecture/education field is becoraing increasingly important if we are to satisfy the needs of society. Finance is urgently required to set up an experimental unit(s) in an inner city/partnership area for a minimum period of five years. Pilot work would be geared to the needs of the community and would be monitored over the trial period. - This work would relate to programmes already evolving through institutions such as the Urban Studies Centres and the Newcastle Architectural Workshop. The capital cost of setting up such a unit is expected to be in the region of £30,000 and running costs for a staff of 6-8 approximately £60,000. The Unit would be a major innovation in the fields of higher and professional education. y 8: Arbitration This category covers cases where professional help is required to produce technical evidence in rent tribunals or to settle disputes between agprieved residents. a) Rod Hackney Associates appeared on behalf of Pensioners who could not afford an increase in rent. 45 professional hours were spent in this case, with no indication from the client on how they could repay professional charges. The bill remains outstanding. Solicitors acting for the tenants obtained fees through the Legal Aid funding system, but the architect did not. The architects’ involvement was necessary because structural and condition surveys had to be drawn up. In addition, the clients were trying to persuade the landlord to improve the property. A schedule of work, of drawings and specifications were required as information for the arbitration. Without free professional advice in the building field, a successful case could not have been entertained. -20- Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource RIBA Community Architecture Working Group Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Decenber 1978