(Note: the RIAS Byelaws require 20 members as a quorum for the AGM with 50 full members present, the meeting was comfortably quorate).

Transcription

1 of the 100 th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland held at 9.30am on Friday at The Engine Shed, Stirling Members Present: Jack Aitken RIAS, John F Beaton RIAS, Trevor Black RIAS, Kirsteen Borland FRIAS, Vanessa Brown RIAS, William Brown RIAS, Donald Canavan FRIAS, Peter Collier RIAS, Iain Connelly PPRIAS, Jocelyn Cunliffe FRIAS, Orla Daly RIAS, Alex Durie RIAS, Stewart Fowler FRIAS, Robert Fraser RIAS, Sean Gaule RIAS, John Gerrard FRIAS, Claire Gibbons RIAS, Ian Gordon RIAS, Kristi Greer RIAS, Bobby Halliday RIAS, Stewart Henderson FRIAS, Jack Hugh FRIAS, Michael Jarvis FRIAS, Bruce Kennedy RIAS, Colin Lawson RIAS, Sandy Lees RIAS, Keith Macdonald RIAS, Neil McAllister RIAS, Rick McCluggage RIAS, Colin McCredie RIAS, Liliane McGeoch FRIAS, Diarmid McLachlan RIAS, Iain McNab RIAS, Colin McNeish FRIAS, Caroline Meikle RIAS, Rosalie Menon RIAS, John Paul Noble RIAS, Christine Palmer FRIAS, Malcolm Parry RIAS, John Peden RIAS, John Purves RIAS, David Ralph RIAS, Peter Ranson RIAS, Sheila Riddell FRIAS, Harman Scott RIAS, George Simpson FRIAS, Gordon G Smith FRIAS, Nigel Somner RIAS, Nick Thomson RIAS, Colin Thompson RIAS, Willie Watt PRIAS, Josh Wilson RIAS (Note: the RIAS Byelaws require 20 members as a quorum for the AGM with 50 full members present, the meeting was comfortably quorate). In Attendance: Tom Armistead, Richard Carr Hon FRIAS, Sarah Carruthers, Laura Frias, Michael Glen, Lauren Jenkins, David McDougall, Colin McLean Staff in Attendance: Neil Baxter Hon FRIAS, RIAS Secretary and Treasurer and Carol-Ann Hildersley, Senior Manager: Secretary & Treasurer s Office (minute taker). 1. Notice Calling the Meeting The notice calling this meeting was ed to all members with the Convention Programme on 18th April, in advance of the required three week notice period. 2. Apologies for Absence Jim Alexander FRIAS, Ian Stuart Campbell FRIAS, Dr Joyce Deans CBE PPRIAS, David Dunbar PPRIAS, Sholto Humphries PPRIAS, Roy Milne FRIAS, Douglas Read PPRIAS, Margaret Richards FRIAS, Andrew Wright OBE PPRIAS. 3. Minutes of AGM held Friday 13 th May 2016 at Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh The previous minutes were approved. Their adoption was proposed by Peter Ranson RIAS and seconded by Donald Canavan FRIAS. 4. Matters Arising from Minutes of AGM of 13 th May 2016 There were no matters arising. Page 1 of 5

2 5. Presentation of the Report by the President and Council for Session and Treasurer s Accounts for the Year Ending 31 December Annual Report The President requested that the Secretary read the following report on his behalf: Achievements and Performance Membership Active recruitment saw the Incorporation welcome 209 new full members, 223 students, 1 affiliate and 33 reinstatements. 10 Fellowships and 10 Hon Fellowships were awarded. Regrettably, 25 members resigned and 35 deaths were reported. Although we had 68 retirals and 19 removals for non-payment, we are up on fee paying membership by 225. By the year end the Incorporation had 448 more members overall than in The overall increase means that our member count reached 5268, a new record. Politics and PR and International Liaison The Festival of Architecture (see below) meant media coverage was significantly higher than usual, with over 850 substantial written and broadcast items, including numerous filmed interviews on BBC and STV and two appearances on BBC s The One Show. The President and/or Secretary met a number of Government Ministers, backbenchers and senior opposition members, including meetings with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson MSP, Linda Fabiani MSP, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Mike Mackenzie MSP, Mike Russell MSP, Tavish Scott MSP, Kevin Stewart MSP and Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP. The President and Secretary had constructive exchanges with A+DS Chair, Karen Anderson and CEO, Jim MacDonald and with the RIAI, RIBA, RSAW and RSUA Presidents. Liaison continued with international embassies and consulates, in particular with those of Iceland, Lithuania, The Netherlands and Norway. In early July, the Incorporation was honoured, in its centenary year, with a visit by our Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke enjoyed some forty minutes meeting staff, senior members and Festival sponsors, being photographed with the President and Past Presidents and hearing about the Festival of Architecture. Events The Edinburgh Convention included presentations from major international figures, including Eva Jiřičná, Rafael Moneo and Benedetta Tagliabue. Our Cross Party Group at the Parliament continues to host lively meetings in tandem with our partners in the RTPI. The Fellows Summer and Winter Receptions were busy and convivial. Ian Ritchie CBE Hon FRIAS addressed the Fellows Centenary Dinner in Glasgow. The RIAS Centenary and Awards Dinner in Glasgow was attended by 375 guests. HQ and Governance Festival Co-ordinators Sabrina Leruste and Sheree Ramage left in May and July respectively. Valerie Decker and Gordon Connelly joined the Festival Office in July (Gordon left in October). In July the Cities Expo team was appointed for the duration of the Festival s centrepiece exhibition. In August Marilyn Leishman, Receptionist/Bookshop Assistant retired after seven years, replaced by Elena (Lena) Sideri. RIAS Secretary, Neil Baxter, Hon FRIAS was awarded an Page 2 of 5

3 Honorary Fellowship of RIBA in October. In November, Louise McLeod, Senior Manager: Finance and Administration celebrated 30 years with the Incorporation. Emma Lucas, Events and Communication Assistant left in December, Valerie Decker taking on this role. Practice The Incorporation is developing its Chartered Practice brand with new signboards, new practice services consultants and strengthening links between practice and research. Expert articles were commissioned on building design, construction innovation, low carbon design and climate change. A CPD event to inform RIAS practices on building insurances, fees and appointments and SBCC contract updates was attended by over 60 members. A new suite of Contract Administration forms was made available on the RIAS website. The RIAS Conservation Accreditation scheme received five new applications and two renewals. A conservation workshop took place in March. Topics in our annual Conservation seminar in October included funding, fund-raising, project business plans, listing and stonework. Applications to Historic England and CADW (the Welsh Government s historic environment service) for recognition of RIAS Conservation Accreditation were successful. So RIAS conservation accredited architects are now also eligible for grant funded projects in England and Wales. By the end of 2016 the Energy Design Certification scheme was close to its 1,000th certificate. The number of dwellings covered by a certificate is 7,699 and total value of warrantable works nearly 780m with a further 1,300+ EPCs lodged in the Scottish EPC Register. The scheme s new website, including a non-domestic certification option, is close to launch. Consultations The Incorporation responded to consultations on the law of prescription and submitted final comments on ARB Professional Standards. We continued to participate in the review of procurement, commenting on guidance by the Scottish Futures Trust on consultant selection, dealing with abnormally low tenders, contractors selection and Project Bank Accounts. The RIAS has commented on Historic Environment Scotland s Draft Corporate Plan ( ) and reviewed the draft content of the COTAC Historic England Accreditation Matrix Project. We also responded to the consultation on transforming the National Trust. Education/CPD The Incorporation continued to provide support to the Association of Scottish Schools of Architecture (ASSA). Awards 67 submissions resulted in 11 RIAS Awards. This year the Lifetime Achievement Award went jointly to Tom Elder and Dick Cannon. The touring 2015 Doolan Award Exhibition visited 12 Chapter venues. The RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2016, judged by David Dunbar PPRIAS, Iain Dickson PPRIAS and Eleanor McAllister OBE Hon FRIAS, went to Page\Park Architects for The Saunders Centre, Glasgow and was presented by the Cabinet Secretary and Mrs Margaret Doolan Hon FRIAS at the National Museum of Scotland in November. Page 3 of 5

4 The annual RIAS/A+DS student awards were judged by Karen Anderson FRIAS, Chair Architecture and Design Scotland, Iain Connelly PPRIAS, Christophe Egret Hon FRIAS, who gave the second Andy MacMillan Lecture and Sandy Robinson RIAS from the Scottish Government. The Rowand Anderson Silver Medal was won by Daniel Cardno from the Scott Sutherland School. Consultancy/Competitions Competitions for the Knockroon Learning and Enterprise Campus appointments for East Ayrshire Council, and contractor appointment for The Music Hall, Aberdeen, were concluded. The design team appointment process was lodged for The National Galleries of Scotland s, new Archive and Collections Facility in Granton, Edinburgh. Chapters Chapter activity is key to the Incorporation s engagement with members throughout Scotland. The Chapters continue to provide lively and varied CPD, awards, political lobbying, annual dinners and other events which are fully reported in the Quarterly. The Chapters are all to be commended for the consistent quality and value of their voluntary endeavour. Honorary Fellowships Honorary Fellowships were presented to Patrick Doyle, Muriel Gray, Sir Angus Grossart, Mairi Hedderwick, Alan Jones PPRSUA, Sally Magnusson, Jim McColl MBE, Suzanne McIntosh, Professor Sean Smith, Albert Watson OBE, Ruth Wishart, Lady Sarah Wolffe QC and James Wolffe QC. Festival of Architecture was the centenary of the founding of the Royal Incorporation. In addition to a number of events for members and the honour of Edinburgh s floral clock, the Incorporation played host to the Festival of Architecture 2016 which, with financial support from Government and industry, was the most ambitious ever year-long celebration of any nation s architecture. We were joined in the Festival by over one hundred and twenty partner organisations. The RIAS Chapters took a very active part in curating over 460 events, educational and community based initiatives and publications. The Incorporation curated the exhibitions Scotstyle, The Ideal Hut Show, Out of Their Heads (at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery), The Cities Expo and Adventures in Space. The Festival s main goal was to engage the widest possible public with Scotland s architecture and its potential to improve lives. Attendees and participants numbered over one million five hundred and seventy-five thousand, nearly 30% of Scotland s population. We published Under One Roof, an invaluable website for the 500,000+ shared occupancy dwellings in Scotland (i.e. tenemental properties, old and new). Acknowledgements RIAS members, who participate in Chapter and HQ committees and activities, RIAS President Willie Watt, RIAS Honorary Treasurer, Iain Connelly PPRIAS, who chaired the Centenary, our Committee Chairs, Convenor of the Festival, David Dunbar PPRIAS, Vice-Chair, Sholto Humphries PPRIAS, Chapter Festival Co-ordinators, PPC and Council, the Secretary and the staff team are commended for their hard work throughout Page 4 of 5

5 5.2 Annual Accounts The President moved the adoption of the RIAS Accounts for year ending These were proposed by Gordon G Smith FRIAS and seconded by Michael Jarvis FRIAS. 6 Appointment of Auditors In 2016 Messrs Springfords (who tightened up their price in 2008 in recognition of our greatly improved internal accounting procedures and who have held that price since) were deemed to be offering good value and excellent service and duly re-appointed. They generously offered the same rate for the current financial year. Given that they have held their price now for nine years, the Secretary proposed a modest uplift in their fee for This was agreed by assent. 7 RIAS Council Elections The President reported that there were five candidates with four positions available. He went on to comment that having more candidates than places is always a good indication of enthusiasm and engagement with the Incorporation s work. Could I first of all say that we are very grateful to all the candidates for putting themselves forward and for their preparedness to support the Incorporation by serving on Council for three years. That said, the turn-out by our electorate, was again very low. For the record, it is frustrating that, no matter how much we simplify the voting process, our voter numbers struggle to rise above 5% of our members. That said we must presume, as the other 95% presumably do, that the votes cast represent the shared view of our members. Our independent adjudicators were President Elect Stewart Henderson FRIAS and John Norman Hon FRIAS. The President declared Dr Gordon Anderson FRIAS, Donald Canavan FRIAS, Rosalie Menon RIAS and Christine Palmer FRIAS duly elected. He looks forward to working with them. 8 Installation of President The President had issued a call for nominations at the autumn 2016 Council. The President nominated Stewart Henderson. This nomination was unopposed and Council gave Stewart Henderson their unanimous support. Willie Watt indicated that he had great pleasure in transferring the role of President RIAS to his successor, Stewart Henderson. He indicated that Stewart was elected unopposed as the Incorporation s President for the session The formal transfer of office would take place after lunch. Stewart Henderson was welcomed with acclamation. 9 Any Other Business There was no other business. 10 Location of Convention 2018 The RIAS Convention will take place in the Aberdeen Chapter mid-may We look forward to working with the Aberdeen Society of Architects. Page 5 of 5