The new South East Branch Chairman is Robin Orme MA MPhil RIBA FCIArb. He has worked as an architect for nearly twenty five years, and is now a Practice Manager, Chartered Arbitrator and accredited adjudicator.
At the start of a new year for the Branch, I should like to express our thanks to the retiring Chairman, Harvey Mason, for his sterling work over the past year, and to Roger Clarke, who has retired as Editor of News & Views, after a lively eight issues. We give a warm welcome to Peter Cousins, who has taken over from Roger, and we thank Peter Horne for continuing as Joint Editor.
The Chartered Institute's 'Agenda for Change' has been approved by an overwhelming majority of those who voted. If the Privy Council gives its final seal of approval, the Institute can now move on. The Branch Committee is waiting to see what new arrangements are made for contacts between HQ and the branches, now that the smaller Board of Trustees is replacing Council, and our representative will no longer be attending four Council meetings each year. If there is anything about the Institute you feel strongly about, let us know and we will take it up with Bloomsbury Square.
As ever, the Branch has an active programme of meetings (see page …). We try to cover a wide range of subjects of interest to Branch members. Confirmed topics include 'Professional Indemnity Claims' (for those of you with a PI policy, are you up to date with the latest risks and exclusions?), 'The Changing Role of the Expert' (much in the news a couple of months ago in a non-construction field), and 'The CIMAR 100-day Arbitration Procedure' (to be launched in the near future as we went to press). Suggestions from members for future talks are very welcome, particularly for topics outside the area of construction.
The Summer Outing this year will be to Loseley House near Guildford, with a guided tour and lunch. It's an enjoyable day out and an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones, with (in the past) excellent weather every year. And now is the time to put Friday 12th November in your diaries for the Branch Annual Dinner - more details in the next issue.
Attendance at the monthly evening meetings continues to increase, and we are seeing more new faces. The informal dinner afterwards is excellent value and has been a particular success with good opportunities for discussion and making new friends. We have plans in the coming year for a Branch Surgery (essential CPD for Panel Members), and an Entry Course for those who are interested in 'private dispute resolution' and want to join the Institute. New members are the future of the Institute, so please tell your colleagues about the benefits of becoming a member (for more details, visit the website at www.arbitrators.org, or contact Diane Howard for a leaflet on 020 7421 7444/ dhoward@arbitrators.org).
Robin Orme