The 6th Edge Debate: 28th October 1998

Action Points from the Sixth Debate

1. Other groups to be the raiding parties (not institutions - but be flexible enough to enable raiding)
2. Institutions to collaborate on aims esp. directions given by presidents
3. Fact-finding missions (incl. policy study groups)+ umbrella groups. Try again _ Depends on who tries to pull it together? Gov't as a lever? Good ideas have legs (not question of authority)
4. New organisations/groupings to innovate
5. Speak to ministers on areas in which they have an interest. Introduce secondary questions e.g.: 4.4 m new homes/rev. construction ind. Celebrate 2000.
6. Reconcile new directions with grass roots membership
7. Charge for delivering buildings (consultants) would also be vehicle for reducing dispute
8. Re-organise away from function to deliver product cf.: manufacturing. Institutions to play an enabling role in this shift/ref. raiding parties.
9. New clubs not to be confrontational to existing inst./not raiding parties
10. Agents of change- helping members to see how they can add value/esp. education programme
11. Need to threaten institutions/suggest removal of charters through Eng. Council.
12. Reconcile great dreams with achievable ends through step functions
13. Recognise institutions need espirt de corps/overlay other connections on this structure + vertical strands + international dimension.
14. Remove accreditation to revolutionise what goes on. Look for will to create new accreditation/let market decide.
15. Need nimble policy to move around fixed structure
16. More than top down. Need to work from bottom up as well/organic growth/more participatory/junior members treated with disdain.
17. Sustainability club vertical and youth driven/other side of the coin to Egan
18. Institutions, as long as seen as projectionist, will be seen as irrelevant
19. Can institutions stomach change being forced on them by clients? Ditch ACE/RIBA terms of engagement and work with NEC. Produce division of design responsibilities for the built environment/cf. BSRIA
20. Focus also on what ought to be done
21. Continue to represent trust/confidence. Need to look at educational system/test what it is that creates value
22. Focus on development process
23. Share process of Stansfield Smith Review with other institutions
24. Everything goes back to good education. Best possible club for any institution. Put education as front of house agenda item for strategic review. Link thinking with other bodies
25. Institution form to follow function/square with sustainability/joined-up thinking
26. Engage in more dialogue with trade associations
27. Institutions to enable more multi-disciplinary practices
28. Lobby Gov't to create framework for institutions/move away from sector divisions/organise to represent all of a function.
29. Multi-institutional cpd activities at branch level
30. Should only accredit multi-disciplinary degree courses
31. Once Eng. Council accredited should encourage to join other institutions
32. Should be a pan-interdisciplinary student body
33. Structure institution charters to match needs of industry
34. Institutions to deliver design team leaders with career development route with a basket of skills.

Government has invited us to consider:

Come up with propositions for:

1. Integrated transport policy
2. 4.4 m new homes
3. Egan
4. Rogers
5. Kyoto