Risk Surveyor, Historic England East Why should I appoint a - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser

• Presenter: Mrs Trudi Hughes, Heritage at

Risk Surveyor, Historic England East

• Why should I appoint a specialist?
• Importance & benefits

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: general

• Why? Under the Inspection of Churches Measure 1955

as amended by the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 all consecrated buildings of the Church of England must be inspected once every five years by a Chartered Architect or a Chartered Building Surveyor (the professional adviser) who is approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: general

• All new (proposed) appointments have to be approved by the DAC,
• Benefits: the individual concerned will have / need to demonstrate relevant

specialist expertise, qualifications and experience;

• They will be acquainted with church buildings, traditional building

techniques, Diocesan policies and the seemingly complex processes involved;

• They should be able to navigate you through the process of managing all

issues relating to historic fabric of the highest order of significance. i.e., the process of managing building repair, maintenance and improvements

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: how to start?

• The PCC need to set project objectives
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: the QIR

• Your Adviser should be able to carry out the

QIR, including the provision of clear advice on priorities and interim updates on the most urgent repair needs for ongoing maintenance plans and grant applications.

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: the QIR

• They will have a recognisable conservation philosophy; understanding of

architectural history; understanding of SPAB guidance on repairs and maintenance & Historic England’s Conservation Principles & Practical Building Conservation (PBC) books and other relevant policies;

• Diocesan Advisory notes & national requirements (the Diocese of St Albans’

DAC Advisory note 2 and appendices, is especially helpful)

• They will generally have a deep knowledge and understanding of historic

building techniques and materials and their behaviour in use;

• They will have a good working knowledge of relevant ecclesiastical &

secular law.

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Grant applications

• A good adviser should also be able to assist the

PCC in making grant applications, and this might helpfully include the provision of clear, illustrated up to date reports to help make the technical case for grant

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Grant applications

• This will include a good working knowledge of the

technical requirements of grant schemes, including HLFs Grants for Places of Worship Scheme;

• Knowledge of other relevant sources of grant and

requirements of each

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: General

• They will advise on the need for, and appointment of
• ther specialisms, such as:
• Structural Engineer, Ecologist, Conservator, Quantity

Surveyor, Architectural Historian, Environmental specialist (fungal and beetle attack); M&E Engineers

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: the PCC must

• Get into a proactive mindset – you are the Client and

need to lead!

• You set the brief - decide what you want, by when & the

constraints (useful guidance in DAC Advisory leaflet 2)

• You may have to advertise
• You should seek detailed fee proposals

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Projects

• Most Advisers can provide a full technical service from project

inception to completion, including strategic and day-to-day project management; providing indicative costs for, and specifying and tendering the works;

• Remember: they have a responsibility to report to you as the Client,

and to deliver your project in accordance with the objectives agreed at the outset. You need to actively engage throughout the project

• May include design as well as, and may be separate from repair;

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Projects

• Tender reporting; advising on appointments

under relevant forms of contract;

• Post contract administration, quality assurance

and cost control;

• Post-completion advice

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Procurement

• Selection of your Adviser– many grant

schemes routinely require this. Will involve

• Setting clear criteria for selection;
• (often) advertising

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Procurement

• Ask for evidence of previous, recent similar projects

successfully delivered;

• References;
• Sample QIR for a building similar to your own;
• Their terms of business

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Procurement

• Interview: an essential opportunity to see who you might

get; opportunity to explore their approach to your building, and to you. How well do they understand your needs?

• High quality, timely communication and dialogue is vital:

how well do you feel that they communicate with you?

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Procurement

• Fee breakdown: if its not clear and

complete, then ask! You need to know the bottom line & the potential for variations;

• Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions, even

if the answer may seem obvious!

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: Procurement

• Selection should be based on ‘best value’
• Can be 70% quality and 30% fee
• Make sure you ask the right questions and that all

contenders are asked the same questions, and that they are given the opportunity to ask questions.

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: procurement

• BEFORE YOU APPOINT: check out
• Terms and conditions – QIRs
• Terms and conditions – repairs projects
• Terms and conditions – design projects
• Check there are no conflicts between these and grant

givers’ requirements, and what you want as Clients.

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: further information

• Diocesan Officers: as listed at the end of advisory

leaflet 2.

• Diocesan website

https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/finance/buildings/

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: further information

• Churchcare http://www.churchcare.co.uk/
• National Churches Trust

http://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/

• Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Churches

Trust http://bedshertshct.org.uk/

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser: further information

• RIBA: Royal Institute of British Architects Client Advisory

Service (for RIBA Conservation-accredited Architects);

• AABC: Architects Accredited in Building Conservation
• RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for

Conservation-accredited Chartered Building Surveyors;

Selecting and working with your professional adviser

• What if it goes wrong?
• Speak to your adviser! most will respond positively:

disputes are generally in no-one’s interests. If there's still an issue:

• Speak to their professional body
• If all else fails there are Arbitration procedures

Selecting and Working with your professional adviser:

• If you’ve got it right, it will be a long-lasting, rewarding and mutually

beneficial arrangement!

• A partnership based on mutual respect and understanding;
• The adviser will benefit from inspecting the church over a period of

time, thus allowing for greater refinement, care and certainty in the advice given;

• An ongoing dialogue and communication, underpinned by the

delivery of sound, timely financial and technical advice.