IHBC Petition for Charter Consultation and Update
Web hub & resource: Revised October 2024

Introduction

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) is investigating the costs and benefits of securing chartered status. As well as undertaking research, the Institute is advancing internal and external consultations to gather ongoing thoughts from our members and stakeholders on impacts and options, including maintaining the status quo.

This work responds to a commitment agreed at our 2020 AGM when we adopted our Corporate Plan 2020-25, Further details details on more recent progress is outlined and linked below.

The IHBC may decide to submit a 'Petition for Royal Charter’, subject both to high levels of support across members and stakeholders, and with the agreement of the Privy Council Office (PCO) – the administrative lead on chartering. As with a planning application however, there is no guarantee that a petition for charter will succeed.

The most substantial progress recently has been the overwhelming support at our 2024 Annual General Meeting for the Board to advance a formal query to the PCO to explore our prospects should we petition for a Charter. Such a query takes the form of a ‘Memorandum’ on the IHBC, previously known as a ‘letter of intent’. The Memorandum should follow the detailed guidance offered by the PCO on the process on its website outlined HERE and detailed further in the resources listed below. 

This IHBC Petition for Charter Consultation web resource hosts our evolving understanding of a petition, successful or otherwise. It also serves as our evolving consultation hub, reference and news update for the institute's members, our networks and the widest stakeholders in the process. 

Feedback and Consultation

NB: Please also review the ‘Headline Resources’ listed below, as these will change throughout the programme.

Anyone can explore and contribute to discussions on a petition for charter across a range of social media platforms. Just use the hashtag #IHBCpetitionforcharter.

Everyone – not just IHBC members – is encouraged to offer thoughts, proposals, concerns, support and suggestions HERE. These submissions will inform the consultation process

If you would like to submit a formal statement to the IHBC for review and record, simply email the Institute’s Company Secretary Lydia Porter at admin@ihbc.org.uk.
Such statements will be individually acknowledged, logged, followed up and responded to as required.

Funding is also available for IHBC Branch and Network initiatives.
IHBC Branches and networks can apply for funding to support linked events etc. as detailed below.

Headline Resources (Updated October 2024)

See below for more detail

Privy Council Office Guidance
Applying for Royal Charter

IHBC CONSULTATION: PETITION FOR CHARTER 2024
Progress update to 2024

IHBC AGM 2024, 30 April
NewsBlog notice on AGM and voting and member support
‘Covering Report’ to the 2024 AGM
Web notice on 2024 AGM

IHBC Council, 27 February 2024
Consultation draft on the 2024 AGM Resolution for Council
NewsBlog notice of Council to members 
NewsBlog report and update following Council 


IHBC CONSULTATION: PETITION FOR CHARTER 2023
Progress update from 2023

FAQs (2023): Download (PDF)

Summary Background (to 2023)


IHBC Council 30th March 2023
IHBC NewsBlog Report: IHBC Council 
Briefing Note for Council
Presentation to Council 1:  Chartering and Charities
Presentation to Council 2:  Path to a Charter

IHBC Consultation: Keeping up to date

Please use the tabs below to explore the most recent updates

News
Events
Publications and Features
FAQs

Background

IHBC is a charity registered across the UK (including listing in Northern Ireland), and the professional body representing historic and built environment conservation practitioners in the public and private sectors.

Since 2014 the Institute has been advancing a wide-ranging modernisation that includes a reform of our governance, starting with our IHBC+ programme that tested new organisational structures. Most notable there was our ‘Council+’ assembly, offering a stronger and more inclusive voice of – and resource for – all our members.

In December 2020 the IHBC AGM adopted new Articles of Association, available HERE. That built on the lessons from the IHBC+ initiative. These Articles complied with current standards for UK charity regulators while also accommodating any decision on progressing towards a petition.

That same AGM, in 2020, also adopted the Corporate Plan 2020-25 (CP25) which committed the IHBC to: 

Explore and test chartered status internally and externally, including through a cost-benefit analysis, and in accordance with any new constitution (CP25, Object B, Key Action c.ii). 
Together the IHBC’s new Articles and Corporate Plan frame the current investigation of and consultation on a 'Petition for Royal Charter’: #IHBCPetitionforCharter.

This web hub and resource coordinates the IHBC’s evolving information and ongoing consultation programme on a petition for charter. As such it is a resource designed to reach across the institute's voluntary, executive and wider networks and stakeholders.

Branch & network funds for events and more linked to #IHBCpetitionforcharter

Funding is available to help the IHBC's Branch and voluntary network host and lead local events linked to the current consultation. Such events may include representatives from the IHBC’s Board and Council, including David McDonald, IHBC Chair; Lone le Vay, IHBC Vice Chair, and Mike Brown, IHBC President and Council Chair. 

Branches can register any event or activity linked to the consultation on social media using the tag #IHBCpetitionforcharter.

Apply for 
#IHBCpetitionforcharter 
funding

Local and Branch volunteers also may email thoughts, proposals, queries and suggestions for related event programmes to our Branch network leads at this email address: support@ihbc.org.uk.

IHBC October 2024