An independent audit to review potential conflicts of interest at CABE (The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) will focus on the Chairman of CABE, Sir Stuart Lipton, who is also Chair of the property developer Stanhope plc. The audit, initiated by the Government, will be carried out by chartered accountants AHL Ltd and will look for evidence of non- compliance with the principles embodied in the Nolan report on standards in public life.
The commercial interests of the Chair and any commercial interests he shares with CABE?s Commissioners will be under scrutiny, as well as current procedures for the management of conflicts of interest. The investigation was prompted by complaints made to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, CABE?s principal funder, about Stanhope?s work on South Kensington underground station. The plans for this development were submitted to CABE?s Design Review Committee for informal advice in 2002. Unusually, the local authority did not approach CABE for public comment when the application was formally entered; but CABE?s confidential advice, which was broadly favourable, was leaked to the public, prompting the complaints.
CABE, which currently operates a comprehensive conflict of interest procedure including a commissioners register of interests, is co-operating fully with the audit. A spokesperson emphasised that Lipton played no part in the Design Review process, adding ?We take this issue seriously. There is always the potential for conflicts of interest. It?s important that our procedures are impeccable and seen to be so.? The audit will take two to three weeks, with a full report expected by mid April.