Changes to the disciplinary procedure undertaken by the Accountancy and Actuarial Disciplinary Board designed to maintain transparency and fairness in the sector have been published. The proposals, finalised after a wide review of the Accountancy Scheme, public consultation and discussions with professional bodies that take place in the scheme, include changes to the way the disciplinary procedure works. Chairman of the AADB Timothy Walker said: 'The changes we are making demonstrate the board's commitment to the principles of independence, fairness andtransparency in its disciplinary arrangements. They are the result of extensiveconsultation with the participants and others.' Changes include applying the evidential test before a matter goes to a disciplinary tribunal and the introduction of a desirability test; procedures to appoint tribunal and appeal tribunal members by an independent convener; a new power to conduct preliminary enquiries, subject to an agreed protocol, before making any decisions to investigate; restriction of the tribunal's discretion to award costs against the board, to circumstances where the AADB is found to have acted 'unreasonably'; and finally, changes to its voting arrangements. The changes, the board says, are designed to provide a 'demonstrably fair, independent, and expert system for investigating and, where appropriate, hearing significant public interest disciplinary cases'. Any changes must be agreed by the participants of the Accountancy Scheme and the Financial Reporting Council. Walker said if they go ahead, the new methods will come into effect by January 2010 at the latest.