RIGA, Jan 11 (LETA) - The Riga City Council's City Development Committee today supported liquidation of the Riga Architect's Office and Riga Construction Board.

The two institutions will be shut down on August 31, and their functions will be taken over by the Riga municipality's City Development Department from September 1.

A special commission will be set up for liquidation of the Riga Architect's Office and Riga Construction Board to manage and supervise transfer of the two institutions' functions to the City Development Department.

The final decision on liquidation of the Riga Architect's Office and Riga Construction Board will be taken by the Riga City Council.

According to LETA archives, the Construction Board was set up on January 1, 2009. At that time, the reorganization was necessary for streamlining the construction process, eliminating illegalities and corruption in the construction industry, and raising the prestige of the Riga City Council.

The reorganization was caused by a corruption scandal involving Vilnis Strams, former director of the City Development Department, and his deputy, Peteris Strancis, as well as Raimonds Janita, the head of the department's administration.