RICS Scotland Joint Rural and Geomatics Professional Group Board

The Professional Group Board exists to promote, influence and advise on issues affecting chartered surveyors within the Rural and Geomatics sector within Scotland.

The Board have been busy working on particular areas of current interest for the professional and the current market needs on behalf of the membership. Below is a summary of some of these issues.

Map Data Inaccuracies in the Land Register 
A working group from the Board has been set up with members of the Law Society of Scotland and the Registers of Scotland to discuss further the need to exchange digital information with the Keeper and the potential for updating the RICS "Plans for Conveyancing" publication to reflect current technology and working practices. The group also promoted the need to update the Site Control Initiative project.

Tenant Farming Forum 
A representative from the Board attends the Tenant Farming Forum (TFF).  One of the main items discussed at these meetings is the TFF response to the Scottish Government proposals to amend the Agricultural Holdings Act 1991 and 2003.

RICS is to lead on guidance for a fast track arbitration template. Parties can then agree whether or not to adopt this model for appointing an arbiter which would give people an option to try and reach a conclusion without resort to the courts.

Joint workings with SAAVA 
SAAVA has been set up in Scotland since March 2010 and is now a local association of CAAV. The first CAAV accredited exams to be held in Scotland will be in November 2012. Members of SAAVA who want to gain CAAV qualification would have six years to reach that level. RICS Rural members can apply to sit the exam as the RICS qualification is held in high regard.  The exam content will be reviewed and amended where necessary to make it relevant for Scotland.

Education Issues 
It is critical that the delivery of rural property courses is maintained in Scotland and that every effort is made to secure the sustainability of the existing postgraduate courses. There is a need to actively and positively promote and market the existing postgraduate courses in order to increase student numbers and improve the quality. 

RICS Scotland members will be invited to put themselves forward to help with a wide variety of field trips/visits. They will also be asked to assist in expanding short-term work experience opportunities either during the academic year or prior to the students commencing on their course.

Joint Rural and Geomatics Professional Group Board Members