Council is keen to engage with our members and to hear your questions and views and we will be setting time aside on each meeting agenda for this purpose.  If you have a question to raise with Council please visit Ask Governing Council (rics.org). 

President’s address

  • This was the final Council meeting to be chaired by Tina Paillet, who gave a President’s address highlighting RICS achievements over the past year. Implementing the Future Foundations strategy was a key focus this year, including enhancing value for members, attracting a diverse next generation, strengthening RICS’ position as trusted advisor and raising RICS’ profile in leadership on sustainability. Finally, the President spoke about how RICS can ensure the legacy of these achievements lives on.

Governing Council membership

  • This was also the final Council meeting for five current Governing Council members: Alexia Nalewaik, Andrew Gooding, William Jones, Michael Peer and Christopher Seymour. The President made a presentation to these Council members in recognition of their service to RICS.
  • The 2025 Senior Vice President, Maureen Ehrenberg and eight incoming Governing Council members - Victoria Clapp, Alison Cosa, Lynda Rawsthorne, Stephen Ballesty, Jagath Keerthisooriya, Jason Hardman and Graham Jones - whose terms of office start on 1 January 2025, attended the meeting as non-voting observers as part of their induction to Governing Council.

RICS 2025 business plan and budget

  • The primary purpose of the meeting was for Governing Council to consider the RICS 2025 business plan and budget. The Chair of RICS Board, led the presentation to Council and gave assurance regarding RICS Board’s prior review of the business plan and budget. The Chair of Audit Risk Assurance & Finance Committee (ARAFC) gave assurances as to the oversight of the budget by ARAFC.
  • The CEO, and the Executive Team explained and answered questions on key aspects of the business plan.
  • The Chair of the Standards & Regulation Board (SRB), gave assurance regarding the Standards and Regulation budget.
  • Following detailed review and challenge, Governing Council approved the RICS 2025 business plan and budget as recommended by RICS Board and SRB.

2025 corporate objectives, key results and KPIs

  • Council considered the 2025 corporate objectives, which had been approved by RICS Board. The Chair of RICS Board gave assurance that RICS Board was comfortable with the level of ambition therein.
  • Following review and discussion, Governing Council agreed to ratify RICS Board’s decision regarding approval of the 2025 corporate objectives, key results and KPIs.

Entry & Assessment Consultation – Full Report from SRB

  • Council considered the final report of SRB on the entry and assessment consultation, which was introduced by the Chair of SRB. Council noted the intended next steps including the establishment of an implementation and oversight group to ensure the effective implementation of the entry and assessment recommendations.
  • Council acknowledged the importance of the work that had been carried out and awaits the next iteration of the implementation plan.

Questions from Members

  • It was noted that no questions had been received from members by the deadline for questions to be considered at the November Council meeting, although one technical question received after the deadline had been passed to the regulation team for their response.

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