3:35PM Faculty chairman to sit on upcoming governing council meeting after years of lobbying for presence

RICS QS faculty chairman Michael Byng today declared a major victory in ensuring member interests were heard at the RICS after the Institution agreed to him attending an upcoming International Governing Council meeting.

Byng described the move, agreed yesterday, as "very very significant". He and three other faculty chairmen will appear at the meeting, due to be held in Newcastle on 28 November.

"This shows our voices are being heard and puts us at the heart of the institution," Byng said. The quartet of chairmen will not have voting rights at the meeting, which Byng said would have only happened if the RICS had changed its constitution.