All new elected members to take their seats by next July following recommendations by independent review

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors will hold elections for a restructured governing council in the first half of next year.

The institution has confirmed it will implement recommendations to shake up the composition of its governing council and said the new members will be in place by 1 July.

The RICS also said it will launch an open recruitment process for appointing a chair of the new board within the coming weeks.

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All 21 elected members will take their seats on the RICS’ governing council by 1 July next year

The recommendations were made by former senior civil servant Michael Bichard in his independent review of the RICS, which was ordered in autumn last year following a governance scandal at the institution.

Bichard’s review has set in motion sweeping changes at the 154-year old body which aim to make its governance structure more transparent and accountable, including through making the governing council more representative of members.

Elections for all 21 of the council’s elected members will take place next year, consisting of seven seats for professional disciplines, 13 seats for geographic regions and one seat to represent younger members.

There will be a total of 28 seats in the new council, three more than the current make-up.

Unelected members will consist of three seats for the presidential team - who are elected by the governing council - two independent appointed seats and two co-opted appointed seats.

A newly formed nominations and remunerations committee, created through the merger of two former committees, will review the election process to encourage a diverse range of applicants from across the profession, the RICS said.

In line with Bichard’s recommendations, the RICS president will also chair the governing council for the duration of their one-year term, supplanting the current role of governing council chair which is held by Nick Maclean.

> Also read: Explainer: key recommendations in the RICS review

The presidential year will begin on 1 January each year to be in step with the RICS decision this summer to change its financial year end from 31 July to 31 December, as well as align with the existing membership year.

The change in term timing has been made to “encourage accountability and strategic alignment at all levels of the institution”, the RICS said.

Current president Clement Lau will stay in post until 31 December, extending his term in office by a few days, before being succeeded by president elect Ann Gray.

Maclean said providing transparency and accountability is vital for rebuilding trust in the institution. “These changes will ensure the full breadth of our profession’s experience and perspectives are driving RICS’ strategic direction, so that we can effectively lead on issues that matter and deliver for members and on our public interest mandate.”

Lau added: “RICS members bring unparalleled insight and passion to their work. By empowering members to lead, I firmly believe that these reforms will equip RICS to support the profession more effectively and sustainably in their work to the public advantage in the years ahead. 

“Governing council is moving at pace to implement the reforms recommended by Lord Bichard.”

Other recommendations made by Bichard which have been put into effect include the appointment of Bichard himself as the RICS’ first senior independent governor.

The responsibilities of the role include scrutinising the actions of the RICS’ governing council and committees.

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