QSs must ‘stop squabbling' claims new RICS president

Future RICS president David Tuffin has called for QSs to "stop squabbling internally" and start contributing ideas on how the institution could improve.

His call comes after an unsettling year for QSs in the RICS. The former chairman of the construction and QS faculty Launce Morgan quit last summer and the present incumbent Michael Byng was found guilty of professional misconduct in November.

Tuffin said: "I want ideas from QSs and construction faculty members. They can moan all they want provided they've got a constructive suggestion. People say ‘to come up with ideas is not my job' but I say yes it is."

He added: "There is no reason why any RICS member should not get their voice heard." The RICS channels of communication were already in place, he said, in the form of local associations and the governing council.

Tuffin, a building surveyor, denied QSs would be sidelined during his year-long term, due to start in July 2007. He said: "QSs are a major part of the industry. We need surveyors to believe in themselves and to stop squabbling internally."

On Jeremy Hackett, who is leading the Stop the Rot campaign to reform the RICS, Tuffin said: "His vehemence can be unhelpful. Some of the issues he complains about are not such big issues as perhaps he supposes. The long running vendetta he seems to have on certain issues seems to drag him back. It's time to move on."

There is no reason why any RICS member should not get their voice heard

David Tuffin

Hackett is calling for a root and branch overhaul of RICS departments, a reduction in the size of the governing council and reform of the RICS' regulations. His proposals include simplifying the 16-faculty structure and various forums, which he says overlap.

Tuffin conceded: "(Hackett also) has some very good ideas and his views have moderated since he's joined the governing council."

Tuffin, who is managing partner of building surveyor Tuffin Ferraby Taylor, argued that the RICS was the "fastest improving professional institution". He said: "The RICS is much better than other societies, such as the law society... It is the finest networking club I have ever come across. We get information right at the sharp end, so I can't understand why more people don't serve on (our) committees. They argue they are too busy, they have a young family or they're working on their career. But if you want to work on your career, get into the RICS."

The RICS is currently undertaking a performance review, which Tuffin said was showing that members were increasingly happy with the organisation.