Further supplementary evidence from Nigel
Wakefield
I and many other members of the BII have just
realised that John McNamara is appearing at the next hearing that
the Pub Co's will be giving evidence.
It was always stressed that my submission to
the Select Committee was always totally independent of the BII
and that they could not be associated with it, which I accepted.
My main point was the RICS method of Valuation
and the use of basic BII qualifications to satisfy a requirement
far in excess of the qualifications and experience provided.
I raised these points to the RICS and after
their only reply I suggested that possibly an informal discussion
take place to resolve these points before the Select Committee
convened, they did not reply at all.
I then raised these points with Steve Howe Director
of Membership for the BII and then had a meeting with John McNamara
and Steve Howe and discussed these points saying that the rental
levels were causing great hardship to our members, which goes
without saying, and the qualifications being used were incapable
of providing the level of professionalism to satisfy the requirement
of a Competent Operator. The RICS have now toned this down to
a reasonably successful operator. John McNamara said that they
could not get involved because of their Charitable Status and
that it was Trade Protection, I pointed out that the RICS Valuation
System was the root cause of the abuse, by misuse and over interpretation
for financial convenience, However if the BII wrote to the RICS
as one professional body to another expressing concerns about
the effect that the Valuation method was having on our members
and suggesting that we have an informal discussion to at least
try and resolve some or all of the problems before the Select
Committee Hearings, then both bodies would not come under adverse
comment. John McNamara agreed to do this but I in turn had to
promise not to tell anyone about the letter, which I agreed. If
the RICS failed to respond that was their problem and at least
the BII would be seen to have made a serious attempt at resolving
a very serious issue.
I obviously could not mention this in my submission
because of the timing, but I discovered the day before the first
hearing that no letter was sent from the BII to the RICS and now
the appearance is that John McNamara is representing the BII on
the day that the Pub Co's are giving evidence. At the meeting
they both agreed that by a softly, softly approach this matter
might be resolved or improved and that the present system used
by Pub Co's was causing serious problems to membership.
Sadly they effectively silenced me, until the
Select Committee convened, some of the more senior members of
the BII are not happy about this.
28 November 2008
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