Federation of Property Societies (FPS)

Objectives

FPS Scotland was formed in November 2001 at a meeting in the COSLA offices when property representatives of 28 of the 32 councils met with representatives of the Scottish Professional Societies.

Links were put in place with the Scottish Executive, COSLA, Audit Scotland and with CIPFA and these are being consolidated together with new links to other organisations.

The role of FPS Scotland

An umbrella organisation representing a consolidated voice on property matters to the Scottish Executive, COSLA, Audit Scotland and any other interested parties.

The membership of FPS Scotland is open to:

1. The Property Societies present within Scotland (ACES, SCALA, SCQS) would be represented by the Chairman and one other permanent representative.
2. The wider membership for annual meetings would be the Scottish Local Authorities represented by the most senior property related officers within the Council

The Aims and Objectives

• Acting as a forum for discussion on all matters affecting local government property including asset management.
• Co-ordinating the views and actions of the different professions and bodies involved in local authority property.
• Providing a consolidated response to general or common issues affecting local authority property to COSLA and Scottish Government.
• Sharing information between the working groups of the societies

Within this 'umbrella' arrangement, to preserve and develop the identity and effectiveness of the constituent property societies and ensure that each society is fully informed on relevant national policy issues and developments.

To hold meetings for the purpose of:

• promoting and developing the professional knowledge and skills of members;
• considering and discussing problems of procedure and practice;
• collecting, analysing and distributing property-related information, and
• exchanging knowledge and opinion on matters of professional interest.

To sponsor and to co-ordinate research and development throughout the membership of FPS, to avoid duplication and to ensure the widest co-operative benefit to facilitate the above objectives.

To maintain a current database of property representatives from Scottish Local Authorities

Roles and Responsibilities

FPS Scotland will be lead by a Chair chosen from one of the societies with a term of office of one year. The rotation by society will be ACES, SCALA, SCQS.

CIPFA will provide permanent secretarial support to the group.

The chair will be invited to two FPS meetings in London each year to report to the board on progress in Scotland. The costs of this will be supported by FPS

Meetings

The executive council will meet three times a year on dates and in a venue to be agreed and will consist of the Chair, Secretary, Presidents of each society and a permanent representative from each society

A further open meeting will be held annually when representatives from all Scottish Councils will be invited.