David G on BBC Two - Politics Scotland

On 18 January 2012 airing on BBC Two, David Gibbon gave evidence representing RICS to the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Regeneration Committee. The subject of the committee's inquiry was "Dangerous buildings and building MOTs", issues fresh in the public consciousness following recent high winds. The proposal for a form of voluntary MOT for buildings was put forward by the Built Environment Forum Scotland, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors and the Scottish Building Federation. They saw it as having multiple benefits in promoting a more informed approach to building maintenance and the use of properly qualified contractors. David Gibbon supported the idea of a trial to test the feasibility of the proposal. He was very keen to promote a planned approach to building maintenance pointing out that planned maintenance is cheaper than reactive maintenance and basing repair work on a systematic survey and obtaining quotations for work on a well-defined basis. However he had some reservations about the practicality of a MOT-style scheme. It would seem unlikely to change the behaviour of owners of dangerously neglected buildings. He was also questioned where the line should be drawn between the public and the private interest in property. The representatives of the Scottish Association of Building Standards and the Scottish Government Built Environment Directorate explained the current constraints affecting Local Authorities in dealing with dangerous and defective buildings.

The segment was featured near the end of Politics Scotland at time: 50:40.

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