Search industry gathers for first dedicated conference
6 December 2012
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) held the first of what is expected to become an annual event for the search industry last week.
Attracting over 50 members from across the industry, the conference, which was specifically tailored for those from within the searches profession, saw CoPSO members gather to enjoy an afternoon of networking and topical presentations, tailored to address the key issues facing today’s property search providers.
The conference, which took place last Thursday in London provided attendees with a series of updates including presentations from the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) and the Land Registry. In addition, members were able to access an in-depth update on the Council’s activity over last year, while discussing CoPSO’s future objectives – which will include a strong drive to get the Search Code specifically recognised by the majority of the UK’s lenders in their Part 2s of the Council of Mortgage Lenders handbook over the next six months.
David Woodward, an inspector for the PCCB, provided delegates with a detailed introduction to the Property Codes Compliance Board and its key role regarding Search Code compliance. As part of the presentation, Mr Woodward talked the audience through the PCCB’s compliance activity plan, which it is now in the process of delivering. The plan, which includes more rigorous pre-registration checks, more extensive annual registration renewal checks and an expanded programme of physical inspections, has been designed to further strengthen the Search Code – an already recognised stamp of quality for regulated property searches. Attendees were also given the opportunity to provide feedback on the PCCB’s role to date and to put forward new ideas and suggestions, for the compliance board to consider.
The audience also heard from Allison Bradbury, Strategic Development Manager and Paul Dowse, Head of Strategic Development at the Land Registry. The pair talked through the current proposals around Local Land Charges and the current plans for a prototype to centralise the registers with the Land Registry. The audience were also given an update regarding the Con 29 Information Prototype, which the Land Registry plans to develop with Government Digital Service. In addition to being given an insight into Land Registry’s planned timeline for delivering this activity, CoPSO members were also advised of a new steering group which is being set up to input into the project and will include representatives from CoPSO itself.
Chairman of CoPSO, James Sherwood-Rogers, who hosted the day’s event said: “Last week’s conference was a great opportunity for our members to get together and gain some valuable insights into some of the key issues, currently facing our industry. As members of the search industry there are limited opportunities throughout the year to attend such a conference, specifically tailored for our profession and the early feedback we have received suggests this is something that our members would like to see established as an a annual event. In addition to the external speakers, who kindly gave their time to present during the day, the conference also provided a valuable opportunity for members to get an in-depth update and insight into the Council and all of our activities over the last year. As well as talking through some of our key milestones and successes, we were also able to present our plans for the next year and to obtain immediate and direct feedback from the very members we represent. This opportunity was invaluable and will ensure that we continue to best represent both our members and the wider search industry. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who attended and I hope you found the event both interesting and of informative.”
The conference, which was exclusively for CoPSO members, was free of charge for all CoPSO Executive, Associate and Affiliate members, with a maximum number of two delegates per company.
For further information or to access copies of the presentations email: info@copso.org.uk or call: 0871 423 7191 Follow the CoPSO Chairman on James Sherwood-Rogers on twitter: @JamesS_R
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Notes to Editors
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) is the major trade association for the property search industry. Members provide a broad range of property search reports including local, environmental, mining, chancel repair, drainage and water data and undertake over 2 million searches each year.
The membership includes water companies, environmental search providers and organisations offering local searches.
Today, CoPSO members produce 80% (by volume) of all searches produced in the market. www.copso.org.uk