Minister for Housing and Communities Alex Neil has announced the appointment of six new members to the Private Rented Housing Panel, four legally qualified Chairpersons and two Surveyor members

These appointments will be for five years and will run from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016.

The four legally qualified chairpersons are:

David Bartos - Graduated as a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from Edinburgh University in 1988 and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1993. Since then he has practised as an advocate in the areas of property and housing law, commercial law and wills, trusts and executries and has regularly given seminars on these topics. From 1992 to 1995 he was a legal adviser at the Citizens' Advice Bureau at Portobello, Edinburgh. Since 2000 he has been Standing Junior Counsel for the Department of Work and Pensions. David has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2007 and has acted as an arbitrator. In 2010 he was a co-author of the leading commentary on the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010. David's arbitration skills will complement and strengthen the current Panel.

David Michael Preston - Graduated LLB from Dundee University - 1974 before he trained in Oban where he remained in a general private practice for over 30 years. He joined the Council of Law Society of Scotland in 1991 and represented the solicitors of Argyll & Bute until 2007, serving as Vice-President 2001-02 and President 2002-03. In 2004, he was contracted to Registers of Scotland as a Key Stakeholder Representative in connection with the Automated Registration of Title to Land project. He was accredited as a mediator in 2004 and has recently joined the Board of the Scottish Mediation Network. He currently operates as a mediator, a consultant to law firms and sits as a Chairman of Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and as a Legal Assessor with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. David's experience as a mediator and his ability and knowledge of the judicial system will complement and strengthen the current Panel.

He receives a daily fee rate of £430 in his capacity as a chairman of the Mental Health Tribunal.

George Clark - Born in Lanark and educated at Lanark Grammar School and Edinburgh University, holding degrees of LLB(Hons) and LLM, George Clark has been a partner with Edinburgh law firm Morton Fraser, since 1979. He specialises in house purchase and sale and in residential leasing. George has taught part-time at Edinburgh University since 1974 and has served as external examiner in conveyancing both there and at Glasgow University. He was, from 1988-2001, Chairman of Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) and is recognised as an expert in the Scottish housing market. He is President of Boroughmuir Rugby Club and is a former member of the Scottish Rugby Council and the Board of the Scottish Rugby Union, as well as being a non-executive Director of Scottish Building Society. George with his knowledge of the Scottish Housing market will complement and strengthen the current Panel


Paul Francis Doyle - Graduated as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dundee in 1980. Qualifying as a solicitor in 1983, he has worked in private practice, in Edinburgh, since then. From 2000, he has served (in a part time capacity) on the Social Entitlement Chamber of the Tribunal Service, was appointed as a fee paid Immigration Judge in 2002, and in 2005 was appointed as a part time chair in the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (MHTS). Paul's experience, ability and knowledge of the judicial system will complement and strengthen the current Panel

He receives a daily fee rate of £430 in his capacity as a chairman of the Mental Health Tribunal.

The Chairperson's posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of a £316 daily fee rate for a time commitment of 15 days per year.

The two Surveyor Members are:

Kingsley Bruce - qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992, having completed his training with a small firm of surveyors in Edinburgh, dealing with most types of professional work, predominantly residential property. After qualifying he worked for organisations including Edinburgh District Council, Graham and Sibbald (Dundee), before moving to Glasgow to head the professional department of Ross & Liddell. In 1999 Mr Bruce joined Speirs Gumley as a partner, responsible for running the residential valuation department. Bringing a wealth of experience encompassing different aspects of surveying practice, including residential and commercial property, property management/lettings and agency, advising a variety of clients throughout his career. Kingsley, with his knowledge of the residential property market, will complement and strengthen the current Panel

Carol Jones - graduated with an MA honours degree in Geography from St Andrews University in 1983. She has 24 years experience as a General Practice Surveyor in the public sector working for the Valuation Office Agency (District Valuer Services). She trained in North Wales and spent two periods in central London before passing the Test of Professional Competence qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 1989. At this time she returned to her home city of Glasgow transferring to the Scottish Valuation Office. Her most recent roles include providing a comprehensive valuation and negotiation service to a large number of public sector clients including several major Health Boards in the west of Scotland. Carol is currently expanding her skills and seeking new challenges. She is undertaking a part time Post Graduate Certificate course in Counselling Skills at Strathclyde University and continuing to pursue various voluntary projects including taking the lead in the establishment of a new community tennis club with links to mental health charities. Carol also works as a volunteer in the Wayside Club, Glasgow where she has helped to provide food to the homeless for the past 15 years. Carol's valuation skills will complement and strengthen the current Panel.

The Surveyor posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of a £253 daily fee rate for a time commitment of 15 days per year.

The Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) was set up in 2007 and replaced the Rent Assessment Panel. It is responsible for upholding the Repairing Standard which was introduced in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to help improve physical conditions in private rented housing. The PRHP continues to be responsible for assessing rents for certain types of tenancies in the private rented sector.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. None of the new members have been involved in any political activity.

(GK)