The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) and the Scottish Decorators' Federation (SDF) have overwhelmingly voted to reject the CITB retaining its levy raising powers.

More than two thirds of SBF members responding to the consultation voted against CITB's proposition, while 89% of SDF members also rejected CITB's offering.

However, 94% of respondents said they would be more inclined to support a continuation of the current levy and grant system if action were taken to make the governance and operation of CITB more accountable to Scottish levy payers.

Ian Rogers, Chief Executive of the SDF, said the vote "shows the level of dissatisfaction with CITB in Scotland".

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"The way they have conducted themselves recently over qualifications and standards and their treatment of the Scottish Registration bodies has left many levy payers appalled," he said.

"In the past, CITB were seen as a force for good and an ally to our industry. As a result of cost cutting and refusing to listen and act on the wishes of the Scottish industry, they now find themselves in this regrettable position.

"There is a short window of opportunity for CITB to retrieve the situation which I would urge them to grasp. They need to be more open and accountable, to be more transparent and to offer Scotland a more devolved Scottish CITB."

However, SBF Managing Director Vaughan Hart added the consultation showed there was still an underlying level of support for the levy and grant system "if proposals were introduced to allow for a meaningful level of control and decision making to reside in Scotland".

"If confidence in the levy and grant system is to be fully restored in Scotland, Scottish employers are looking for far-reaching reforms to CITB's governance and operations to make it properly accountable to Scottish levy payers," he said.

"I would urge CITB not to ignore such a clearly expressed view from the Scottish construction sector as the current arrangements are evidently unsustainable."

(LM/MH)