Decision of the Disciplinary Panel

Date of Decision: Wednesday 05 – Thursday 06 March 2025

Case of: Giovanni Rossato

RICS Membership Number: 1123598

Location: Essex

The formal charges against Giovanni Rossato are:

1. Between 6 October 2023 and 6 November 2023, Giovanni Rossato failed to treat others with respect in that, following the termination of his employment as an Estates Surveyor at Hertsmere Borough Council, he sent inappropriate, offensive and/or insulting emails and/or text messages to his former colleagues on the following occasions:

a) On 6 October 2023, he sent an inappropriate and insulting email to Mr Colin Tester and/or

b) On 8 October 2023, he sent five text messages to Mr Steven Girling which were inappropriate and insulting and/or

c) On 6 November 2023, he sent an email to Ms Natalie Chiku which was inappropriate and racially offensive.

Contrary to Rule 4 of the Rules of Conduct 2021 (with effect from 2 February 2022)

Mr Rossato is therefore liable to disciplinary action under RICS Bye Law B5.2.2(c).

2. Between 6 October 2023 and 6 November 2023, Giovanni Rossato failed to act with integrity in that, following the termination of his employment as an Estates Surveyor at Hertsmere Borough Council, he sent inappropriate, offensive and/or insulting emails and/or text messages to his former colleagues on the following occasions:

a) On 6 October 2023, he sent an inappropriate and insulting email to Mr Colin Tester and/or

b) On 8 October 2023, he sent five text messages to Mr Steven Girling which were inappropriate and insulting and/or

c) On 6 November 2023, he sent an email to Ms Natalie Chiku which was inappropriate and racially offensive.

Contrary to Rule 1 of the Rules of Conduct 2021 (with effect from 2 February 2022)

Mr Rossato is therefore liable to disciplinary action under RICS Bye Law B5.2.2(c).

3. Between 26 January and 6 August 2024, Giovanni Rossato failed to treat others with respect in that, during the course of an investigation into the matters alleged at (1) and (2) above, he sent the following emails to Mrs Carol Kerr, the Investigator who was acting on behalf of RICS:

a) On 10 February 2024, he sent an email addressing the Investigator as ‘Dear Big C’ and referred to her as being ‘a bit dim’ and as ‘useless’.

b) On 15 February 2024, he sent an email to the investigator addressing her as ‘Dear

biggest C’ and referred to RICS as being ‘crap’.

c) On 21 February 2024 he sent an email in which he referred to the investigator as being ‘a pedestrian button-pusher’.

d) On 6 August 2024 he sent an email in which he referred to the Investigator as a ‘useless racist idiot’ and as being ‘ignorant, stupid and pig-headed’ as well as telling her to ‘bog off’.

Contrary to Rule 4 of the Rules of Conduct 2021 (with effect from 2 February 2022)

Mr Rossato is therefore liable to disciplinary action under RICS Bye Law B5.2.2(c).

4. Between 26 January and 6 August 2024, Giovanni Rossato failed to act with integrity in that, during the course of an investigation into the matters alleged at (1) and (2) above, he sent the following emails to Mrs Carol Kerr, the Investigator who was acting on behalf of RICS:

a) On 10 February 2024, he sent an email addressing the Investigator as ‘Dear Big C’ and referred to her as being ‘a bit dim’ and as ‘useless’.

b) On 15 February 2024, he sent an email to the Investigator addressing her as ‘Dear biggest C’ and referred to RICS as being ‘crap’.

c) On 21 February 2024 he sent an email in which he referred to the Investigator as being ‘a pedestrian button-pusher’.

d) On 6 August 2024 he sent an email in which he referred to the Investigator as a ‘useless racist idiot’ and as being ‘ignorant, stupid and pig-headed’ as well as telling her to ‘bog off’.

Contrary to Rule 1 of the Rules of Conduct 2021 (with effect from 2 February 2022)

Mr Rossato is therefore liable to disciplinary action under RICS Bye Law B5.2.2(c).

5. Between 17 July 2023 and 6 October 2023, Giovanni Rossato was employed at Hertsmere Council as an Estates Surveyor, for which he was remunerated, at a time when he was in receipt of a retirement concession. In doing so, his conduct:

a) was dishonest in that he knew that he was no longer eligible for the retired concession and intentionally failed to notify RICS of his change in circumstances and/or

b) lacked integrity in that he ought to have known that he was no longer eligible for the retired concession and ought to have notified RICS of his change in circumstances and/or

c) failed to comply with his professional obligations in that he failed to notify RICS of his change in circumstances.

Contrary to Rule 1 of the Rules of Conduct 2021 (with effect from 2 February 2022)

Mr Rossato is therefore liable to disciplinary action under RICS Bye Law B5.2.2(c)

Finding: Proved

Sanction: Expelled

The Disciplinary Panel also made an order to costs.

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