The first three weeks of July have been taken up with working with fellow members of Council and the staff at IRRV HQ on plans for our first virtual conference (6-8 October 20) along with arrangements to enable the IRRV to support our professional members and students with their work and studies.
I was pleased to be able to attend on behalf of the IRRV the most recent Professional Bodies Liaison Group meeting where the IRRV representatives were pleased to endorse an update on the issues around the approach to Material Change in Circumstance Appeals and the outcomes from the recent UKSC judgement concerning Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). I was also pleased to join members of the Wessex Association Executive with updates on matters affecting the Association locally.
Earlier in the year at the Spring Statement the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a fundamental review of business rates with details to follow. Whilst I and colleagues had outline discussions on the scope and format of the review it was only toward the end of July that further details were announced through a call for evidence with the discussion being focused around two areas which will form the basis of detailed consideration by the Institute.
The first element will consider the multiplier and approach to reliefs and needs to be concluded by 18th September. Responses are therefore expected in short order and for many the outcomes will merely be a further sticking plaster to address immediate concerns. Of course, the support for the Retail Leisure and Hospitality Sectors to date has been welcome and elements of the support are continuing but the key consideration will be whether support will be increased further and what will be done for the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23.
The second aspect of the review is to encompass a wider consideration of the approach to the future and additional time has been given to engage fully with all of the issues in the call for evidence indeed alternatives. Responses on this section are invited by 31st October 2020 ahead of the review’s conclusions in Spring 2021.
I was disappointed to see that consideration of the approach to Council Tax was not included in the wider remit. Another key point of consideration surrounded the merits or otherwise of both a Land Value Tax, being referred to as the Capital Value of property and how if at all an online or sales tax would work and importantly work for local government. These issues along with others have been the subject of detailed enquiry both by previous Governments, the Treasury Select Committee, and indeed many stakeholders have sought to set out their views for reform and what needs to change.
It has also been confirmed that the next Revaluation in England will now take place in April 2023, with an April 2021 AVD, this was not at all surprising although again it will now be interesting to see what is to happen in both Scotland and Wales where a nuanced and alternative approaches are being considered. Legislation will be required to defer to the later date and of course this approach seems at odds with the desire from many quarters for more frequent revaluations.
I along with colleagues on Council, the faculty boards and indeed you all as members and practitioners need to participate in the review as it presents a number of challenges. I believe the IRRV is well placed to be original, informative and forward thinking in the approach that needs to be adopted. There will of course be those who will no doubt revert to type and bring forward the same old arguments that have been put forward before. The key however is to seize the opportunity to review and make appropriate changes to the system that benefit all.
As July comes to a close and we move into August and its time for my usual trip to Goodwood Races. As some of you know in the main horse racing has been behind closed doors since the beginning of June save for those essential for race days and limited access for Owners, the experience has been very different. I couldn’t escape the poor weather on the 9th July when attending Newmarket where the persistent rain sought to dampen the day, I was so pleased however despite being soaked to see Progressive Rating win the Class 2 Heritage Handicap. The lesson perhaps to be noted are the significant efforts put in and the lengths to which many have gone to comply with best advice, best practice and keep us all safe. This cooperation and a desire from all to get the show back on the road with the first trial public event was to have taken place at Goodwood Racecourse on the 1st August. I was hoping to attend along with 5000 others but you will be aware of the change of circumstances which have led to this having to be put on hold. It’s a reminder to us all that we are not out of the woods yet and irrespective of whether you are a fan of horse racing or perhaps another sport or form of entertainment or leisure activity, everyone is pulling together to find ways in which we can work to return to a way of life that will enable us all to participate and enjoy some of those things that only six months ago were just the norm.
I know you, your colleagues and friends are all working in different ways to help and find a way through the challenges but it is also important to take time for well deserved break or holiday and have some down time – keep safe and best wishes to you all.
Andrew
