Letter from the President - October 2020

In my last letter to you all I outlined a number of events that were to take place in September and I wanted to take the opportunity to update you all on events that I attended and have been involved with since.

I along with IRRV CEO David Magor was due to attend the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) Conference 2020 in Denver, Colorado USA but like so many events now, we were not able to attend in person. I plan to set out more fully in the next edition of Valuer Magazine a more detailed overview of what happened. Suffice to say of course that it was a wholly different experience, partly on the basis due to the time different that I found myself participating in the Conference welcome event online at 2am BST networking with other attendees ! 

Entertainment was provided by a Country and an ‘80s band along with several caricature artists. A series of educational sessions followed over the next two days /nights. There were networking opportunities and a virtual exhibition which included a wide range of exhibitors including a significant number of providers specialising in the use of digital mapping, those providing specialist advice on finding value both missing or undervalued and of course providers who can support you to best use technology to improve the service you provide or the work that you undertake. David presented a paper on Exemptions and Reliefs – A legitimate way of reducing the property tax burden ? 

I was particularly interested in the sessions which identified ways of improving property taxation by using Automated Valuation Models, Improving Work Flow Efficiency & Productivity in your Office and the perennial problem of dealing with ways to show compliance surrounding service of notices “I never got my Notice” True or False ? – How to prove it !

I also alluded to the efforts of the IRRV in preparing for our own virtual Conference and Exhibition taking place 6th to 8th October and I hope that all our members take the time to register and attend the various conference sessions that have been scheduled. It would have been great to see you all in Telford but as we all know circumstances won't allow this to happen.

If you have not done so already, you can register online using the link: IRRV Virtual Conference & Exhibition and of course it is free for members. We are indebted to our sponsors and exhibitors for their support and the event will provide an great opportunity work with our members across all fields of the industries and professional expertise in the Institute.

We also have the Annual General Meeting of the Institute taking place at 5.30pm on Tuesday 6th October which will be held on line. Please also register for this meeting which can be done by emailing Gary Watson to confirm your attendance. 

Other key aspects of our work continue however with the response to the call for evidence issued by HM Treasury covering a “Fundamental Review of Business Rates”. The first part of the Institutes response has been submitted and covers the issues of the level of the multiplier for 2021/22 and the approach to reliefs and exemptions.  I was also pleased to be able to participate in a discussion with HMT and the VOA on the progress of the review to date. The second stage of the review which is due for submission at the end of October will form a key topic of discussion in the coming weeks at the Faculty Boards, representing the various sector and interest groups of the Institute, but there will also be the opportunity to hear, discuss and share thoughts in the panel sessions of conference.

Of course there have been further announcements concerning the now cancelled Autumn Budget 2020 statement and the Winter Economic Plan that was announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to deal with “a fundamentally different position than we were in March”.

As we all adapt and change to this different world the IRRV Council and the Policy & Resources Committee also held additional meetings over and above those that would normally take place to consider a number of issues affecting the running of the Institute and the preparations being put in place for the virtual Conference & Exhibition. 

It is important to note that changes are taking place in different areas and I was pleased to be able to attend as an observer two recent cases determined by the Valuation Tribunal for England under the new Remote Hearing Protocol. I am sure at the best of times the appearance by an unrepresented party is daunting at the best of times, but to do so by way of a virtual hearing can be a challenge. But having said that it was indeed challenging for all parties, the panel and indeed the Clerk to the Tribunal. All having to get to grips with unfamiliar technology and the inevitable IT problems. There are perhaps a couple points I have learnt from this. As ever it is essential to prepare and that means ensuring compliance with the directions issued. Additionally, if you have not used the IT / Technology before a test run to ensure it works would be sensible and that means checking also that the systems work outside your own company or department. I was impressed with the way that the hearings were supported by the Valuation Tribunal Service. We should be under no illusion however that such hearings can be very intense and for that reason regular breaks need to be planned into the process.

So in signing off – do please register for our 1st virtual Annual Conference & Exhibition, take the opportunity to visit the virtual stands, the online social events and indeed remember that you have no excuse not to visit them all this calendar year as access to the conference portal will be open even when the conference formally concludes.

Best wishes to you all for an enjoyable and engaging conference

Andrew

President's update for September!

Andrew Hetherton

August for many would often have been an opportunity to take a break and enjoy the summer sun but this year its different. Many have had the opportunity to “eat out to help out” but may have had to take a chance on finding a table available Monday to Wednesday or risk sitting out side with some unusually inclement weather coupled with the travails of trying to book ahead to ensure a table is secured. 

From the President’s perspective a quiet month might normally be expected but this year is so different. Over the last few weeks, I have been able to participate in a range of discussions and meetings around the wide ranging review of the “Fundamental Review of Business Rates”. I participated in discussions with other organisations including the Rating Surveyors’ Association which through the leadership of both Thomas Stratton (President) and Josh Myerson (President Elect) which was engaging and thought provoking. Josh prepared a extremely useful summary of the questions and topics for review, enabling commentary to be provided. The RSA Committee discussion was divided between teams to consider each aspect of the review. 

The IRRV effort has been facilitated by Officers and I have been able to participate in a wide-ranging discussion of the review with the Law & Research Portfolio Holder (Alistair Townsend) meeting with Council members initially and then with Faculty Boards meeting to focus the detail from the perspective of the members of the Board.

We should all recognise the importance of the review and as a consequence have ask all members to provide their thoughts. Having said that however we have had many reviews or consultations in recent years, some going over the same ground and indeed I hear and read a great deal of views and opinions being offered by many; from ratepayers, to industry representative bodies, those who are instructed on behalf of their clients and of course Local Authorities who play a key role in collection of both Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates. But this time it seems, to me, to be especially important to ensure that we all contribute and I know the IRRV will be at the fore in providing its input.

We are at a cross roads and it is essential to avoid the pitfalls, mistakes and impromptu decisions that can often be presented to Ministers for a decision because experience tells us that these can lead to unexpected outcomes that are not helpful, impractical or worse still acted on without a full understanding. 

Thankfully I’ve not come across motorway cross roads but it seems for some in Scotland the consultation on Draft Regulations on civil penalties for failure to provide information to Assessors (and Councils) under the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 is just that, a crossroads. It is certainly causing a great deal of concern. The proposals of course stem from the detailed work of the Barclay Review which the IRRV has been fully engaged, yet moving from a system that was totally ineffective and not enforced, to what now appears to some to be extremely draconian, disproportionate and harsh, is perhaps a wake up call that should be taken seriously. 

Elements of the new legislation place a requirement on those that might have the information to provide it and its one thing to require provision of information from the occupier or landlord but its quite something else to cast the net so wide as to require someone else “believed” to be in possession of the information coupled with extremely punitive penalties if not actioned. What’s actually needed is a system that’s practicable, capable of being broadly understood, accepted and realistic. 

In concluding I’m presently at home preparing to log on to the IAAO Virtual Conference 2020, it was originally intended to be taking place in Denver, Colorado and the conference programme looks great, a variety of speakers and a range of topics of interest. It was the intention of course to be in Denver in person, my wife and family were then due to hotfoot it back to the UK to one of my favourite events of recent years, the IRRV Scotland Conference at Crieff Hydro. We have thoroughly enjoyed attending previous conferences at Crieff and indeed the various social events taking place including the Gala Dinner. I’m going to have to pop out to locate some tablet and haggis mind to assuage my cravings for a taste of Scotland which might be a bit of a challenge but before you ask though the Scotch Whiskey is all ready lined up to sample. I will update you on how it went in my next letter. But between now and then my focus will be in supporting the IRRV Conference team in drawing together the plans for our own virtual conference which by all accounts will be a fantastic event. It is of course offered free to members and will provide some great headline speakers, thought provoking debate, discussion and the opportunity to hear from leading experts.

Cheers for now at least, keep safe and well

Andrew