Since I last wrote to update you as Institute President, I am pleased to say meetings and involvement on key issues affecting the profession and the Institute seems to be increasing – not that it had been a quiet start to the year with all the goings on with business rate appeals, the issue of how to best support businesses with restart grants and business rates relief, the work being undertaken by IRRV Council, Staff and practitioners on Breathing Space and the statutory debt repayment plan.
As you may be aware the IRRV was concerned with HMT and DWP’s
interpretation of the legislation and guidance concerning attachments and
deductions as well as the role of DWP as an ‘agent’. It is pleasing to note the
seminars and updates provided by IRRV have been so well received.
As the dust settles from the announcement to remove the
ability to make new material change in circumstance proposals for the impact of
covid, the focus of attention is now on how to made the business rates system
work for all key stakeholders. It might seem obvious to some that checks and
challenges already made can just be withdrawn or ignored, but sadly that is not
the case. A great deal of work will be required to ensure that these are
cleared once the relevant, retrospective legislation is introduced and passed.
For agents and ratepayers that means having to continue to submit challenges
and possibly even appeals. The questions of course being, how long will this
take to be introduced ?
The publication of the latest Valuation Office Agency
statistics just highlights the extent of the problem with some 400,000 plus
checks being registered in since the list came into effect and more than half
of those since April 2020. The other
issues is the speed at which cases that reach the challenge stage are being
cleared with nearly 100,000 Challenges to the list to date and over 66,000
currently outstanding, four years into the list. Of the nearly 25,000 or so
that have been resolved only around half have been “agreed”. I always recall
the position put concerning the old appeal system that some 70% of 2010 cases
being cleared with no list alteration, but the new approach has not taken us
much further forward and it seems more are seeing a reduction in assessment.
The work of the Institute continues on seeking to identify
solutions to the issues with business rates system. The Fundamental Review of
Business Rates has focused the attention of both the Valuation and Local
Taxation Faculty Boards. More work is needed to take this matter forward and
find workable solutions.
At the end of April the IRRV Council met and we continue to
focus on ensuring the Institute continues to offer, to its members, the advice
and support that they need. We are also mindful of the support needed and the
impact on all of our students and members undertaking training, apprenticeships
and examinations. The Governance Board for Apprenticeships’ and Council were
pleased with the initial outcomes of a recent inspection by Ofsted which noted
‘reasonable progress’ on our Apprenticeship programme.
IRRV Council is also keen to ensure that we provide the
opportunities and events that are at the heart of the IRRV. They not only help
support and share best practice but also give an opportunity for our members to
meet and socialise with fellow professionals. A considerable amount of work is
done by IRRV staff in arranging and supporting speakers for these events, but
we also need your support – so please do look out for these events and where
possible book a place and importantly attend. Undoubtably as we all get back to
a more a ‘new norm’ there may be a number of meetings or events that interest
you. Its worth remembering that income from such events is essential to support
the work of the Institute.
I was extremely pleased to be able to attend two IRRV
Association AGMs virtually at the end of April and congratulations go to both
the Lancashire & Cheshire and East Midland Associations for putting on
these meetings. It was pleasing to note that both meetings were well attended.
These meetings are of course an ideal opportunity to thank those who have
supported the running of Associations but also to provide updates on
professional matters and the running of the Institute.
May will hopefully see further Association events and
perhaps the opportunity soon to meet in person. There are also other meetings
and events taking place including the Professional Bodies Liaison Group meeting
which I will update on next month.
Wishing you all the best
Andrew
