Dear reader,
Immediately after Easter, Carla-Maria and I were off to Prague for the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) 2018 Research Symposium. The IAAO is based in the USA and the focus of the 2018 event was “on the issues surrounding data in the development of valuation estimates and the challenges data brings to government officials across the world.”
I was able to minimise the cost to the IRRV by “volunteering” to present a paper. My subject was “The Need for a Good Appeals Process”. Unfortunately, the English experience of reducing business rate valuation appeals by making the process difficult through Check, Challenge and Appeal is an example of exactly what not to do! It has completely missed the point that appeals are reduced by making the valuation process transparent.
Other papers presented illustrated how data and technology can be harnessed to present fair valuation assessments where the basis of the calculations are made readily accessible. I believe that we could use such techniques within council tax, to have regular, even annual revaluations to discrete capital values. However, business rates would be more difficult to achieve but not impossible. We just need some vision, leadership and a willingness to embrace the future.
Back home and the rest of April enabled me to visit the West Midlands, North and Mid Wales, Lancashire and Cheshire and the East Midlands IRRV Associations for their respective AGMs. It was a pleasure to attend all of these events and my thanks go to the Presidents and Executive Committees for inviting me and making me so welcome.
I am always pleased to have the opportunity to meet local members and the members of the Association Executive Committees who put in so much work, often over many years, to keep their respective Associations active. It was therefore a particular pleasure to present Alan Lemmon with his IRRV Long Service award, in recognition of his 35 years’ service to the East Midlands Association.
April also brought the IRRV Thames Valley dinner dance, in the delightful surroundings of Highfield Park. Sarah Kingston and the Executive Committee made Carla-Maria and I most welcome and a very jolly time was had by all that evening!
Finally, I must mention the IRRV National Council meeting on 23rd April. We are making progress on our future strategy and setting out the policies of the Institute. On a personal note, one small change that I have made is to no longer wear the full Chain of Office for national Council meetings. This followed a short discussion at the January meeting where I came to the view that if a Council member does not know who the President is, then they probably should not be there! The Chain of Office should be used on formal occasions when entertaining Institute guests or attending Association events and I am proud to wear it on such occasions.
Yours,
Gordon
Gordon Heath BSc IRRV (Hons) is President of the Institute
