Speaking to a large audience of local taxation professionals in Scotland at the IRRV Scottish Association’s AGM on 25th February, Brian Jeffrey, President of the Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation’s Scottish Association, advised that a current professional Inquiry is on track to deliver the blueprint for a local taxation system that is ‘truly fit for Scotland’s needs in the 21st century and beyond’.

 

The IRRV launched its Committee of Inquiry into local taxation in Scotland in late 2009 and will publish its full report in September 2010.

Mr Jeffrey said:

“This study is being undertaken by the revenues and benefits professionals who administer the current council tax and non-domestic rates systems. They are ideally placed to consider the many complex elements that are required in an efficient and effective local tax system.

“What we need is a system that is at its heart responsive to the ability to pay and is relatively simple to understand and administer. The public deserve a system that it is cost efficient and that can sustain a realistic level of contribution to the cost of local government services.

“Year-on-year council tax freezes cannot sustain Scottish local government in even the medium term. Services to the public will suffer fundamentally if a way forward is not found soon. Change is needed and needs to be embraced. We are confident that the Inquiry’s final report will identify an innovative and tailored solution to Scotland’s current local taxation dilemma”

The Inquiry is examining a range of funding options, including property-based taxes and other sources of funding. Importantly, the review will identify whether there are suitable mixes of funding options. The work is being undertaken by IRRV Scotland, the body which represents local taxation professionals working in all of Scotland’s local authorities.

Copies of Mr Jeffrey’s presentation and those of Jane Crawford and Brenda Miller of Dundee City Council and Fiona Campbell, who also spoke at the AGM can be downloaded by following the link below.Office Bearers and Executive Members elected at the AGM are as follows :

DOWNLOAD AS PDF FILES 

SVQ
Archived on 11/09/2009
Fron - News

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) recognised the Institute’s experience in the field of professional education and training by granting it approved awarding body status in June 2001.

Business Improvement Districts in Scotland
Archived on 22/03/2009
Fron - News

John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on a visit to Falkirk town centre on Monday 4th February announced that the Scottish Government will extend support for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) through 2008 - 2009. BIDs are a regeneration tool which can help breathe new life into Scotland's town and city centres.

Response to the Scottish Government consultation paper
Archived on 22/08/2008
Fron - News

Local authorities face a gaping hole in their funding under proposals to introduce a local income tax in Scotland, warns IRRV Scotland in its response to the Scottish Government’s consultation A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland. The funding shortfall would have serious implications for the future provision of local services, whilst the new system itself would lead to increased costs of collection and enforcement and greater opportunities for legal avoidance.

Education Corner
Archived on 19/08/2008
Fron - News

The Institute in Scotland again supported the two IRRV Technician Courses at Aberdeen and West Lothian College during 2006/7 and students were again assisted with Revision Days, ably organised by Association Education Liaison Officer Janette Proud

Know your Non Domestic Rates
Archived on 17/08/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV in Scotland has, for some years, run introductory courses aimed at new staff in council tax, benefits and non-domestic rates.

Last year, we successfully altered the courses for NDR and Council Tax to fully reflect the fact that the courses are now suitable for both new or inexperienced staff wishing an introduction to the subject but are also highly useful for staff with greater local government experience but who wish a refresher on recent developments in these areas of revenues administration.
We are running another “Know Your Non-Domestic Rates” day on Monday 17th May 2010.

Meeting the Challenges - Northern Ireland
Archived on 31/07/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

A major one day Conference from the Chief Executives’ Forum and the Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation - took place at the Belfast City Hall on Thursday 3rd June 2010. You can download speaker slides here :

Workshops for Miscellaneous Income staff
Archived on 22/07/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

2 unmissable workshops for Miscellaneous Income staff
Managing Sundry Debtors – 21st June 2010 
Income Policy Workshop – 22nd June 2010  
The workshops have been planned following an excellent presentation on the management of sundry debts, given by Tony Ash, Principal Consultant, SLM Revenue Management Consultants, at last year’s Scottish Miscellaneous Income Conference.

The Scottish NDR Conference 2010
Archived on 19/07/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

18 June 2010

 

June 2010 benefits seminars
Archived on 15/07/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

A topical programme of courses from IRRV Scotland
SEMINAR FEES HELD AT 2009 LEVELS AND INCLUDES FREE PLACES SPECIAL OFFER Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth June 2010 Valid for IRRV CPD Points

IRRV Efficiency Seminar
Archived on 12/06/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV Scotland held a highly successful Efficiency Seminar in Edinburgh on 19th May.   You can download some of the slides from the event here :

Scottish Benefits and Benefits Fraud Conference
Archived on 01/06/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

Download Presenetations and review images of the event

The Annual Scottish Revenues Symposium 2009
Archived on 07/02/2010
Fron - Scottish Events

Friday 6th November 2009

IRRV Scotland was delighted with the success of this year’s Annual Revenues Symposium on 6th November. You can download the speaker slides by following the link below:

Financial Inclusion : Standards and Quality of Service
Archived on 22/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV Scotland ran a very successful joint event with Money Advice Scotland in December. You can download speaker slides from the event by following the link below :

Local Taxation Masterclass
Archived on 11/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV in Scotland is delighted to announce the return – by popular demand -  of this one day professional meeting, aimed at complementing its existing very successful courses on introduction to Council Tax and Non Domestic Rating.
Thursday 10th December 2009

Latest on benefits administration from IRRV Scotland
Archived on 09/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

Effective Writing Workshop - Tuesday 13th October 2009
Train the Trainer Workshop - Tuesday 8th December 2009
These workshops have been planned after discussion with revenues & benefits training officers across Scotland with regard to courses that would be useful for Benefits and Revenues staff who are required to respond to letters and e-mails and also write reports. Also for Staff responsible for training revenues and benefits staff, particularly where they are delivering training on changes in legislation and regulations

SHBE and PERFORMANCE
Archived on 09/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

On 8th October, IRRV Scotland ran a successful seminar on SHBE and Performance.
 
You can download the slides by following the links below

Miscellaneous Income Conference 2009
Archived on 09/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV in Scotland ran this year’s Miscellaneous Income Conference on 7th October 2009 in Grangemouth. Over 70 delegates attended – you can download the speakers’ slides by using the link below.

IRRV Scottish Benefits & Benefits Fraud Conference 2009
Archived on 04/12/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

Crieff Hydro Hotel, Crieff Wednesday
2nd and Thursday 3rd December 2009

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS
Please use the link below

The Scottish NDR Conference 2009
Archived on 19/06/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

The Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth - Friday 19th June 2009
Kindly sponsored by EXACTA
Valid for CPD points

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS

Maintaining Collection Performance n the Credit Crunch
Archived on 19/06/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

The Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth - Friday 19th June 2009

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS

Know Your Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates
Archived on 20/05/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

* INCLUDES FREE PLACES SPECIAL OFFER *
The Leapark Hotel, Grangemouth - March and May 2009 - Valid for IRRV CPD Points
We are pleased to announce the alteration of the courses for NDR and Council Tax in 2009 to fully reflect the fact that the courses are now suitable for both new or inexperienced staff wishing an introduction to the subject but are also highly useful for staff with greater local government experience but who wish a refresher on recent developments in these areas of revenues administration.

April 2009 courses : A topical programme of courses from IRRV Scotland
Archived on 21/04/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

* INCLUDES FREE PLACES SPECIAL OFFER *
IRRV in Scotland has a highly useful and topical series of seminars next month as part of its 2009 programme - for all practitioners across Scotland.

Local Taxation Masterclass Workshop
Archived on 16/04/2009
Fron - Scottish Events

IRRV in Scotland is delighted to announce the return – by popular demand - of this one day professional meeting, aimed at complementing its existing very successful courses on Know Your Council Tax and Know Your Non Domestic Rating. It is now run in workshop format with limited places to maximise individual delegate benefit.
Tuesday 16th April 2009

The Debt Arrangement Scheme four years on
Archived on 02/10/2008
Fron - Scottish Events

The Debt Arrangement Scheme four years on - an effective tool or just another blunt instrument? :

Download Presentations