The Institute’s Spring Conference will return to the Queens Hotel Leeds on May 16 and 17 2023

Following last year’s successful widely-cast call for papers, we are repeating the exercise this year. As I am sure you are aware we are continually trying to improve the range and scope of papers; thereby creating an opportunity to share professional views and thought leadership.

The conference will be in the normal structure over two days with streamed sessions. The Institute is seeking speakers to cover all topics of professional and practical interest within our scope of activity. The topic areas are:-

• Welfare Benefits (including Housing Benefit)
• Rating and Valuation
• Local Taxation including Council Tax and potential sources of new local taxes and levies
• Collection of other revenues and the administration of grants and relief funds
• Fraud and Investigation

Papers for any of these topics are invited from those working in the profession, whether they be from the public or private sectors. Potential speakers should note that the proposed papers must be of professional content rather than commercial. Papers will be welcomed from any of the topical issues facing the public sector in the subject areas listed above in particular the Institute would welcome papers from those who wish to share their thoughts on matters such as:-

• the impact the Cost of Living Crisis
• the impact of covid-19 on the future of property tax and revenue administration,
• the impact of covid-19 on the valuation of non-domestic hereditaments for the 2023 revaluation,
• the impact and delivery of three year rating revaluations,
• the Fundamental Review of the Rating System
• the future of the Council Tax,
• the incidence of fraud in relation to the discretionary and mandatory covid-19 related business grants and reliefs,
• the design of council tax reduction schemes,
• any matters relating to the interpretation of entitlement to reliefs that have been introduced as a result of covid-19,
• the impact day-to-day of covid-19 on the future of the collection process,
• the Government’s objectives in modernising the Social Security System to cope with the emergency and the future,
• local taxation fraud in local government,
• non domestic-rate avoidance,
• fraud relating to the Social Security System,
• general papers on any current government consultation associated with the profession,
• the approach in the day-to-day delivery of welfare benefits and council tax reduction,
• the long term impact of Covid-19 on poverty and
• any other current matters being proposed by the government in relation to the reform of local taxation

This list is not exhaustive and is only an indication of topics. Please feel free to suggest any other matters, relative to the content of the streams.

The call for papers should contain the title of the proposed paper and a 200-word summary of the content, together with a short CV of the presenter.  The closing date for the call is Friday 10th February 2023. The presenters of selected papers will be notified by Friday 17th February 2023. Proposed papers should be submitted using the form below.

There will be a separate call for the National Annual Conference later in the year.