IRRV Professional Meetings

PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS:

COMPLETION NOTICES

10 FEBRUARY, LONDON (FULLY BOOKED)
23 APRIL, LONDON (NEW DATE)
30 APRIL, LONDON (NEW DATE)
12 MAY, HINCKLEY (NEW DATE)
19 MAY, LONDON (NEW DATE)

The Institute ran eleven professional meetings on Completion Notices in 2014 in partnership with the VOA; the majority of which were fully booked. Four further meetings have run in 2015; all of which were again fully booked. After discussion with the VOA, four further dates have now been added.

The meetings are aimed at those working within both Local Government and the Private Sector. They focus on the importance of serving completion notices for Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rate, when (and when not) they are served, how they are served and the options then available to the owner, billing authority and valuation / listing officer. The afternoon consists of a workshop where attendees will have a number of case studies to consider and report back on. This meeting will be delivered by Gary Watson IRRV (Hons), Deputy Chief Executive, IRRV and Gordon McKay, Local Authority Relationship Manager, VOA together with colleagues from the VOA. 

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN NON DOMESTIC RATES

12 FEBRUARY, BRADFORD (BOOKINGS REQUIRED BY 9 FEBRUARY)
24 FEBRUARY, LONDON (LIMITED SPACES)
26 FEBRUARY, HINCKLEY
3 MARCH, LONDON (NEW DATE)

The future of Non-Domestic Rate is at a crossroads, as highlighted by the announcements in the Autumn Statement and consultations currently being undertaken by the DCLG. This professional meeting is aimed at those working within Non-Domestic Rate whether they be employed in the public or private sector. It will address issues that need to be considered in the run-up to bills being sent in March 2015 whilst also looking ahead to potential reforms of the rating system.

It is intended for the meetings to be interactive with the afternoon consisting of workshops that consider the current consultations as well as producing a ‘wish list’ for changes to the existing rating system. They  will be delivered by David Magor OBE IRRV (Hons), Chief Executive IRRV and Gary Watson IRRV (Hons), Deputy Chief Executive, IRRV. They in turn, may be supported by rating practitioners from both the public and private sector.

AN INTRODUCTION TO UNIVERSAL CREDIT

5 MARCH, LONDON
10 MARCH, BRADFORD
19 MARCH, HINCKLEY
23 MARCH, LONDON

National expansion of Universal Credit will progress from February 2015 to all remaining Job Centres  and Local Authorities for new single claimants previously eligible for Jobseekers Allowance, including those with existing Housing Benefit and Tax Credit claims.

The meetings will focus on everything that is happening (and more) with delegates having an opportunity to share their current experiences. Delegates with be provided with detailed information to allow them to understand the expansion of Universal Credit and its day-to-day operation.  They will be delivered facilitated by David Magor OBE IRRV (Hons), Chief Executive IRRV, Louise Freeth, FIRRV, IRRV Council Member and Jim McCafferty, IRRV (Hons), Senior Vice President IRRV.

FERIS WORKSHOP

16  FEBRUARY, LONDON

17  FEBRUARY, LONDON (FULLY BOOKED)
25  FEBRUARY, LEEDS

The monetary value of Housing Benefit (HB) Fraud and Error is steadily rising, with preliminary estimates for 2013/14 showing a loss of £1.45 billion. Claimant error is the largest contributor to this figure with an estimated value of £900 million in 2013/14 (a 38% increase from £650 million in 2011/12). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a target to reduce the Monetary Value of Fraud and Error (MVFE) to 1.7% of total benefit expenditure by the end of 2014/15.

DWP has developed a range of measures aimed at further reducing Fraud and Error losses which will impact in 2014/15 and are sustainable beyond that. These include increased use of Real time Information (RTI) and the Fraud and Error Reduction Incentive Scheme (FERIS).

The FERIS scheme aims to encourage Local Authorities (LA’s) to find as many changes of circumstance which reduce HB entitlement, with particular focus on the high value changes. The scheme will offer financial reward to any LA that finds reductions to HB entitlement of total weekly value above a threshold set by DWP. The level of the reward being dependent on the degree to which the individual LA exceeds the threshold as laid out in DWP HB Circular A17/2014 (Annexe A). 

Whilst DWP HB Circulars A17/2014 and G1/2015 give further information about the FERIS scheme, the Institute is keen to assist Local Authorities in this vital initiative to tackle Fraud and Error. These workshops will be facilitated by David Magor OBE IRRV (Hons), Chief Executive IRRV and delivered by John Giblin together with officials from the DWP.

FEES

The fee structure for the above events is as follows:-

£135 + vat - IRRV Members
£165 + vat - Members of the IRRV Forum or Benefits Advisory Services or Organisational membership
£195 + vat - Non-members

For details on how to become a member click here. To subscribe to the Forum Service, please click here. To subscribe to the Benefits Advisory Service, please click here.

SPECIAL OFFER

3 for 2 on all bookings.
(Note: This discount will only be made to delegates attending the same event from the same organisation. Bookings must be made at the same time.)


HOW TO BOOK

Please visit http://www.irrv.net/conferences/  selecting the relevant meeting on the right hand side of the page. Full joining instructions will be sent to delegates once a booking form has been received.