Richard's Christmas Message

No more official engagements for 2013, although I am going to watch the staff misbehave at their Christmas lunch.

It just remains to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a successful 2014.

Season's Greetings!

Richard's latest news ...

Towards the end of November I was privileged to attend the Lunch for the RICS Rating Diploma Holders at the RAF Club overlooking Piccadilly and Green Park in Central London. This was a great occasion with kindred Presidents and a large number of Friends and Council members from IRRV. Unfortunately I could not be there for the session on valuing power stations which as it turns out would have been very useful because appeals on power stations and pipe lines are causing havoc to business rate forecasts in Lincolnshire at present.

Last week I attended the Scottish Benefits Conference and Chaired the first morning. An excellent programme and a great venue. I did have a little difficulty inasmuch as I got an early flight and was in my hire car at Edinburgh Airport in good time but immediately on leaving the airport I fell out with the lady in the sat nav.  This led to a rather circuitous route which took in some truly magnificent scenery but also some very icy roads.  If I am honest I fell out with her three times which prolonged my journey considerably.

On my return to Terminal 5 my car gears would not move out of Park which led to a 5 hour wait for a recovery firm that could get into a multi storey car park. In the end as they could not move it they had to put it on “skates” and push it up to the surface.  I then got a hired car that had last been abroad and all warning systems are unintelligible to me. The alarm keeps going but I really don’t know why.  All in all a very exciting day.  

Richard's update on the recent IRRV Council Meeting

This week saw the first Council Meeting of my year. It always surprises me as to how much business there is to get through at these quarterly meetings. The various Committee meetings and Council extend from 10.15am - 4.15pm. 

There were some pleasant duties as well.   I was able to give Dave Chapman his Past President’s badge and thank him for his very successful year as President. 

The Nominations Committee also appointed  Jim  McCafferty as the Junior Vice President for 2013-2014. This election had been delayed by the necessity to get the Council Elections completed first. Congratulations to Jim who I am sure will do an excellent job for the Institute. 

Much of this meeting was used to review the Conference and agree a strategy for the next one. Those discussions continue and everyone will be notified in due course.

Richard's latest update

One of the first events of this presidential year was a lunch for the Past Presidents and Honorary Officers which was held at the end of last week. We had a very small room in a restaurant in Covent Garden and 17 or 18 past presidents turned up covering a very considerable time span. 

It was jointly hosted with last year’s President as the event did not take place last year.  It is very nice to see the Past Presidents, many of whom retired from Council some time ago and it is a leisurely event with a great deal of nostalgia. We also remembered those who are not well enough to come. A lovely occasion.

Next week sees the Council Meeting and I look forward to chairing that for the first time this year.

This week's news about the Public Accounts Committee view of Universal Credit was very interesting and it will be interesting to see how that debate unfolds over the next few days. 

A message from the President

I am very honoured to be elected President of the Institute for a second time. The first time was so long ago in my youth that it seems like it was in a different life.

There are particular points in time when the work of the members of this Institute is particularly critical. The Welfare Reform programme is a clear case in point and I look forward to meeting as many members as possible this year and using our influence to its maximum effect.

Richard becomes IRRV President

Richard became President of the Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation at the Institute's Annual Conference & Exhibition in Telford last week.     Over the next year, Richard will be giving regular updates on his activities as Institute President.

Richard accepts the Presidential Chain from Dave Chapman, President 2012/13

Richard (right) with IRRV Senior Vice President 2013/14 Senior Vice President Kevin Stewart