The Spring Conference & Exhibition

16 & 17 May 2023. The Queens Hotel, Leeds.

Revenues and Welfare Benefits: Facing the Future   #facingthefuture

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Institute's Spring Conference 2023 is back at The Queens Hotel, Leeds.

The conference will be in the normal structure over two days with both plenary and streamed sessions as well as being supported by an expanded exhibition.

There will be two streams running throughout the conference; one focussing on Welfare Benefits and one on Revenues and Enforcement. Delegates attending the event will not be confined to attending sessions on any one stream. They will have the flexibility to ‘pick and choose’ which sessions to attend.

Speakers will bring delegates up-to-date on everything that is happening but also on what lies ahead for those working within the profession.

Get Connected

Meet all the biggest suppliers and innovators in the field at this year's exhibition. Showcasing the latest technology and offering the very best expert advice.

BE INFORMED

2 Days full of up to the minute sessions presented by leading industry professionals. Catering for professionals within Local Taxation, Revenues, Enforcement and Welfare Benefits.

STAY REFRESHED

Don't worry, we've thought of everything; regular refreshment breaks and lunch are provided free of charge so you won't have to miss a thing.

KEEP UPDATED

All the content from all the major sessions will be provided to you in e-format after the event for you to reference at your convenience.

SPRING PROGRAMME

16th May

09:00

Registration and Coffee - Exhibition Opens

09:55

Opening of Conference and Presidential Address

Carla-Maria Heath, IRRV President

10:10

What Does The Future Look Like?

Richard Harbord, Council Member, IRRV.

10:50

An Update From The Money & Pensions Service

Kevin Shaw, Senior Creditor Strategy Manager, Money & Pensions Service.

11:30

Refreshment Break

12:00

ECB - A Force For Good Or Not

Speaker tbc

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Revenue Maximisation In Revenues And Benefits

John Giblin &Alan Sullivan, Management Consultants, Giblin & Sullivan Ltd.

14:30

Knotty problems, Practical Solutions - Navigating Some of the Last Resort Enforcement Options Post Pandemic and Onwards Through the Cost of Living Crisis

Paul Bowden, Partner, Wilkin Chapman.

15:00

Recent Rating Case Law

Faisel Sadiq, Barrister, Gatehouse Chambers.

15:30

Refreshment Break

15:45

Achieving Excellence (Performance Awards Panel)

Susan Draper, Senior HR Business Partner, Anglia Revenues Partnership.

Mark Fearn, Program Lead, Walsall C.

Leah Gray, Service Delivery Manager, Denbighshire CC.

17:00

End of Day 1

16th May

09:00

Registration and Coffee - Exhibition Opens

09:55

Opening of Conference and Presidential Address

Carla-Maria Heath, IRRV President

10:10

What Does The Future Look Like?

Richard Harbord, Council Member, IRRV.

10:50

An Update From The Money & Pensions Service

Kevin Shaw, Senior Creditor Strategy Manager, Money & Pensions Service.

11:30

Refreshment Break

12:00

An Update From The DWP

Clare Elliott, Deputy Director, DWP.

12:30

CTS, Hardship, Getting Help To The Vulnerable And The Cost Of Living?

Kevin Stewart, Revenues & Benefits Manager, Erewash BC.

13:00

Lunch

14:00

A New Paradigm

Darren Smith, Finance Manager: Revenues & Benefits, Barnet LBC

14:30

Data To Drive Targeted Support To Customers

Darren Kelk, Managing Director, Ascendant Solutions.

15:00

Refreshment Break

15:30

Managing A Reduced Case Load

Tammy Fox, Assistant Director - Revenues & Benefits, Ashfield DC.

16:00

Financial Crisis – The Hidden Crisis

Ian Ferguson, Client Development Manager, Dukes Bailiffs.

16:30

2023/24 Survey of Local Council Tax Reduction Schemes

Karen Holmes, Software Development, Entitledto.

Dr Phil Agulnik, Product Development, Entitledto.

17:00

End of Day 1

17th May

09:00

Registration and Coffee

09:30

2023 Revaluation

Stephanie O'Neill, Partner, Wilks Head and Eve.

10:00

Corporate Debt, Financial Vulnerability

Lucie White, Income and Collections Manager, Barnsley MBC.

10:30

One Prevention Pound = Ten Crisis Pounds -

Dominic Maxwell, Co Founder, TellJo.

11:00

Refreshment Break

11:30

Non-Domestic Rates Avoidance: How We Can Do Better

Steve Black, Business Development Manager, LoCTA.

12:00

Good News Stories From Grants And Reliefs: Lessons Learnt

Nick Rowe, Assistant Director of Finance:Local Tax & Accounts Receivable, Ealing LBC.

12:30

Assessing The Impact Of Flexible Payments On Council Tax In A Post-Covid World

John O'Neill, Solution & Innovation Director, Liberata.

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Close Of Exhibition

14:00

Caught In The Crossfire: Rating Issues When Landlord And Tenant Are In Dispute

Aiden Thomas, Solicitor, Greenhalgh Kerr.

14:30

Fairness In Operation

Carole Kenney, Director, Welfare & Customer Care, CDER Group.

15:00

How Social Media, Artificial Intelligence And Voice Technologies Influence Our Lives And Will Transform The Landscape For Local Authority Revenues

Daniel Pearce, Director of Business Development, Telsolutions.

15:30

Close Of Conference

17th May

09:00

Registration and Coffee

09:30

Achieving Excellence (Performance Awards Panel)

Andrew Hatcher, Revenues & Benefits Lead Specialist, Folkestone & Hythe DC.

Catherine Nicholson, Managing Director, Mindful Housing.

11:00

Refreshment Break

11:30

Universal Migration

Michelle Kettles, Welfare & Benefit Team Manager, South Staffordshire C.

12:00

Administering Discretionary Support Schemes

Paula Doherty, Team Leader For Benefits Team Manager, Dumfries and Galloway C.

12:30

Specified Accommodation

Joe Wheeler, Specialist Accommodation Framework Manager, Bristol CC.

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Close Of Exhibition

14:00

Making Support Work (Panel)

Paula Doherty, Team Leader For Benefits Team Manager, Dumfries and Galloway C.

Louise Freeth, Head Of Revenues, Benefits, Library And Resident Services, Windsor & Maidenhead RBC

Zoe Kent, Revenues & Benefits Manager / Interim Head Of Revenues And Benefits, Swale BC / Mid Kent Sevices.

15:30

Close Of Conference

EXHIBITION & SPONSORSHIP

For the latest exhibition floorplan please click here

This year’s exhibition has now sold out of stand space, but we still have some sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact Vicki Chastney for more details.
If you would like to book a stand for this year’s Annual Conference or Annual Scottish Conference please visit www.irrv.net/exhibitions, or to register your interest for the 2024 Spring Conference please contact Vicki.
Contact Details:

Vicki Chastney
Head of Commercial Services
E: vicki.chastney@irrv.org.uk
T: 0207 691 8979

QUEENS HOTEL LEEDS

Where's the event?

LEEDS

A city at the heart of the action, bursting with life and cultural energy. A skyline filled with breathtaking architecture, and a destination easily reached by road, rail and air.

A BIT MORE INFO

  • 2 Day Pass includes access to all sessions and exhibition for the whole event.
    1 Day Pass only includes access to sessions and exhibition on the selected day
    * No accommodation included

  • Accommodation is not included in the delegate fee, allowing you to book to your budget.
    Bedrooms can be booked directly with the hotel at www.thequeensleeds.co.uk or 0113 243 1323.

    You can also source alternative accommodation in Leeds through the booking sites: www.booking.com or www.laterooms.com

  • The Queens is the most famous landmark hotel in Leeds. Situated in City Square, it is close by to restaurants, bars and shops and easily accessible by both car and train. It has its own entrance linked to Leeds train station. Please click here for venue details.

    Please note the hotel no longer offers an on-site car park. Please find the below two closest to the hotel. If any guest stays overnight the ticket should be swiped at reception and you will receive a 20% discount.

    1. Q-Park, Sovereign Square, Leeds LS1 4AG
    - 7-minute walk to the hotel
    - Q-Park has 499 spaces
    - Special charge is £15 per 24hrs – reduced from £25
    - Guest validates ticket and pays at the hotel reception.
    - No pre-bookings or block-bookings allowed

    2. Leeds Railway Station Long Stay, Leeds Rail Station, Leeds LS1
    - 5-minute walk to the hotel
    - Leeds Railway station has 307 spaces
    - Special agreement is 20% discount, £16 per 24hrs – reduced from £20
    - Ticket needs to be stamped at hotel reception to be validated.
    - No pre-bookings or block-bookings allowed

  • Non commercial rates are available only to non commercial companies such as governmental organisations, charitable organisations and non profit organisations. Commercial rates should be selected where an organisation does not fit into any of the above.

  • If you would like to book your place, please click 'Book Now' at the top of this page.
    Please note in order for your booking to be processed you must have a purchase order number. Enquiries can be made by email to conference@irrv.org.uk or by telephone 020 7691 8987.

    All prices exclude VAT and do not include accommodation

  • PROGRAMME CHANGES AND CANCELLATION / RESCHEDULING OF EVENTS
    The Institute will make every effort to give delegates as much notice as possible of any programme changes or the cancellation/re-scheduling of an event. However, it does reserve the right to make changes to advertised programmes and to cancel/re-schedule events. In the unlikely event of an event being cancelled/re-scheduled, either a full refund will be made or alternatively, any fee paid will be credited against a future booking. The Institute will not be liable for any travel and/or accommodation costs incurred by the attendee should an event be cancelled/re-scheduled.
    VAT RECEIPTS
    On receipt of the registration form with purchase order number the IRRV will issue a receipted VAT invoice at the prevailing rate. Payment must be received in advance of the event. The Institute reserves the right to refuse admission where delegate fees have not been paid.
    CANCELLATIONS
    Cancellations made 1 month before the meeting will be subject to an administration charge of 50% of the fee plus VAT. Cancellations after this date are liable for the full registration fee. A substitute delegate is welcome at any time at no extra charge.
    PRIVACY
    The Institute will be producing a delegate list that will only include the name of each delegate, their job title and employer. This will available to all sponsors and delegates.

    Please note that by booking this event, you agree to your details (including email address) being made available to our event sponsors.

  • Special Member/Subscriber Offer: 3rd delegate gets 25% Reduction*

    *This offer is available to organisations sending 3 or more delegates and attending from the same organisation. Bookings must be made at the same time. It will be applied to the cheapest rate. At least one of the delegates must be a member of the Institute in order to receive this discount or alternatively, the organisation must subscribe to either the Forum Service or Organisational Membership Service. Complimentary exhibition only passes available to all non commercial organisations.
    ** Discounted rates for Forum/Organisational membership subscribers with further discounts to all Individual IRRV members.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact conference@irrv.org.uk

SPECIAL OFFERS

Special Offer
  • Special Member/Subscriber Offer: 3rd delegate gets 25% Reduction*
  • Complimentary exhibition only passes available to all non commercial organisations.**
  • Discounted rates for Forum/Organisational membership subscribers with further discounts to all Individual IRRV members.

**This offer is available to organisations sending 3 or more delegates and attending from the same organisation. Bookings must be made at the same time. It will be applied to the cheapest rate. At least one of the delegates must be a member of the Institute in order to receive this discount or alternatively, the organisation must subscribe to either the Forum Service or Organisational Membership Service.
**If you would like to be considered for a pass, please email your request to conference@irrv.org.uk please note these passes are only available to employees from non commercial companies and applications are considered on a case by case basis.

HOW MUCH TO ATTEND

FULL EVENT

NON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES

IRRV Individual (Personal) Member
£260
Organisational/Forum Subscriber
£320
Non Member
£420

*Prices exclude vat
**Non commercial rates are available only to non commercial companies such as governmental organisations, charitable organisations and non profit organisations.
*** The Individual (Personal) Rembership rate is only available where an individual is a member of the institute, this is non transferable.

SINGLE DAY

NON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES

IRRV Individual (Personal) Member
£195
Organisational/Forum Subscriber
£225
Non Member
£290

*Prices exclude vat
**Non commercial rates are available only to non commercial companies such as governmental organisations, charitable organisations and non profit organisations.
*** The Individual (Personal) Rembership rate is only available where an individual is a member of the institute, this is non transferable.

FULL EVENT

COMMERCIAL COMPANIES

IRRV Individual (Personal) Member
£475
Organisational/Forum Subscriber
£505
Non Member
£605

*Prices exclude vat
** The Individual Personal Membership rate is only available where an individual is a member of the institute, this is non transferable.

SINGLE DAY

COMMERCIAL COMPANIES

IRRV Individual (Personal) Member
£370
Organisational/Forum Subscriber
£400
Non Member
£500

*Prices exclude vat
** The Individual Personal Membership rate is only available where an individual is a member of the institute, this is non transferable.

NOT A MEMBER?

For details on how to become a member click here. To subscribe to the Forum Service, please click here or for details as to how to become an organisational member click here.