Geoff Fisher : IRRV President 2009-10

President's last round up!

2010-10-17T17:01:00.006+01:00

Above : The President and David Magor welcome all to the IRRV Reception
Above : The President welcomes Quentin Wilson to present the Performance Awards
Above : "Kerry - take good care of this chain!"
Above : Quentin Wilson joins Geoff and his family

Kerry - all the best as our new President!

St Albans Valuation Office

2010-10-14T20:07:00.003+01:00

Geoff gives Olympic Presentation, hosted by Mark Catley GVO St Albans

A message from Geoff

2010-10-10T23:02:00.002+01:00

Well, what a grand completion of a year, in which I have been honoured to be the Institute's President.

Special thanks to the Associations for their welcome at various events across the country, to the Institute staff for their hard work and expertise, to Council Members for their support throughout the year, and to David Magor for his great help and guidance through my Presidential term.

Watch out for the President's photos from Harrogate in the next few days ...

Best wishes to all Institute members staff and supporters.

Geoff Fisher

Congratulations to Geoff ...

2010-10-10T22:57:00.001+01:00

Steve Turton from BNP Paribas Real Estate UK (Sheffield) is Chairman of Rating Diplomas - and congratulates Geoff Fisher on the completion of his successful Presidential Year.

Geoff is one of several Rating Diploma holders to have served as IRRV President.

Waltham Forest Business Board

2010-10-10T22:46:00.000+01:00

The President (and Strettons consultant) was honoured to attend the Waltham Forest Business Board.

Northern Counties Association Seminar

2010-10-10T22:44:00.002+01:00

The Northern Counties Association held a successful Seminar in September at the Durham International Cricket Ground and this included presentations by the President and Chief Executive :

IRRV Annual Conference 2010

2010-10-04T22:32:00.007+01:00

Following a superb IRRV Conference and a highly successful year as President, Geoff passed the baton to Kerry Macdermott, who will serve as President in 2010/11 :

Above : Geoff hands over the presidential chain to Kerry

Above : Geoff welcomes the new President

Please note that a full set of photographs from IRRV Annual Conference is available from ARM Photography - follow the link here for more details.

Thames Valley and London IRRV Associations - joint meeting

2010-09-13T13:21:00.003+01:00

Joint meeting of Thames Valley and London Associations to hear Paul Howarth of DWP at Chiltern District Council Offices on Friday 10th September.

IRRV Scottish Conference - preparations!

2010-09-07T22:43:00.002+01:00

IRRV Chief Executive David Magor and Rachel Toombs prepare for a busy Conference!

IRRV Scottish Conference Sept 2010 - Crieff, Scotland

2010-09-07T22:40:00.001+01:00

Janet Macpherson holds the fort at the IRRV registration desk while Fraser checks Conference arrangements.

Geoff visits MPAC the Ontario valuation office in Toronto

2010-09-07T22:38:00.001+01:00

Toronto Conference - the Brits with IPTI president Jerry Grad

2010-09-07T22:36:00.001+01:00

IPTI Conference Toronto

2010-09-07T22:33:00.002+01:00

IPTI Conference Toronto - Jerry and Helen Grad with Geoff and Marianne

President visits Nick Cooper at Eland House

2010-08-13T08:31:00.002+01:00

Above : Geoff Fisher, IRRV President, visits Department for Communities and Local Government adviser & Valuation Faculty Board member Nick Cooper at Eland House.

Delegation from Azerbaijan

2010-08-07T18:15:00.003+01:00

The President welcomes a delegation of surveyors from Azerbaijan.

Geoff's tours gives CHOVA delegates a chance to see progress on the Olympics in East London

2010-08-07T18:12:00.002+01:00

CHOVA Conference Cambridge August 2010

2010-08-07T18:11:00.001+01:00

CHOVA Conference August 2010

2010-08-07T18:09:00.002+01:00

The Mayor of Cambridge (USA) welcomes delegates to the Commonwealth Heads of Valuation CHOVA Conference August 2010.

IRRV/CHOVA Seminar - 29th July 2010

2010-08-01T10:15:00.001+01:00

Graham Stalker DVS VOA gave talk on the the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and "Fair Value" and Gerry Biddle SRU VOA spoke on rating of the Olympics.

IRRV Valuation Faculty Board - July Meeting

2010-08-01T10:14:00.001+01:00

IRRV Council - on HMS Belfast!

2010-07-27T17:41:00.002+01:00

IRRV Annual Reception - HMS Belfast - 5th July!

2010-07-14T20:51:00.001+01:00

"Start spreading the news.."

AGM - Christians in Property

2010-07-14T20:41:00.002+01:00

AGM Christians in Property - Committee congratulate the IRRV President :

"Mountain Mayhem"

2010-07-14T20:27:00.008+01:00

"Mountain Mayhem" in aid of the President's Charity Haven House Children's Hospice - Our son made this arduous 24 hours challenge with his mates.

The course by bike was 9.5 miles (15km) long and had 1300 feet (396m) of climb, as a team they travelled 270km and climbed 7km - higher than Mont Blanc!

As you know Haven House Children's Hospice is my chosen charity to support this year - see the IRRV web site at http://irrv.net/HOME/item.asp?ID=1210.

Our son Reto has taken part in an arduous "Mountain Mayhem" in aid of Haven House - its a bit like Le Mans 24 hours but on bikes up mountains! It would be great if you could support him by making a donation to Haven House. Reto has got his employer Reuters to match fund donations! See : http://www.bmycharity.com/V2/MM2010forHavenhouse.

East Anglia AGM at the Races!

2010-07-14T20:22:00.002+01:00

Studying the Racing form after the AGM.....

Past President Tanya Bandekar, new President Jo Stanton, IRRV President Geoff, and Vice President Jane Radcliffe.

IRRV/VOA lunch

2010-06-27T21:55:00.009+01:00

The President was pleased to host an IRRV/VOA lunch at the Whitechapel Gallery Restaurant.

The VOA was congratulated on their centenary, with a presentation to Chief Executive Penny Ciniewicz.

Photos - Richard Guy and VO Steve Wright, Geoff and DVS Andy Holdsworth, Gordon Heath and David Magor, Tom Dixon and Paul Sanderson - with thanks to VOA Head of Profession, Paul Sanderson, for the photos :

Haven House ... a message from Geoff

2010-06-16T14:14:00.002+01:00

Dear All

As IRRV President this year, my chosen charity to support is our local Haven House Children's Hospice.

Reto (our son) and his mates are doing this crazy 24hr bike race to raise money for Haven House and Reto's employer (Thomson Reuters) will kindly match the raised total - so a very good opportunity to raise double the money!

If you would like to help with a donation Click here to make a donation : http://www.justgiving.com/Geoff-FisherIRRV.

Many thanks to you all.

I should have some photos of the 24 hour race afterwards!

Thanks again,

Geoff

TEGoVA Spring Conference in Paris

2010-06-16T14:11:00.002+01:00

Geoff, as IRRV President, receives certificates for 2 more UK Recognised European Valuers (REVs) from TEGoVA Chairman Roger Messenger.
The DEFVAS Group also met to progress this EU funded pan European training project on European Valuation Standards.

IRRV Northern Ireland Conference and Presidential Visit

2010-06-16T14:05:00.003+01:00

IRRV held its Annual Northern Ireland Conference at Belfast City Hall on 3rd June. This year's event, held in partnership with the Chief Executive's Forum, was very well attended. Geoff chaired the conference's morning sessions.

Above : Conference in session

Above : From left - Colin Wilkinson (IRRV Northern Ireland Association Chair), Geoff and Sammy Wilson MLA MP (Minister for Finance and Personnel)

Valuation Office

2010-05-27T15:35:00.003+01:00

Various former VO colleagues, family and friends got together to celebrate the life of David Levene OBE who died just before Christmas. David was DVVO Islington and, at London Region, led the Revaluation 1990 Team - the first for 17 years and with new legislation. The photo group includes about 8 former District Valuers including myself - and the man who taught me rating - Mr Fred Bradley (front left with tie).

Recently took time out from the Benefits and Collection Conferences to visit Preston and Leeds Valuation Offices and enjoyed talking to staff about the IRRV, and Olympics 2012 on which I am involved (compensation and rating). I hope to visit other VO offices on my Presidential travels including when the VOA hosts (with the IRRV) the Commonwealth Heads of Valuation UK Conference at end of July.

Lancashire and Cheshire Association

2010-05-09T11:15:00.006+01:00

Dinner Dance at Formby Hall Southport was a fine occasion.
Congratulations to Linda Price as new Association President. Association Presidents.

More photographs of the event are available at http://tinyurl.com/irrvphotos.

Thames Valley Association

2010-05-09T11:09:00.005+01:00

We received a warm welcome at the Association's first Gala Dinner held at the spectacular Wokefield Hall near Reading and hosted by their new President Phil Adlard.

Keele - 29th April

2010-05-09T10:54:00.007+01:00

It was great to visit Keele and meet many of the students and tutors in the training sessions and at the Thursday evening dinner.

Good to hear of the success of the new Miscellaneous Income Conference with some 80 delegates.

As usual the "Entertainment" at the Keele dinner was spectacular and entertaining led by Gary Watson!

Northern Ireland

2010-03-28T21:49:00.006+01:00

Some photographs from the Presidential Visit to Northern Ireland last week :

Above : The President addresses students at the University of Ulster. Over 40 new student IRRV members joined the Institute!

Above : Some of the large audience at the university.

Above : The President guards the Queen at Hillsborough!

Annual Presidential Lunch

2010-03-28T21:41:00.008+01:00

I was delighted to host the Annual Presidential Lunch on 19th March when the Institute invites Presidents and representatives of kindred bodies and organisations.

Guests included IPTA's Jerry Grad (from Canada), RSA president Mark Higgin, RICS David Rusholme, VOA Paul Sanderson, VTS Anne Galbraithe, and Strettons Director Simon Tilsiter.

Thanks to Paul Sanderson for the above photos.

RSA / IRRV (L&HC) - Joint Meeting on 25th January at Herbert Smith

2010-02-09T09:17:00.012Z

Delighted to attend a packed joint IRRV London Association/Rating Surveyors Association meeting on 25th January at the offices of lawyers Herbert Smith.

RSA president Mark Higgin introduced excellent presentations by Herbert Smith lawyers, Gordon Heath, and Jon Bestow VTS Registrar, and IRRV London Association President Peter Scrafton spoke of the Lands Tribunal consultation paper on increased fees.

Here are some photographs from the event:

Photos by Richard Guy - with grateful thanks.

IRRV Council Round - January 2010 - at Chigwell Essex

2010-01-28T09:29:00.005Z

It was welcome to Essex for the first Council Round of 2010 - including a new Law and Research Committee in addition to Education and Commercial Services plus Professional Conduct Committees.

Above : Presents for John Roberts (top photo) and Bill Lovell (bottom photo) and thanks for their service as Council Members

Photographs : Copyright R Guy 2010 – not for commercial use - may be reproduced for publication provided authorship acknowledged.

Chartered Institute of Taxation lunch

2010-01-15T20:14:00.004Z

Wednesday's Chartered Institute of Taxation lunch sported 3 previous Chancellors of the Exchequer - Sir Geoffrey Howe, Nigel Lawson and Denis Healey, the latter receiving Honorary Membership with a sharp and witty speech.

Above ... then straight onto a meeting with Jerry Grad President of IPTA, David Magor and VOA to discuss future Conferences.

Above : ... and then to meet up with some Benefits practitioners (Sue Beasor and Michael Famokunwa) for a discussion on Local Housing Allowances.

See above : Delighted that Roger Messenger and I have been awarded certificates as the first UK "Recognised European Valuers" (REV) (see Estates Gazette 9 Jan 2009).

Happy New Year to all IRRV members!

2010-01-10T22:26:00.005Z

Council Round next week and then the Benefits Conference (Southport) in February.

Prior to Christmas, it was good to return to Scotland for the well-attended Reception at the Royal Scots Club.

Then, the following day, I attended the East Midlands Association Christmas Lunch to join Association President Alan Lemmon for traditional Christmas fare and a special raffle. See East Midlands web site for more photos at http://www.irrvassociations.org.uk/photographs/2/2009/Christmas_Lunch/.

Above : East Midlands Christmas Lunch

Above : Ian Ballance and Iain Macgregor (both from Central Scotland Assessors) with Geoff

Above : Presentation to Jacqui Baldie of Angus Council (IRRV examination prize winner) with Scottish Association President Brian Jeffrey

Above : With Past National President Allan Traynor

Merry Christmas from Geoff and all at IRRV!

2009-12-22T22:56:00.001Z

East Midlands Association

2009-12-14T23:41:00.001Z

Marianne and I were delighted to attend the Association Dinner Dance hosted by President Alan Lemmon at the East Midlands Airport Hilton Hotel.

A champagne reception was followed by a splendid dinner, speeches and raffle and then a disco till late.

It was good to see several Council Members support the occasion.

Thank you Alan and Committee for a warm welcome and great evening. Well done East Midlands!

Above : Geoff and Marianne

Above : Geoff, Alan Lemmon and David Magor

Above : Presidents with Chains!

For more photos see East Midlands Association website - http://tinyurl.com/irrveastmids.

Visit to Scottish Association

2009-12-01T15:06:00.000Z

30th November: It's St. Andrew's Day so it was great to visit Dumfries and be welcomed by the Scottish Association last week.

The Forum Day was an interactive session on Revenues Benefits and Fraud plus a bit on Reval 2010 where the large increases on LA properties valued on Contractors Method were noted.

Organised by Fraser Macpherson and led by Scottish President Brian Jeffrey, Forum delegates came from all over Scotland, and discussed manly issues including the Future of Local Taxation in Scotland.

A presentation was made to Alistair McNair who recently retired from Aberdeenshire Council but remains an active member of the IRRV Scottish Association Executive.

You may recall that Dumfries and Galloway Council won the Excellence in Social Inclusion Performance Award this year and was highly commended for the Revenues Team of the Year Award. Glasgow City Council won Most Improved Team of the Year Performance Award. I hope to see plenty of Scottish entries for next year's Performance Awards in Harrogate.

The day was rounded off by the traditional Scottish Chinese Karaoke where I was able to lead the singing of "Maybe its because I'm a Londoner" and Lambeth Walk before departing for the Sleeper train back to London for the Rating Diploma's lunch and the London Association Quiz the following day ... more on that later ...

This coming week is the IRRV Scottish Benefits and Benefits Fraud Conference in Crieff to be opened by Senior Vice President Kerry Macdermott as I have the Valuers' Faculty Board Meeting in London.

But I will be up in Edinburgh next week for the Scottish Association President's Christmas Reception on the 9th December at the Royal Scots Club.

For more about the Scottish Association have a look at their excellent web site http://www.irrvscotland.org.uk

Above : Geoff at the wine reception after the Forum meeting
Above : Geoff (left) and Scottish Association President Brian Jeffrey (right) made retiral presentation to Alistair McNair
Above : Geoff addresses the Forum and Association joint meeting
Above : Geoff with Liz and David Magor at the Chinese Karaoke!

London Association

2009-11-28T12:20:00.001Z

I was delighted to join the Annual Quiz at the Red Herring in the City and present the prizes to the winning team and runners. A great evening on 27th November.

Above : My team at the London Association quiz

Above : London Association quiz team

Above : The winning team

Above : The runners up team

Swiss Church and Embassy

2009-11-16T13:18:00.001Z

Saturday 14th November saw Marianne and I at the Swiss Embassy for lunch and then the opening of the newly renovated Swiss Church in London (Covent Garden); a great occasion with review of the project, art photography and music including Alp Horn.

See more at http://www.swisschurchlondon.org.uk/pub/home.

Above : IRRV President with Swiss Ambassador Alexis P. Lautenberg
Above : The renovated Swiss Church in London (Covent Garden)
Above : Swiss Church Minister Nathalie Dürmüller, Geoff and Marianne and youngest daughter Sonja
Above : Alp Horn at Swiss Church

PRESIDENT FOR SALE BY AUCTION!

2009-11-13T14:43:00.007Z

Working on the Contracts desk last week at STRETTONS' regular national wide property auction, I was interested to see what happened on Lot 84 offered with no guide price or reserve (priceless?)

Strettons Auctions Director, Philip Waterfield, whose motto is 'Auctions Speak Louder than Words' said,

"We had a lot of interest for Lot 84 but it was sold 'prior to auction' ; our next auction is on 16th December so we should have some Christmas bargains." www.strettons.co.uk

I am off to Cardiff today for the ACES* annual lunch at the Wales Millennium Centre and plan to call in at Cardiff Valuation Office to talk about the IRRV.

*(Association of Chief Estates Surveyors and Property Managers in the Public Sector)

Big day tomorrow with the reopening of the manificently renovated Swiss Church in London's Covent Garden, following a lunch with the Swiss Ambassador.

London and Home Counties Association

2009-11-01T12:47:00.010Z

Delighted to join my own Association meeting on Reval 2010 in October.

Montagu Evans hosted the well attended meeting in their offices in Clarges Street W1, and Association Chairman Peter Scrafton introduced speakers Patrick Bond (VOA), Blake Penford (GL Hearn), and Tony Masella (VTS) followed by lively question time.

See the London & Home Counties Association website for the slide presentation (http://www.irrvassociations.org.uk/index.asp?AId=4).

Greatly enjoyed the Rating Surveyors Association Guest Dinner on 21st October, at the RAF Club Piccadilly, chaired by RSA President Mark Higgin who contributed to our Valuer Day at Bournemouth. It was good to meet Penny Ciniewicz the new VOA Chief Executive, as well as
so many friends and Rating colleagues.

IRRV President with Allen Evans Rating Diploma Holders chairman (left)

"These guys need buttering up.."

David Magor IRRV, Nic Cooper CLG and Tony Masella VTS at RSA Guest Dinner 21 October 2009.

Photos courtesy of Mr Richard Guy.

Attended for STRETTONS, the latest North London Business Forum in the City when the focus was on Waltham Forest London Borough my local Council. Presentations from the Council Leader, Chief Executive and Head of Planning were well received – Waltham Forest had THREE teams shortlisted for Performance Awards at Bournemouth Conference in September.

STRETTONS features an unusual LOT 84 at their national auction on 2nd November –
The IRRV President Geoff Fisher complete with chain of office – no guide price or reserve!
Next auction close to Christmas 16th December!

Busy time ahead at the end of November with Scottish FORUM meeting in Dumfries on Thursday 26th then back on the night sleeper for Friday’s Rating Diploma Holders Professional Meeting and Lunch at RAF Club Piccadilly, followed by London Association Quiz in the Evening.

Hope to hear soon about my application for the TEGOVA Recognised European Valuer (REV) qualification being considered by The European Group of Valuers Association at Brussels. Watch this space....

RICS London NE Association Meeting

2009-10-19T10:13:00.001+01:00

Wednesday 14th saw a further Reval 2010 meeting at Chingford, with presentations from the VO (GVO Karen Kendrick and Reval Lead Paul Phillips) on the Reval itself, and me on Business Rates effects including transition and supplementary rates.

Many questions!

South Wales Association

2009-10-19T09:48:00.011+01:00

On 12th October, it was off to Cardiff City Hall for the day to the South Wales Association Meeting organised by Association Secretary Helen Stokes.

My first Association event as President and, as it was chaired by Kerry McDermott, it was a chance to present him with the Senior Vice President's chain of office – see photograph below. Revaluation 2010 was the subject and Brian Jones South Wales VO Reval Leader gave a resume of the Reval process Notices and some early indication of changes of rateable value by giving peak values for shops offices and industrials for 2010 Lists compared to the 2005 List values.

I then gave a Business Rates review of the difficulties of this list in Recession Date and other matters including use of the VOA web site and supplementary and empty rates (see photo below). The Welsh assembly has not yet decided whether to have Transition (None for the last 2 lists).

Photo below : South Wales Association Secretary Helen Stokes, Kerry McDermott and Geoff Fisher

Power point slides on both talks will be available on the Association web site.

Welcome bloggers! ....

2009-10-04T19:32:00.003+01:00

IRRV President Geoff reporting for 2009/10 making the 4th year of the blog.

I am looking forward to a busy year of official duties including opening conferences, visiting Associations, giving presentations and of course chairing the quarterly meeting of IRRV Council.

2nd October at Bournemouth saw Julie Holden hand over the Presidency after a great year and I am proud and honoured to be your President. Please visit this blog regularly to share in my journeys with photographs and stories - it could include you – with hopefully fun on the way.

See you there.

Best regards

from Geoff

Photos from the Presidential Handover!

2009-10-04T14:28:00.000+01:00

Geoff becomes IRRV President

2009-10-04T13:58:00.001+01:00

Geoff became IRRV President on Thursday 1st October, following the IRRV Awards Evening 2009 in Bournmouth, during the Institute's Annual Conference.

Geoff will be using this blog to update IRRV members on his numerous activities throughout his Presidential Year - come back soon to read more!

Geoff at Conference

2009-10-04T13:19:00.001+01:00

Above : Geoff speaks at IRRV Conference 2009
Above : Geoff pictured at the Bournemouth Annual Conference 2009