Alistair Townsend

Alistair Townsend Limited

National Council member and Past President of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV) with around 30 years’ experience of working in a local government environment, from within both the public and private sector. A technical specialist in Revenues & Benefits services and former law examiner for the IRRV.

Provides a variety of consultation, advice and expert witness services to local authority and private sector clients in relation to local taxation law and practice.

Practice Area

Local Government

Panel

Contributing Author

Experience

Milton Keynes Council (2008 - 2016)
Gedling Borough Council (2000 - 2008)
M A Julious & Co (1993 - 2000)
Broxtowe Borough Council (1990 - 1993)

Membership

National Council member of the Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation (IRRV) (by election)
Commercial Services Portfolio Holder of the Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation (IRRV)
Enforcement Law Review Steering Group member
Chartered Manager of Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Qualifications

IRRV (Tech) (2001)
IRRB (Hons) (2004)

Education

Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation (IRRV) (2000)

2 Contributions by Alistair Townsend

PRACTICE NOTES

Local authority debt recovery in England and Wales: legal framework, policy duties, enforcement options, and the impact of R v Tottenham Magistrates on liability order costs

Types of debts to be recovered by local authorities A local authority debt recovery team manages the collection of sums owed, conducted by the in-house unit or by supervising outsourced providers, spanning numerous liabilities including the following: council tax—a household levy imposed by local authorities in Britain, determined by a property’s assessed value and the number of residents. Refer to Practice Notes: Council tax and Council Tax Enforcement non-domestic rates—also called business rates, collected by billing authorities to support local services. Refer to Practice Note: National non-domestic rates—billing recovery, exemptions and reliefs. parking fines—penalties for unauthorised parking (eg parking in disabled bays, on double yellow lines, etc), exceeding permitted time limits, or parking without a ticket sundry debts—smaller amounts linked to unpaid rents, former tenants’ arrears, funeral expenses, and overpayments of housing benefit adult social care debt—arising where a financial assessment decides a person is responsible for all or part of the cost of their care and support needs. Refer to Practice Note: Securing and enforcing community care liabilities rent arrears—non-payment of, or a shortfall in, rent due for accommodation typically regarded as being ...

Local Government

CHECKLISTS

Local authority use of enforcement agents for council tax: pre-instruction steps, alternatives, required notices, fee controls and monitoring obligations (England and Wales)

What steps should be taken before instructing an enforcement agent?...