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Officers East Midlands

Association President (2023/2024)
Andrea Grinney IRRV (Dip)

Association President (2023/2024)

Andrea has worked in Revenues and Benefits at Rutland County Council since 1990, having a number of roles Andrea is currently the Revenues and Benefits Manager which includes local taxation, benefits, welfare reforms, financial crisis support and since 2011,Community Care Finance which includes charging for adult social care and deputyship management. 

Andrea has been a member of the IRRV East Midlands Association since 1999. 

Away from work Andrea enjoys gardening and catching Pokémon.

Click here to send an email to Andrea Grinney

Association Vice President (2023/2024)
Paul Bowden

Association Vice President (2023/2024)

Paul is a partner within the recoveries team at Wilkin Chapman LLP. He graduated from the University of Hull with a 2:1 degree in Law with Criminology. He passed his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in York with Commendation and completed his training contract at a Hull based firm before joining Wilkin Chapman LLP as a solicitor in 2009. He became a senior solicitor in 2013, and became a partner in June 2018.

Since 2009 Paul has formed part of the firm’s recoveries team and has acted for a range of creditor clients in relation to both volume debt recovery and more complex insolvency proceedings. He acts for a wide range of corporate clients, including local authorities, utility companies, debt purchasers and other commercial creditors.

From July 2013, Paul has had management responsibility for the development and delivery of "Resolution" Wilkin Chapman's unique service offering developed for creditors but primarily utilised by local authority clients. This service provides identification research, enforcement action and case estate administration to local authorities mainly engaged in the use of insolvency and charging order as recovery methods.

Paul has a wealth of experience in acting for petitioning creditors on personal insolvency matters, in particular those where petitions become defended. He also regularly deals with and advises clients on complex annulment applications and applications to set aside statutory demands. Paul has experience in acting for trustees in bankruptcy in relation to post bankruptcy issues such as applications for possession and sale and applications for examination.

Click here to send an email to Paul Bowden

Association Secretary
Gary Clarke Tech IRRV

Association Secretary

Gary has worked in Revenues since 2003, starting with Huntingdonshire District Council until 2005 and then taking various temporary contracts around the country.

In 2011, after a brief time out from the Revenues world as a Driving Instructor, Gary took a permanent position in the Recovery team at Mansfield District Council, before taking roles at Bolsover District Council, Gedling Borough Council and Capita. Gary is now the Recovery Team Leader with Sheffield City Council.

Gary has been a member of the IRRV since 2013 and a member of the East Midlands Association since 2019.

Please click here to send an email to Gary Clarke   

Assistant Association Secretary
Rob Andrews Tech IRRV

Assistant Association Secretary

Rob's career began in 1976 when he joined Nottingham City Council as an office junior.

In 1983 he moved to Newark & Sherwood District Council as the Deputy Revenues Manager.

After 22 years in Local Government Rob joined the Private sector and has previously worked for MDIS (now Northgate) Anite, Equita and Datatank. In June 2018 Rob joined Wilkin Chapman LLP in a newly created role of Client Relations Manager.

Rob became an IRRV technician member in 1988 and has been an IRRV East Midlands Executive member since 1998.

Rob has been a season ticket holder for Nottingham Forest for the last 44 years is an expert with a Frisbee, a keen cyclist, plays golf – badly, enjoys gardening and driving around in his van.

Click here for Rob's Linkedin details

Click here to send an email to Rob Andrews

 

Association Treasurer (Past President 2016/2017)
James McKillop IRRV (Hons)

Association Treasurer (Past President 2016/2017)

James has over 20 years experience working in Local Government Revenues starting his career in the Community Charge Section at Great Yarmouth Borough Council in 1990. In 1993, he moved over to the Revenues Team and acquired an extensive knowledge in Council Tax and Non Domestic Rating registration, billing and recovery matters, attending and representing the authority at Liability Order and Committal Hearings.

In 1998, James became a certificated bailiff recovering outstanding Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates in the Norfolk area. He remained in this role until 2005 when he became Council Tax Manager at City of Lincoln Council. In 2007 he qualified as a full professional corporate member of the IRRV (Hons).

In 2012, James moved to the private sector joining Rossendales as Business Development Executive. He is also part of the Rossendales Training Team, presenting to clients on a variety of revenues and enforcement related subjects.

James also spends time auditing the company’s enforcement agents.  As a certificated enforcement agent himself, he is able to apply a comprehensive and objective approach to dealing with revenues related matters.

Please click here to send an e-mail to James McKillop

Membership Officer
Simon Hamilton IRRV (Hons)

Membership Officer

Simon began working in Local Government Finance in 1989.  During his career he has worked at Broxtowe Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council and is currently Revenues Manager at Erewash Borough Council.  Simon is a keen Derby County fan and enjoys watching cricket.

Please click here to send an e-mail to Simon Hamilton

Member of Executive Committee
Adrian Johnson Tech IRRV

Member of Executive Committee

Adrian Johnson

 

Please click here to send an e-mail to Adrian Johnson

 

 

 

Member of Executive Committee
Andrew Solley IRRV (Hons)

Member of Executive Committee

Andrew Solley IRRV (Hons)

Andrew hails from the New Forest in Hampshire but began his career in Nottingham working for a small firm of bailiffs in 2001. In 2003 Andrew started working at Gedling Borough Council as a Clerical Assistant. He is still employed by Gedling Borough Council and is currently working as the Council's Revenues Manager.

Andrew has been a member of the IRRV East Midlands Association since 2005 and held the post of Association Secretary from 2007 to 2021 with a brief gap in 2012 when he held the post of Association President for a year.

 

Click here to send an email to Andrew Solley

Member of Executive Committee
Mark Fearn IRRV (Hons) 

Member of Executive Committee

Mark Fearn IRRV (Hons)

Mark has worked within the Revenues arena for almost twenty five years and is currently Acting Revenues Manager at Walsall MBC. His previous posts have included Revenues Manager at Milton Keynes Council, Head of Revenues at North West Leicestershire DC and Revenue Collection Manager at South Derbyshire District Council.

Mark has been a member of the East Midlands IRRV Association executive since 1998 and has held the posts of Secretary and President during that time.

Click here to send an email to Mark Fearn

Member of Executive Committee
Paula Short IRRV (Dip)

Member of Executive Committee

Paula started working in Local Government at Rutland County Council in 1996.  Over the years she has held a variety of roles from cashier to recovery assistant, council tax assistant, team leader, court officer and her current post as business rates officer.

Paula passed the IRRV technician exams in 2009.  She qualified at diploma level in 2021 and was presented with an award at the annual IRRV Conference in Telford for being the highest performing candidate.

In her spare time, she enjoys running and regularly takes part in events.

 

Click here to send an email to Paula Short.

 

 

Member of Executive Committee
Steve Brockington-Brown BA (Hons) MA IRRV (Corp)

Member of Executive Committee

Steve has over 30 years’ local taxation experience working in a variety of public and private sector roles. He started his career at the London Borough of Wandsworth implementing Poll Tax before moving to Broxtowe BC, where for 10 years he managed the billing and debt recovery functions. In June 2000. Steve moved to Leicester City Council as Revenues and Benefits Manager and helped deliver year on year improvements in collection rates.

Steve moved to the private sector, working for Rossendales and following its acquisition by Marston he was appointed Client Services Director. His current role involves work on tender submissions and presentations, client management, and training in a range of technical and interpersonal skills subject areas. This blend of public and private sector experience enables him to offer an informed and supportive role to clients and other stakeholders across the local taxation workspace.

When not focussed on local taxation you’ll find Steve in his garden, on a cricket tour (watching) or indulging in his long standing and long suffering support for Harlequins RFC!

 

Auditor
Ashok Thakrar BSc (Hons) Econ IRRV (Hons) 

Auditor

Ashok Thakrar BSc (Hons) Econ IRRV (Hons)

Click here to send an email to Ashok Thakrar

Auditor
Michael Lacey IRRV (Hons) 

Auditor

Michael Lacey IRRV (Hons)

Michael has worked within Local Taxation for Leicester City Council as an officer, training officer, supervisor and manager at different times since 1994. He achieved Technician status in 2001 and corporate status in 2005. His service merged with Housing Benefits and he moved over to Housing Benefit management in 2007. He enjoyed this for four years and then an opportunity to manage Social Care financial operations arose in Leicester in July 2011. In January 2017 he became Project Manager for Social Care systems at Leicester specialising in the Childrens Social Care systems. In 2019 he became a Senior Project Manager for Social Care & Education systems.

Click here to send an email to Michael Lacey

Immediate Past President (2018/2022)
Claire Moses (IRRV)

Immediate Past President (2018/2022)

Claire has 21 years’ experience working in Local Government Revenues and benefits, starting her career in 1999 at Boston Borough Council. During her career, Claire has worked for a single authority as well as a shared service. Claire is currently the Head of Revenues and Benefits for South Kesteven District Council. Claire joined South Kesteven District Council in March 2021 after providing 18 months of interim management support. Claire currently manages six teams who deliver services within Revenues and Benefits; council tax, benefits, business rates, income recovery, system support and technical.

Claire has been a member of the IRRV East Midlands Association since 2012 and has held positions as Membership Officer and Vice President. Claire currently holds the position of Association President and has done so since 2018.

 

Please click here to send an email to Claire Moses   

Past President (2017/2018) & IRRV Council Member
Alistair Townsend FIRRV Cmgr MCMI

Past President (2017/2018) & IRRV Council Member

Alistair Townsend FIRRV, CMgr MCMI

Alistair is a National Council member of the IRRV. He is currently Chair of the Local Taxation and Revenues Faculty Board, Vice Chair of the Law and Research Committee and Policy & Resources Committee member. He is also Immediate Past President of the East Midlands Association and a former examiner in Council Tax Law.

He has worked within Local Taxation and Revenues throughout his career, initially working for a couple of Nottinghamshire Councils and latterly as Head of Revenues & Benefits for Milton Keynes Council. Alistair originally joined Milton Keynes, working for Mouchel in a contracted out service, and then later managed the transfer of the Service to the Council, during which time he also became Deputy Partnership Director for a Council owned LLP.

After a brief period with Marston Holdings as Group Client Services Director, Alistair created his own firm, Alistair Townsend Limited, which specialises in local taxation, revenues and debt collection consultancy and provides services to both the public and private sector.

Click here to send an email to Alistair Townsend

IRRV Council Member
Kevin Stewart IRRV (Hons) MAAT MCMI

IRRV Council Member

Kevin Stewart FIRRV MAAT MCMI

Council Lead on Communications including Magazines, Publications and Website

Kevin is currently Local Taxation and Benefits Manager at Wealden DC from February 2016. Prior to this Kevin worked with the Welfare Reform Club. Before this he worked temporarily with Rossendales Enforcement Agents. Prior to this he worked temporarily with INTEC Public Sector since August 2015 working on an exciting new project. Kevin was previously the Interim Customer Services Manager at Luton Borough Council since April 2015. Previous to this he was a Change Leader at the same Council. Immediately prior to working at Luton Borough Council Kevin was Revenues Manager at Central Bedfordshire Council since September 2013.

Previously Kevin was Revenues Manager at the Shared Service of Watford and Three Rivers since January 2011. Previously Kevin also was a Performance Specialist (Benefits) with the Audit Commission since January 2009. Prior to this he was Head of Revenues, Benefits and Exchequer at Bedford Borough Council since August 2006. Before this he was employed as Head of Benefits and Revenues at Amber Valley Borough Council since July 1999, and previously was employed in various roles in Benefits and Revenues since August 1982 at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

Elected to the IRRV National Council from 2005 to 2011 and again from 2012, Kevin is a Past President (2014-15) of the IRRV. He is the IRRV Council Lead on Communications including Magazines, Publications and Website. He is a Past President of the IRRV East Midlands Association, in addition to previously having been the Association’s Education Liaison Officer for a number of years. He was previously chair of the IRRV East Midlands Forum between December 1999 and August 2006 and is chair of the IRRV Benefits Faculty Board and member of the Revenues and Faculty Board. As an examiner at the IRRV’s Technician/Certificate level since December 2001, he has tutored at various Institute courses including Caerleon, Dudley and Keele in a range of subjects including Housing Benefits, Benefit Fraud, Welfare Benefits, Revenues, Accounting and Constitutional Framework.

Kevin is a regular contributor to the "Insight" and "Benefit" publications and presenter of various papers at IRRV and other Conferences. Kevin played an instrumental part in the Audit Commission's 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Protecting the Public Purse Report conducting the research on Council Tax Single Person Discount and contributing to the report. In 2010 he was instrumental in introducing a Council Tax Single Person Discount (SPD) webtool on the Audit Commission website to help Councils. This webtool was further updated in 2011. Kevin also participated in the 2015 TEICCAF Protecting the Public Purse Report. He was also previously a member of the BFI Standard Magazine editorial panel and a member of the BFI Liaison Group and has previously been a member of the DWP Help Team that assisted other Local Authorities and helped the DWP draft the IT HB Specification.

Click here to send an email to Kevin Stewart