East Midlands

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 47 years is an expert with a Frisbee, enjoys the outdoors including playing golf, gardening, travel and driving around in his van.

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Click here to send an email to Rob Andrews

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, a partner in June 2018 and equity partner in 2023.

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.

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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/Sheffield City Council. Gary has worked for Wokingham Borough Council since 2023 as the Recovery Manager.

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

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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

Simon has extensive experience of working in Local Government Finance since 1989.

During his career, he has worked for various local authorities in the Midlands, dealing with all aspects of revenues, including council tax, business rates and sundry debts.

As well as working in partnership with a wide range of clients and suppliers in both the public and private sector, assisting with developing best practice and delivering value for money, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience of local authority policies and procedures and understands the challenges faced by both local authorities and their customers.

He has been been an active member of the IRRV East Midlands Association (currently Membership Officer) for many decades and has also been a member of the LACEF Executive Board since 2022.

Simon left the public sector in 2023 and is now contracting for Business Smart Solutions Ltd.

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

Andrea has worked in Revenues and Benefits at Rutland County Council since 1990, having a number of roles Andrea is currently the Head of Customer Experience which includes local taxation, benefits, financial crisis support, community care finance, customer services and blue badges.

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

Away from work Andrea enjoys gardening and walking her two dogs.

Click here to send an email to Andrea Grinney

Adrian Johnson Tech IRRV

Adrian's career began in 1987 when he joined South Kesteven District Council as a trainee. The majority of Adrian's time in local government was based in the Revenues Team with a particular emphasis on the collection and enforcement of unpaid local taxation.

In April 2020, after nearly 33 years of experience in local government, Adrian moved to the Valuation Tribunal Service where he is responsible for dealing with local taxation disputes concerning the valuation of domestic and non-domestic property and disputes between council tax payers and their local billing authorities.

Away from work Adrian is a qualified football referee and has spent time training newly qualified referees who are starting out on their path to one day officiating at the FA Cup Final.

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

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.

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Barry Davies IRRV (Hons)

After studies at Newcastle and Aberdeen Universities, Barry has been in private practice (www.daviesandco.co.uk) for over 25 years based in Northamptonshire, advising nationally rural businesses on rating audits and appeals, mainly in connection with diversification from farming to leisure and tourism, commercial and other rateable properties. This includes attendance at Tribunals.

Barry has been a member of the IRRV Valuation Faculty Board for 8 years and is currently the IRRV representative on the working group appointed to refresh the 1997 Joint Professional Institutions Rating Forum Guidance on Receipts and Expenditure Valuations.

Barry is a community member of the Northamptonshire SEMLEP advising on planning and rating issues.

Please click here to send an e-mail to Barry Davies IRRV (Hons)

Michael’s career in the debt collection and enforcement industry began in 2006 where he started as a call centre operator with Equita.  Over the years, Michael developed a deep understanding of the industry creating transformative solutions and forward-thinking strategies which has progressed him to his current role as Managing Director of JTR Collections.  Here he prides himself on setting new levels of standards and enhancing industry innovation.

Since 2021, Michael has been an active member of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV) becoming an executive member of the East Midlands IRRV association in 2024.

Outside of work Michael is a UEFA qualified football coach and enjoys spending time with the family exploring the countryside.

Click here to send an e-mail to Michael Line

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.

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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.

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!

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   

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.

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Kevin Stewart FIRRV (Retired) MAAT MCMI

Kevin has recently retired from Local Government having worked in Revenues and Benefits for 10 Local Authorities and the Audit Commission during his career of nearly 42 years.

Kevin is a previous Past President (2014-15) of the IRRV and the IRRV East Midlands Association (2005-06).

Kevin has been a regular contributor to IRRV publications and presenter of various papers at IRRV and other Conferences. Kevin still tutors for the IRRV Qualifications.

Click here to send an email to Kevin Stewart