Colliers Head of Rating John Webber Elected to the Committee of the Rating Surveyors’ Association

Colliers International’s head of business rates, John Webber BSc FRICS Dip Rat has been elected to the 21-strong Committee of the Rating Surveyors’ Association (RSA).

The Rating Surveyors’ Association is a professional organisation for experienced chartered surveyors who specialise in the field of non-domestic rates and “can demonstrate that they comply with the highest of professional standards.”

The Association was founded in 1909 and now has over 550 members from private practice, corporate bodies, the Valuation Office Agency and local authorities.

Its primary function is to work with the various bodies responsible for the rating system – MHCLG, the Valuation Office Agency, local authorities and the Valuation Tribunals – to improve the non-domestic rates system.

John Webber, who has been head of business rates at real estate advisors Colliers International since 2005, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected onto the RSA Committee, where I am determined to voice the aspirations and concerns of so many of our clients and colleagues.

“In setting out my case for election through a secret ballot I made it clear that my election to the committee would not diminish me from speaking out on the need for reform or calling out the Government or billing authorities where I felt they could serve the ratepayers and businesses of this country better.

“We are in an unprecedented time economically and it is essential the rating industry does its part in helping UK businesses get back to work again properly again. The present crisis has more than ever illustrated the need for there to be proper business rates reform and a more equitable system, a re-look at the multiplier, a better resourced VOA and an improved appeals system. I will be working hard with other members of the committee to accomplish this.”

Colliers’ business rates team is one of the UK’s leading market experts in the field of rating with over 100 specialists including four rating diploma holders, more than any other private practice firm. Since 2010, it has saved £1.2 billion for clients across the sectors. Through its rate account management, it manages over 50,000 properties and £500 million in client funds per annum.