The Valuation and Community Charge Tribunals Regulations 1989

Conduct of the hearing

25.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a tribunal’s function of hearing or determining an appeal shall be discharged by three members of the tribunal who shall include at least one chairman; and a chairman shall preside.

(2) Where all parties to an appeal who appear so agree, the appeal may be decided by two members of a tribunal, and notwithstanding the absence of a chairman.

(3) The hearing shall take place in public, unless the tribunal otherwise orders on the application of a party and on being satisfied that the interests of that party would be prejudicially affected.

(4) If at a hearing the appellant fails to appear, the tribunal may dismiss the appeal, and if any other party does not appear the tribunal may hear and determine the appeal in his absence.

(5) The tribunal hearing an appeal may require any witness to give evidence by oath or affirmation, and shall have power for that purpose to administer an oath or affirmation in due form.

(6) Parties at the hearing may be heard in such order as the tribunal may determine, and may examine any witness before the tribunal and call witnesses; and a hearing may be postponed or adjourned for such time, to such place and on such terms (if any) as the tribunal thinks fit.

(7) Subject to any provision of this Part, the tribunal shall conduct the hearing in such manner as it considers most suitable to the clarification of the issues before it and generally to the just handling of the proceedings; it shall so far as appears to it appropriate seek to avoid formality in its proceedings and it shall not be bound by any enactment or rule of law relating to the admissibility of evidence in proceedings before courts of law.