The Valuation Tribunal for Wales (Amendment) Regulations 2017

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Regulations 3 to 15 amend the Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”). Regulations 17 and 18 amend the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (“the NDR Regulations”).

Regulations 4, 5 and 6 amend the operation and membership of the Governing Council of the Valuation Tribunal. The amendments allow the Welsh Ministers to appoint up to three persons to be members of the Governing Council. The newly created national representatives will also be members of the Governing Council, as well as the President. The amendments require at least four members of the Governing Council to be present, for a meeting of the Governing Council to be quorate.

Regulation 7 establishes the Appointments Panel of the Governing Council. Under regulation 13, the Appointments Panel must prepare minutes of its meetings.

Regulations 8, 9 and 15 amend how members of the Valuation Tribunal are appointed. From 1 December 2017, members of the Valuation Tribunal are appointed by the Appointments Panel. New members will be appointed for a 5 year term and may be re-appointed for a further 5 year term if, at the end of their period of re-appointment they would have served no more than 10 years as a member of the Valuation Tribunal. Existing members of the Valuation Tribunal who have served more than 10 years as a member may be re-appointed for one further 5 year term.

Regulation 10 extends the President’s term of office from two years to three years.

Regulations 11 and 15 amend how Chairpersons are appointed. Chairpersons are to be appointed by the Appointments Panel.

Regulation 12 replaces the four regional representatives with three national representatives. Regulation 22 abolishes the office of deputy regional representative.

Regulation 15 makes a number of amendments to the election procedure for the President set out in Schedule 2 to the 2010 Regulations. This procedure also applies to the national representatives.

Regulations 17 and 18 amend the NDR Regulations to enable appeals under these Regulations to be disposed of without a hearing.

Regulations 19 to 22 make transitional provisions in relation to these Regulations.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations. A copy can be obtained from the Local Government Finance and Public Services Performance Division, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.