Conduct of the hearing
34.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a Tribunal’s function of hearing or determining an appeal will be discharged by three members of Valuation Tribunals who must include at least one Chairperson; and a Chairperson will preside.
(2) Where all parties to an appeal who appear so agree, the appeal may be decided by two members of Valuation Tribunals, and notwithstanding the absence of a Chairperson.
(3) The hearing will 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 the appellant fails to appear at the hearing, the Tribunal may dismiss the appeal, and if any other party does not appear the Tribunal may hear and determine the appeal in that party’s absence.
(5) The Tribunal may require any witness to give evidence under oath or affirmation, and will 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.
(7) A hearing may be adjourned for such time, to such place and on such terms (if any) as the Tribunal thinks fit; and reasonable notice of the time and place to which the hearing has been adjourned must be given to every party.
(8) If it thinks fit a Tribunal may, after notice to the parties inviting them to be present, inspect any dwelling which is the subject of an appeal.
(9) Subject to any provisions of this Part, the Tribunal—
(a)must 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;
(b)must, so far as appears to it appropriate, seek to avoid formality in its proceedings; and
(c)will not be bound by any enactment or rule of law relating to the admissibility of evidence before courts of law.