Written - Establishing a single Valuation Tribunal for Wales

Valuation Tribunals have the responsibility for hearing appeals on valuations and liability for council tax purposes, and valuations for non-domestic rating purposes, and Land Drainage Rates. Currently there are four legally distinct and independent Valuation Tribunals in Wales – one each in East, West, South and North Wales.

In 2006, the Valuation Tribunal Service for Wales (VTSW) was established to provide a centralized administration service for the Valuation Tribunals.  It is the employer of all the staff who were previously employed by the 4 individual tribunals. The VTSW has established unified administrative systems and is establishing corporate policies to provide an efficient and consistent support service for the Tribunals themselves, and for the members of the public whom they serve.

A review of Valuation Tribunals was undertaken in 2006-07 to examine the long term options for the future provision of their services in Wales. One of the recommendations of that report was that a single Valuation Tribunal for Wales should be established, similar to the other tribunals for which the Welsh Assembly Government has policy responsibility.  The creation of a single tribunal should provide better judicial leadership and promote improved standards of decision-making, consistency of approach and allow for easier dissemination of best practice. A public consultation was held in 2008 on this proposal and I have considered the responses carefully.

A recurring concern during the consultation was the possibility of loss of local identity, and I want to ensure that the Tribunals remain a local service for the people who use it, and for those who sit on the Tribunals.  I will therefore ensure in the drafting of regulations, that conditions are included in which tribunal members will not be asked to sit in a location over a set distance from their home, ensuring local knowledge and identity is maintained. The service will also continue to be locally based with hearings held in convenient locations for appellants.

A national President will be elected by and from the Tribunal members, and elected regional representatives will take seats on the Governing Council, to represent the views of all members. I believe that the proposed new structure will help Valuation Tribunals meet the challenges of the future, whilst modernising the service and ensuring that it provides the best possible service to the citizens of Wales.

Regulations to provide for the establishment of a single tribunal and the other stipulations mentioned above will be subject to public consultation in the usual way.