VALUATION TRIBUNAL SERVICE (ENGLAND)

Web Site

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Valuation Tribunal Service web site at https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/.

Guidance 

The following Guidance has been issued by the Valuation Tribunal Service:-

• The Consolidated Practice Statement that took effect on 1 April 2023
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/app/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated-Practice-Statement-2023.pdf.

• The Consolidated Practice Statement (Explanatory Notes) that took effect on 1 April 2023
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/app/uploads/2023/04/CPS-Explanatory-Note-2023.pdf.

• The booklets on Council Tax and Non-Domestic
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/guidance-booklets/. 

• The ‘well-known’ cases held by the Valuation Tribunal Service in their library (which do not need to be included, in full, within a bundle of evidence)
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/vte-guidance/. 

• The advice on Remote Hearings
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/how-remote-hearings-work/.

• The ‘Valuation in Practice’ newsletter published in July 2023
  https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-us/publications-policies/valuation-in-practice/. 

Corporate Documents

The following Corporate Documents are as follows:-

• Minutes from the Valuation Tribunal Board meeting held on 23 May 2023 
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/corporate-publications/.

• Minutes from the Valuation Tribunal Users’ Group Meeting held on 20 March 2023
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/corporate-publications/. 

• Statistics for the period 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/corporate-publications/.

• Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22 of the Valuation Tribunal Service
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/corporate-publications/.

• Corporate Plan 2022-25 incorporating the 2022-23 Business Plan
  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/corporate-plan-2022-25/.

Latest News

The latest News can be found at https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/latest-news/.

Vacancies

Career Opportunities at the Valuation Tribunal Service: Trainee Clerks

Our work at the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) is relevant to everyone in their day-to-day lives as our remit covers business rates and council tax. We are an organisation that provides technical expertise and advises the Valuation Tribunal for England (who hear business rates and council tax appeals) on technical and procedural matters. 

We currently have vacancies to join our new training programme for Trainee Clerks – initially on a two-year fixed term contract. If successful during the two-year training programme we will then look to transition you into permanent clerking roles.

During your structured training programme, you will be supported to build your expertise in local taxation and gain professional qualification status as a member of the Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation (IRRV).

You will find our work is varied and interesting. If you are successful in being appointed, you will receive: 

• A structured training programme delivered by expert professionals.

• An experienced mentor to support your development along the way.

• Career-developing experiences and an opportunity to network with a wide range of property professionals. 

• Help and support to achieve membership of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV).

The VTS offers a competitive salary for our trainee positions ranging from £26,845 to £29,439 (we are also awaiting agreement of a further pay award). Once appointed, to progress within the grade you will need to demonstrate successful performance and successful progress in your IRRV studies. 

Among our benefits, we offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and a generous leave allowance that starts with 26 days, increasing to 28 after three years’ service and 31 days after five years of service). Our leave year starts on 1 April each year, so if you join us after that then your leave will be pro-rationed accordingly. 

You do not need to have any previous experience of local taxation, but you must be willing to learn and also progress in your studies for the IRRV professional qualification. Our eligibility criteria to be considered for these roles is listed below. 

Our commitment is to train you to understand the full appeal journey from first receipt of an appeal to writing a decision. 

This will be a home working position, but you will be expected to travel and regularly attend our London office as part of your training and development. 

If successful during the fixed term contract our intention would be to transition you into the permanent role of Tribunal Clerk where you will be picking up your own caseload and facilitating Tribunals in an advisory capacity. The full clerking role can command a salary up to £42,503.

Eligibility and Application

• Highly engaged, self-motivated, IT literate individuals.

• Working under pressure and being able to manage your own time to meet strict deadlines are key requirements in all our trainee and clerking roles. 

• Demonstrable organisational skills accompanied by excellent customer care skills with high levels of communication and interpersonal skills.

• Able to demonstrate an ability to pick up complex matters quickly

• Likely to be degree educated although that is not essential; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds who are looking to develop a career with us. 

• Excellent analytical skills and have an ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English both orally and in writing. 

• Able to distil information quickly from a range of sources and be able to summarise the key issues that require discussion and decision. 

To apply you will need to provide us with a personal statement telling us how you meet the criteria for the job as detailed in our job description, person specification and this advert. You should also provide an up-to-date CV which details current salary and notice period if you are currently in work. 

For further information, please contact us by email at HR.admin@valuationtribunal.gov.uk. Alternatively access the vacancy details online at  https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/vts-vacancies/.

The closing date for received applications is 23:55 on Sunday 10 September 2023. Interviews are likely to take place during mid-late September 2023.

VALUATION TRIBUNAL SERVICE (WALES)

Web Site

Practitioners are advised to regularly view the Valuation Tribunal Service (Wales) web site at http://www.valuation-tribunals-wales.org.uk/.

Website and Social Media

Social media posts can be found on:-

• Facebook: Tribiwnlys Prisio Cymru - Valuation Tribunal for Wales - Home | Facebook.

• Twitter: Tribiwnlys Prisio Cymru - Valuation Tribunal Wales (@vtwtpc) / Twitter.

• LinkedIn: Tribiwnlys Prisio Cymru - Valuation Tribunal for Wales | LinkedIn.

All website and social media information is available in Welsh and English.

Appeal Forms, Listings, Decisions and General Information

A wide variety of general information is readily available online to practitioners and tribunal users, including:-

• The latest appeal forms, so that appellants can register appeals if they do not accept Billing Authorities’ decisions on their Council Tax liability (including Reduction Scheme appeals)

  • Council Tax Liability.

  • Council Tax Reduction.

• Future appeal listings and previous tribunal decisions: Valuation Tribunal Wales Public Portal.

• Booklets on Non-Domestic Rating and Council Tax appeals: Guidance.

• Protocols on how best to undertake cases at the Valuation Tribunal for Wales, including the required preparation for video hearings: Best Practice Protocols.

• Corporate information, including annual reports and Welsh language reports: Publications.

UPPER TRIBUNAL (LANDS CHAMBER)

Listings for W/C 21 August 2023 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/upper-tribunal-lands-chamber?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=7e74089c-8466-4f08-ae7f-b621661b88d7&utm_content=daily.