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 (including the Council Tax Manual)
  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 18 July 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

Fixed Term, Part Time HR & Training Adviser

We are looking for someone to join us to work part-time on an initial 18-month fixed term contract to support our HR & Training function. You will be expected to work across all aspects of HR and Training but initially we are looking to build resilience across several critical areas.

At first the successful candidate will be dealing with our monthly payroll and pensions processing requirements as well as helping us to develop our reporting arrangements on our relatively new HR system. You will also help to develop and create new and innovative modules on our Learning Management System commissioned from Learning Pool. Ideally you should have experience of these key areas as you will be involved in those aspects of the job from when you start, and we will expect you to hit the ground running.

This would suit someone with appropriate experience who wants to work anywhere between 0.5 FTE (18 hours pw) and 0.75 FTE (27 hours pw). The job will be based at our London Office – which is in Leman Street, near Aldgate East and Tower Hill/Tower Gateway stations. Along with our other staff, you will be expected to spend 60% of your time in our office environment and the rest working from home. Initially, during your induction and your six-month probation period we may expect you to attend the office a little more frequently whilst you get fully trained and develop your knowledge and expertise on our VTS systems and processes.

There can be some flexibility on the actual hours and days/working pattern that you will work which we are happy to discuss if you are successfully shortlisted for an interview.

To be successful in your application, you should be able to demonstrate attainment of an appropriate CIPD qualification (ideally we are looking for CIPD 5 or its equivalent) but it is as important that you have the appropriate knowledge and workplace experience of dealing with generic HR matters but particularly significant experience of payroll, pensions and Learning Management Systems. We view this as an important professional role capable of advising managers and colleagues on HR & Training matters. As a small team, we all must chip in so there is also a requirement to be competent in dealing with any elements of HR and Training administration. You will be a team player capable of constructive debate and discussion with colleagues in our friendly and supportive team and in developing and providing solutions to any challenges that present themselves.

We offer a competitive salary with the full-time equivalent salary ranging from £35,030 to £40,229 (there is a Local Government pay award pending on top of this). The pro-rata equivalent salary will be dependent upon the hours you will work – so if you work 0.5 FTE then it will be £17,515 to £20,114; if you work 0.75 FTE then the range will be £26,272 to £30,171. Progression within the grade is dependent upon successful performance and your qualification level. We also offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and 26 days annual leave, plus two employer determined non-statutory days (usually at Christmas/New Year). The leave year starts from 1 April each year (all leave will be pro-rationed for part-time workers and your leave entitlement will also be dependent upon when you start during the leave year).

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. Please also complete our Diversity Monitoring Form and in your e-mail tell us where you saw the role advertised. Please send your completed CV, personal statement and Diversity Monitoring Form to recruitment@valuationtribunal.gov.uk.

The closing date for received applications is 23:55 on Friday 29 September 2023.

For further information can be found at https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/vts-vacancies/.

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 25 September 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=33bc04ca-923c-44a1-af22-11560d2e0e97&utm_content=daily.