VALUATION TRIBUNAL SERVICE (ENGLAND)

Web Site

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

Guidance

The following Guidance are as follows:-

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 April 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 25 January 2023
https://valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-vts/corporate-publications/.

Minutes from the Valuation Tribunal Users’ Group Meeting held on 5 December 2022
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

Vice President of the Valuation Tribunal for England

We have been asked to identify two candidates for the post of Vice President of the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE). The VTE deals with disputes arising from council tax, non-domestic business rates and local taxation appeals. The subject matter in many cases can involve substantial amounts of money both by way of revenue to the government and charges on the taxpayer in business rate cases. More information about the Valuation Tribunal for England can be found here.

The role of Vice President is to support the President of the VTE in his role as judicial head of the Valuation Tribunal of England. Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the President in providing leadership to, and communication with, Tribunal members as well as strengthening judicial independence and enhancing public confidence in the VTE.
• Strengthening links between members and the President.
• Sitting on hearings for identified 'complex cases’ or ‘lead appeals’ (this element of the role is unpaid as it forms part of the chairman / member duties that are voluntary).

Interface with the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) will be through the President.

Number of vacancies: 2

Location: The VTE operates online (remote) hearings as the default. However, some travel, when approved by the Chief Executive of the Valuation Tribunal Service, may be required throughout England on occasions (travel and subsistence rates are in accordance with the VTE Members’ Determination Order).

Eligibility: To be considered for appointment you must meet the eligibility requirements for this post. The Lord Chancellor expects candidates will have sufficient directly relevant senior managerial experience. This could include for example:   

• Sitting in a position of authority on enquiries or committees.
• Sitting on or managing panels.
• Acting as an arbitrator/mediator or equivalent in the field of tribunals, administrative law or local/national taxation.  

Salary / Fee: £285 of each day agreed day (7 hours) worked for box work, i.e., consideration of out of time appeals, review of decisions. Expectation around 20 days per year. 

Find out more and apply for the role here.

For further details and any questions about the vacancies please contact the selection team at 163vpvte@judicialappointments.gov.uk.

We would be really grateful for any help you can give in sharing details of the role with your colleagues and wider networks. Information with details of how to apply is also on Twitter and LinkedIn, links are below:  

Twitter
Tweet open now: https://twitter.com/becomeajudge/status/1661390654809821188

LinkedIn
LinkedIn post open now: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7067157877504782336

Open now until: 1pm on Wednesday 7 June 2023.

Linda Welsh
Communications Manager | Judicial Appointments Commission | M: 07514 736600

     

Financial Controller

The Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) is a statutory, non-departmental public body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), with responsibility for the administration of Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating appeals.  What we do and how we do it has an impact on the multi-million pound income the Government brings in from local property taxation to support other public services.

This job offers great exposure to a range of finance related work within a small but busy finance team in the VTS Head Office.  You will report to our Finance Director and on a day-to-day basis you will be responsible for managing the Finance Team.

Your specific responsibilities will include:

• Leading, managing and developing the finance team to deliver the finance function and ensure compliance with internal controls and framework of authorities.
• Leading and managing the preparation of the annual accounts and the DLUHC quarterly returns in accordance with the Financial Reporting manual (FReM) and accounting Standards frameworks.
• Managing the production of management accounts and financial information for internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing financial analysis and business advice to senior management and non-financial stakeholders.

Our ideal candidate would be someone with the ability to lead a small finance team as well as business partner with non-finance stakeholders. Knowledge of the work involved in central government financing and specifically within an NDPB would be a positive advantage.

To perform successfully in the role you will need to be someone who is proactive, organised and who works well with a range of different stakeholders across different functions. You will be advising them on financial accounting, management accounting, systems development and making a contribution to range of ad-hoc finance and corporate projects.

We are offering a competitive salary ranging from £59,830 to £63,112, (pending a pay award). We also offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and 26 days annual leave (rising to 28 days after three years’ service, then 31 days after a further two years’ service).

Application details:

• FC Job Description and Person Spec
• Application Recruitment process and guidance notes (Annex A)
• Annex B Personal Statement and check list
• Annex C – Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire

For further information, please contact us by email at HR.admin@valautiontribunal.gov.uk.
The closing date for received applications is 23:55 on Sunday, 18 June 2023.
Interviews are likely to take place W/C 26 June 2023.

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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.

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UPPER TRIBUNAL (LANDS CHAMBER)

Listings for W/C 29 May 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=f236b30a-92cb-4da9-bfd2-92fa6cb5ac90&utm_content=daily.