SUMMARY OF MEETING - LOCAL AUTHORITY LIAISON GROUP MEETING
26 JANUARY 2005

PRESENT:

Mr S Wright - VOA (Chair)
Mr R Browne - VOA
Ms C Corkish - VOA
Mr J Giles - VOA
Ms Margaret Elocks - Birmingham
Ms Carla Maria Heath - LB City
Mr J Morris - Hull
Ms P Soobrayen - Secretary

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from: Diane Leggo, Vic East, Fern Silverno and David Maddison.

The meeting was advised of the sad death of Paul Kilagellen. Condolences had been offered to his colleagues at Colchester County Council on behalf of all members of the Local Authorities Liaison Group.

Colchester will be fielding a representative to future meeting of this group.

2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING – 27 TH SEPTEMBER 2004

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as being a true record and no alterations were required.

3. MATTERS ARISING

Draft Lists

4. REVALUATIONS 2005

The Draft 2005 Rating List had been successfully published on the Internet. The delivery of the Summary Valuations was also seen as a success. Over 1.3 million had been issued during October 2004. A helpdesk was set up to handle customer queries. Some 100,000 enquiries had been received, predominately by telephone. These could be apportioned:

• 30% general enquiries
• 20% valuation enquiries
• 70% of a factual nature.

5. COUNCIL TAX ENGLAND 2007 UPDATE

20m+ property details now captured and on course to deliver the full amount 21.6m by 31 March 2005.

Underway to complete any missing details and updating where it is known that improvements have been made. It is still imperative that BAs provide as much information as possible to ensure the lists are complete and up to date.

Via the ODPM consultation paper on the publication of property data, completed on 4 January 2005.

Representatives are being included more formally within ODPM’s Communication project which has recently been constituted.

6. VOA/BA IT INTERFACE ISSUES

Internet File Transfer System (IFTS)

Richard Browne updated attendees on the IFTS usage statistics, which showed a steady increase. Over 220 BAs were now regularly using the site.

BA representatives were reminded of VOA policy to move to use of the Internet only and away from streamer tape & floppy disc outputs which would, as indicated in the CMOA for the last few years, cease to be available after 31/3/05.

Richard confirmed that the formats available via the site were ASV, CSV, PDF, XML & by using the templates provided, xls.

Richard explained the work being done by Intelligent Addressing to improve the match rates for NNDR addresses. A general discussion on the use and merits of NLPG followed.

Richard updated the meeting in relation to Phase 2 of this project which would enable electronic submission and automated registration of 2005 list Proposals. The Phase was on track for delivery by 1/4.

Richard stated that the IT architectural work to identify possible solutions for electronic BA Reports was nearing completion and that the VOA would have costed options for progressing by the end of February. The vision was to provide BAs with facilities to submit one or more reports via a web interface or to submit xls or Valuebill XML files via the same application. The target date for delivery was October 2005, but this was subject to confirming the resources needed/available and evaluating the complexity of the proposed solution. Richard suggested that any BAs interested in assisting with the project work, which would start from April, should contact him via David Maddison.

The 2005/6 agreement between the VOA and the LGA (on behalf of BAs) in relation to centrally provided IT Services was currently being drafted and would be sent out for feedback in March.

7. RATING AND COUNCIL TAX CASES OF INTEREST

The National Trust, Hidcote Manor Gardens, Gloucestershire, GL55 6LP
The National Trust, Snowshill Manor, Worcestershire, WR12 7JU
A further meeting was held with The National Trust and their agent on 11 January 2005. It is hoped to identify those National Trust (Enterprises) Ltd hereditaments that should be separately assessed in line with the decision of the Valuation Tribunal regarding Hidcote Manor Gardens and Snowshill Manor.

Cardiff Rugby Football Club Ltd
The appeal, against the confirmation of the VO’s valuation by the VT, revolves around the ability to pay, interpretation of the rent passing and the impact of professionalism on rugby union in Wales.

Grant Aid – Bisham Abbey
It appears likely that the test case on this issue has been identified. It involves Bisham Abbey, a Sport England training centre which has recently been provided with major new facilities which it is understood are 97.5% grant aided.

H J Banks and Co Ltd.
The decision in this case is awaited.

At VT the agent argued that the assessment should be substantially reduced due to 'obsolescence' The VT decision confirmed the previously agreed assessment, the VO contending that the matters raised are (to the extent that they are value significant) reflected in the basis applied.

The agent is primarily seeking a merger of all the vacant parts and a nil/nominal value on the merged hereditament on the basis of no demand.

Gllagher(VO) –v- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Preston Mormon Temple
The VO’s Notice of Appeal has now been served and the respondent’s had until 4 January 2005 to lodge their NOITR. The VO’s Notice referred to the fact hat we may wish to call more than one witness and deal with the Para 11 religious exemption as a preliminary issue. The President of the LT has ordered a PTR for 10 February on this basis.

Apollo Cinema, Port Talbot
Messrs Bolton Birch have appealed against the decisions of West Wales Valuation Tribunal in respect of both the 1995 & 2000 list assessment of the Apollo Cinema, Port Talbot.

Legislation: New Regulations:

The Consultation Paper on proposals to amend the appeals regulations have been issued together with a draft of the proposed consolidated and amended regulations. The consultation seeks views on the proposed main changes which broadly are:

• Simplification of the effective date rules so that all alterations have the effective date as the date of the event except corrections which result in a higher RV or are as a result of a completion notice
• Limitation to one proposal per interested person per event ie one compiled list challenge, one challenge to a MCC
• Requiring rental information to be included as part of the requirements for a valid IPP
• A concurrent change to the Material Day rules so that VO but not IPP alterations will always have the material day as the date of the event and not in some cases the day the list is altered.

Litigation:

• Preston Mormon Temple case: On 12 th Jan Professor Davies from Durham University, agreed to meet our Team with IRS and Counsel, to give a greater insight into the underlying religious beliefs and practices of the Mormon faith in order for us to decide which buildings on the site might be eligible for exemption, under ‘public religious worship’ or ‘offices used in connection with’ .
• IRS taking ‘appurtenance’ case in Hertford early Feb, involving 20 purpose built livery stables and exercise yard, no longer used for business purposes, where exemption claimed by Taxpayer as being appurtenant to dwelling and therefore exempt. This follows on from Beauchamp VO v Ingrams, and earlier LT case on the same property settled by consent, when business was active.

8. CUSTOMER SERVICES ISSUES

Freedom Of Information

Information and guidance about DPA, FOI and Customer Services in the VOA can be found at the Valuation Office Agency Internet website.

Liaison between Group Managers and Local Authorities appeared to be going well. There were no major concerns to report to the meeting.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None

10. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on the 27TH APRIL 2005 at 13.30pm in MR11.