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Code for consultation with ratepayer forums panels:
1. Consultation with ratepayer forum members will
take place by
- meetings
- electronic mail/ Internet
- telephone
- listening events
Different forms of consultation will be used as appropriate for
different topics, but the aim will be to minimise the burden on
participants while reaching out to as many ratepayers as possible
from different types of property. Consultation subsets will be used
to deal with particular issues and panel members will be given the
opportunity to be involved.
2. Reasonable intervals should
be allowed for responses from ratepayer forum members when their
views are requested. In appropriate circumstances, forum members
with access to a wider audiences, for example, trade associations
may be asked to consult with their membership. Representatives will
be asked for a summary of how this consultation has taken place.
3. Matters for consultation and deadlines for
receipt of views will be clearly set out.
4. Responses may be made public unless confidentiality
is specifically requested.
5. If views on documents are requested, the document
will be in plain language and free from technical jargon with a
quick-reference summary attached.
6. Responses will be analysed where appropriate,
and the results made known to panel members.
7. An account will be kept of informal and formal
responses by panel members and a summary of meetings will be produced.
8. Initially, Sara Hesp will be the consultation
co-ordinator for the forums. She will monitor and evaluate the work
of the panels and the effectiveness of consultation processes. Further,
if any forum member has any concerns about the workings of a panel
or wishes to bring any matter to her attention,
Sara can be contacted at: Valuation Office Agency, 72 Church
Street, Liverpool, L1 3AY Tel: 0151 802 1037 Fax: 0151 802 1099
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