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05 September 2003
Following more than six months of rigorous test and evaluation,
involving 17 companies from around the world, EDS – technology
partner to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) - has awarded US-based
Cole Layer Trumble (CLT) the contract to deliver an Automated Valuation
Model (AVM). CLT won through from a shortlist of five suppliers – two
UK-based and three from North America. The model, now moving into
the testing stage, is intended for deployment in support of the
Council Tax Revaluation, scheduled to come into effect in England
in 2007.
The Valuation Office and EDS are gearing up to value over 21 million
domestic properties in England and place them in new bands for
Council Tax. The AVM should deliver a more efficient, consistent
set of valuations for standard property types – deriving
bandings direct from property attribute data and sales information.
Established in 1938, Cole Layer Trumble has the experience and
the expertise in this technology with which few others can compete.
It has delivered Automated Valuation Models and Computer Aided
Mass Appraisal Systems to a number of clients across the USA and
will now join forces with EDS and the Valuation Office to develop
a solution focused on the rather different requirements of the
English market.
“We are delighted to have CLT confirmed as a key technology
partner,” says Diane Leggo, the VOA’s Director of Council
Tax. “The company is arguably the most experienced supplier
in this market in the world, and with the VOA’s in-depth
knowledge and understanding of the English property market, I believe
we have all the core competencies in place, critical in a project
of this size and scope. If the VOA decides to implement the AVM
to support the next Council Tax revaluation – we still have
another twelve months of thorough testing using live data – we
need to be totally convinced that we have a robust solution and
a sound relationship for the long-term future.”
Should the Valuation Office proceed with the Automated Valuation
Model for the English Council Tax Revaluation it is believed that
it will be the single largest implementation of the technology
worldwide.
- E N D S -
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Notes for editors:
About the Valuation Office Agency
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an Executive Agency of the
Inland Revenue. Its main responsibilities are assessing rateable
values for the purpose of non-domestic rating and valuing domestic
properties for Council Tax purposes in England and Wales. It
is also involved in establishing capital values for the Inland
Revenue in connection with capital gains tax and inheritance
tax as well as carrying out a range of property related services
for other government departments and public sector bodies. It
has around 4,000 employees and a network of offices throughout
England, Wales and Scotland, which provide a local service.
Council Tax Revaluation
The impending revaluations of domestic properties are the first
undertaken since Council Tax was introduced in 1993. The new
valuations will come into effect on 1 April 2005 in Wales and
1 April 2007 in England.
There are over 21 million domestic properties in England and 1.7
million in Wales to be re-valued. The intention in England is to
use a combination of automated valuation alongside analysis of
existing records and visits to properties.
The revaluation of domestic properties in Wales is well advanced
and on target for 1 April 2005 implementation.
Website: www.voa.gov.uk
About EDS
EDS, the premier global outsourcing Services Company, delivers
superior returns to clients through its cost-effective, high-value
services model. EDS' core portfolio comprises information-technology
and business process outsourcing services, as well as information-technology
transformation services. EDS' two complementary, subsidiary businesses
are A.T. Kearney, one of the world's leading high-value management
consultancies, and PLM Solutions, a leader in product design
and production line management software. With 2002 revenue of
$21.5 billion, EDS is ranked 80th on the Fortune 500. The company's
stock is traded on the New York (NYSE: EDS) and London stock
exchanges. Learn more at www.eds.com.
For further information contact:
VOA
Roger Charles
External Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7506 1927
Email: roger.charles@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Michelle MacCrossen
Communications Projects Co-ordinator – Non Domestic Revaluation
2005
Tel: 0207 506 1965
Email: michelle.maccrossen@voa.gsi.gov.uk
EDS
Catherine Greenwood
Marketing and Communications Director
Tel: 0207 569 5120
Mob: 07790 495520
Email: catherine.greenwood@eds.com
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