25 June 2007

VOA Achieves Stretching Customer Service Targets

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has today published its Annual Report and Accounts announcing its success in achieving key targets in 2006-07.

VOA Chief Executive, Andrew Hudson, commenting on the successes said:

“I am very pleased that the hard work we have put in over 2006-07 has translated into an improved service for our customers. We met the 88% target for customer satisfaction proving that our hard work is yielding results across the VOA business.”

The Annual Report shows, for example, that pilot projects during the last year have informed the development of new systems to ensure council taxpayers and ratepayers, through the local authority, receive the correct bill at the right time.

Andrew Hudson continued:

“The benefits from speedier working mean local authorities are able to plan revenue streams more accurately, while ratepayers and council taxpayers receive information that can help them manage their business or personal finances better by having more certainty about their level of tax liability.”

Further information on all the VOA’s results against targets and examples of the benefits achieved from the Agency’s pilot schemes are contained in the Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 available on the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk/publications/annual_report_2006-07/Annual_Report_2006-07.pdf

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

1. The customer satisfaction figure represents a weighted combination of individual results for District Valuer Services and local taxation business streams, and is part of a number of key targets published across local taxation, VOA’s land services work and work for HMRC.
2. The VOA Annual Report and Accounts was presented to the House of Commons on 14 June 2007. The report is published by The Stationery Office priced £18 - order through the Parliamentary Hotline Lo-call 0845 7 023474 email – bookorders@tso.co.uk or free to download from the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk/publications/annual_report_2006-07/Annual_Report_2006-07.pdf
3. The VOA has also recently published its Forward Plan, available from the VOA website at www.voa.gov.uk/publications/forward_plan/Forward_Plan_2007-2010.pdf. This outlines the work the VOA will be undertaking over the next 12 months.
4. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an Executive Agency of HM Revenue and Customs. Its main responsibilities are assessing rateable values for the purpose of non-domestic rating (business rates) and valuing domestic properties for Council Tax purposes in England and Wales. It is also involved in establishing capital values 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 4,200 employees and a network of 86 offices throughout England, Wales and Scotland, which provide a local service.

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