§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the appeal by the Dittiscombe equestrian centre, Dittiscombe, Slapton, south Devon, against the level of business rate will be heard; when it was first lodged; and what is the reason for the time taken for the hearing.
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 16 June 1992]: The proposal dated 2 August 1990 was received as an appeal by the Devon valuation tribunal on 4 January 1991 and is provisionally listed for hearing on 9 November 1992.
Following revaluation on 1 April 1990, the tribunal initially received more than 10,000 list appeals. Most of these were received towards the end of that financial year and by the end of April 1992 some 4,000 had been resolved.
572WValuation tribunals are independent bodies and the priority and timing of cases is primarily a matter for them. In general, tribunals are adopting a systematic approach to the settlement of cases, with a view to establishing a common level of value for classes of property in particular locations in the 1990 rating list. This means mainly concentrating on more significant cases which could have a bearing on the assessments of similar properties in the same area, and provide many ratepayers with sufficient evidence to enable them to settle their cases by agreement.