§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for dealing with proposals to alter council tax valuations.
§ Mr. CurryThe Valuation Office agency (VOA) had received some 525,000 proposals to alter valuation lists in England by 25 June, the great majority in the first month of the initial appeal period. The rate at which new proposals have been received, however, has subsequently fallen significantly. While the initial appeal period does not end until 30 November 1993, the final number is likely to be substantially below earlier estimates. The overwhelming majority of appeals should therefore be settled by the end of 1994, and a high proportion well before then.
We expect the agency and valuation tribunals to have settled some 560,000 council tax banding appeals in England by 31 December 1994, just 13 months after the initial appeal period ends on 30 November 1993. Any remaining appeals will be decided as rapidly as possible in 1995.
In keeping with citizens charter principles, the agency has set standards for service for handling appeals. On receipt of a proposal the Valuation Office agency's objective will be:
to acknowledge receipt of proposals within 14 days (against a statutory deadline of 28 days);to make the taxpayer an offer, within 60 days, to reband the property if the initial banding is clearly wrong;to let taxpayers know within 90 days if the agency believes the original banding is correct and that they intend to defend that decision; andin any other case, to make contact with taxpayers within 120 days and give them a named contact within the VOA for further discussion.Council taxpayers should have their appeals settled as quickly and efficiently as possible, giving appropriate priority to identified cases of hardship. We shall monitor progress to ensure that this is so and keep our plans under review in light of developments.