Title and commencement

1.  The title of these Regulations is the Valuation Tribunal for Wales (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 and they come into force on 1 April 2013.

Amendment of Regulations

2.-(1) The Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 9 (appointment of valuation tribunal members)-

(a)for paragraph (2) substitute-

"(2) The minimum number of members that must be appointed by a council and the President is the number specified in relation to that council in column 4 of Schedule 1.";

(b)after paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) The maximum number of members that may be appointed by a council and the President is the number specified in relation to that council in column 5 of Schedule 1.";

(c)for paragraph (3) substitute-

"(3) For the purpose of this regulation, a vacancy only occurs when the number of members appointed by a council and the President-

(a)falls below the number specified in relation to that council in column 4 of Schedule 1; or

(b)falls below the number of members specified in relation to that council in column 5 of Schedule 1 and falls below the number required, in the view of the President, to carry out the Tribunal's functions.";

(d)in paragraph (5) for "5" substitute "6".

(3) In regulation 27 (interpretation) after the definition of "clerk" insert-

""council tax reduction scheme" ("cynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor") means a scheme made by a billing authority in accordance with the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2012(4) or the scheme that applies in default by virtue of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1B to the 1992 Act;".

(4) In regulation 30 (initiating an appeal)-

(a)at the end of subparagraph (2)(b) omit "and";

(b)at the end of subparagraph (2)(c) for "." substitute "; and";

(c)after subparagraph (2)(c) insert-

"(d)where the appellant has also made an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal in accordance with the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 2001(5) and the appeal raises common issues of fact with the appeal made under section 16 of the 1992 Act, a copy of the notice provided in accordance with regulation 20(1) of those Regulations and any other information required to be provided under regulation 20 of those Regulations.

(2A) A notice of appeal given under paragraph (2) must be accompanied by a copy of any written notification provided by the billing authority in accordance with section 16(7)(a) or (b).".

(5) After regulation 32 (withdrawal) insert-

"Striking out proceedings

32A.-(1) The Valuation Tribunal may strike out an appeal or part of an appeal where-

(a)the appeal, or part of the appeal, relates to a billing authority's decision to award a reduction under its council tax reduction scheme; and

(b)the reduction awarded is the maximum reduction that the billing authority may have awarded under its scheme.

(2) Where only part of an appeal falls within paragraph (1), the Valuation Tribunal may only strike out that part of the appeal.

(3) The Valuation Tribunal may not strike out an appeal, or part of an appeal, without first giving the appellant an opportunity to make representations in relation to the proposed striking out.".

(6) In regulation 37 (conduct of the hearing - appeal panels)-

(a)for paragraph (3) substitute-

"(3) The hearing must take place in public unless the Appeal Panel otherwise orders on being satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to hold a hearing, or part of a hearing, in private.";

(b)after paragraph (3) insert-

"(3A) Where the hearing is to be held in private, the Appeal Panel may determine who is permitted to attend the hearing or part of the hearing.".

(7) In regulation 38(1) (evidence: general) after "1992 Act" insert "or section 131 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012"(6).

(8) In the title to column 4 of Schedule 1 for "Number" substitute "Minimum number".

(9) For column 5 in Schedule 1 substitute-

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010 ("the Tribunal Regulations") that establish the Valuation Tribunal for Wales and make provision about its membership, administration and procedures.

The amendments take account of the introduction of local council tax reduction schemes made by billing authorities in accordance with the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2012 or that apply in default by virtue of paragraph 6(1)(e) of Schedule 1B to the Local Government Finance Act 1992 ("the 1992 Act").

Under section 16 of the 1992 Act, a person may appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for Wales ("the Tribunal") if that person is aggrieved by a decision made by a billing authority about the amount of council tax that is payable. These Regulations amend the Tribunal Regulations so that the Tribunal may deal with appeals in relation to council tax reduction schemes.

Regulation 2(2), (8) and (9) amends the Tribunal Regulations to provide for the minimum and maximum number of members that may be appointed to the Tribunal.

Regulation 2(3) to (7) amends Part 5 of the Tribunal Regulations that relates to appeals made in respect of council tax. Regulation 2(4) amends the regulation that sets out the information that must be provided to the Tribunal on an application for a council tax appeal. Regulation 2(5) enables the Tribunal to strike out an appeal where a billing authority has awarded the maximum possible reduction in council tax under its council tax reduction scheme or under the scheme that applies in default.

Regulation 2(6) amends the Tribunal Regulations so that information supplied in pursuance of regulations made under section 131 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 is admissible as evidence before the Tribunal in council tax appeals.

Regulation 2(7) amends the Tribunal Regulations to enable the Tribunal to conduct hearings relating to council tax in private where it is in the interests of justice to do so.

The Welsh Ministers' Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations and a copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.