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Chair: Valuation Tribunal Service

Body
Valuation Tribunal Service
Appointing Department
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Sectors
Business, Finance & Skills, Judicial, Prison & Policing, Regulation
Location
Valuation Tribunal Service London Headquarters, 2nd Floor, 120 Leman Street, London, E1 8EU.
Skills required
Accountancy, Business / Commercial, Change Management, Communication / Media / Marketing, Legal / Judicial, Regulation
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
£8,839 per annum
Time Requirements
24 days per annum

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    31/03/2017

  2. Closed for Applications

    30/06/2017

  3. Panel Sift

    12/07/2017

  4. Final Interview Date

    30 October 2017

  5. Announcement

    17/04/2018 at 15:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

The Minister for Local Government, Rishi Sunak MP, has appointed Robin Evans as the new Chair of the Board of the Valuation Tribunal Service. Robin has been appointed for a term of three years from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2021.

Date: 17/04/2018

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Christopher Megainey
Added
31/03/2017
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
Deputy Director for Council Tax, DCLG
Show more information
Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Eleanor Cannell
Added
07/06/2017
Positions
Deputy Director, Partnership and Delivery Unit, DCLG Departmental Official
Show more information
Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Bob Lane
Added
31/03/2017
Positions
Board Member, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Independent Member
Show more information
Political Activity-
Notes-

Vacancy Description

The Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government is seeking to appoint a new Chair to the Board of the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) Board.

The Valuation Tribunal Service is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). It was established under the Local Government Act 2003 to provide administrative support, procedural advice and central direction to the Valuation Tribunal for England. It has a strong corporate identity and clearly delegated powers and responsibilities.  The VTS employs around 80 staff and is able to encourage the spread of best practice across the organisation, leading to better public service delivery.

The Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE) is an administrative tribunal set up by statute to hear appeals concerning local taxation matters. The majority of appeals concern the valuation of commercial properties for non-domestic rates and domestic dwellings for council tax.  Members of the Valuation Tribunal for England sit in panels of 2 or 3 across England to hear appeals.  Apart from the President and Vice Presidents, members are unpaid lay people who receive training and are given support to undertake their role.

The Aims & Objectives of Valuation Tribunal Service are:

To support the Valuation Tribunal for England in the administration of a fair, efficient and accessible appeals system by providing guidance and supporting the recruitment, induction and integration of new members.

  • To drive continuous improvement of performance and efficiency across all aspects of the organisation.
  • To enhance the quality and consistency of service to all stakeholders.
  • To work in partnership with the sponsor Department to support policy development.
  • To build capacity and capability in the staff with continuous learning and improvement.
  • To operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency.

The Chairman is responsible to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He/she is responsible for ensuring that the VTS’s policies and actions support the Secretary of State’s wider strategic policies and that its affairs are conducted with probity. The role will involve:

Chairing Valuation Tribunal Service Board meetings (8 per/year), ensuring that strategy and policies are fully discussed and that clear decisions are taken and disseminated appropriately.

  • Formulating the Board’s strategy.
  • Ensuring that the Board, in relation to decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by the responsible minister or DCLG.
  • Promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources;
  • Delivering high standards of regularity and probity; and
  • Representing the views of the Board to the general public.
  • Maintaining an appropriate relationship with the VTE, supporting and encouraging it to develop policies and procedures in line with Government policy and for the benefit of customers.
  • Working with the Chief Executive to create and arrange for the implementation of policies and systems to discharge VTS’s statutory responsibilities.
  • Representing the VTS in discussions with Ministers and their officials and other organisations to offer advice on the development of Government policy and to facilitate its delivery.
  • Supervising the work of the VTS Chief Executive and any committees or sub committees. Seeking, considering and acting upon, as appropriate, advice from the Chief Executive and others. Ensuring that the Board sub committee structure is kept under review to ensure it delivers effectively.
  • Putting systems in place to ensure that propriety and regularity are maintained in all VTS operations, including the approval of expenditure and authorisation for the award of contracts, and that high standard of governance are maintained.
  • Supporting the role of the Chief Executive as the Accounting Officer for the VTS.

Person Specification

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be assessed against the following criteria:

Essential Criteria

  1. Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to motivate and manage staff and Board members;
  2. Strong leadership qualities and the skills necessary to lead the VTS and hold the executive to account to make effective use of its staff and resources;
  3. Experience of leading or delivering change programmes and reforms;
  4. Independence, integrity and impartiality;
  5. An ability to handle issues which may be politically, presentationally or legally sensitive;

Desirable Criteria

  1. Some knowledge of central or local government, or public administration.

Additional Information

If at any stage, you would like further information on the role, please contact Mr John O’Shea, Acting Chair of the Valuation Tribunal Service at johnoshea47@yahoo.co.uk or on 0774 990 8336.

How to Apply

All candidates are required to complete and submit the following:

  1. A copy of your CV (no more than 3 pages).
  2. A covering letter explaining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role (no more than 3 pages) – please refer to the person specification.
  3. Political Activity Questionnaire (Appendix B) – This questionnaire enables the monitoring of political activity of candidates for a public appointment, insofar as it is already in the public domain. Neither activity nor affiliation is a criterion for appointment (except where statute dictates specific representation).
  4. Other Relevant Information Declaration Form (Appendix C) – Any appointee to a Public Body could find that matters or incidents which previously attracted no attention could become matters of public interest once the person concerned holds a public appointment.
  5. Diversity Monitoring Form (Appendix D) – The Department for Communities and Local Government is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and welcomes applications from candidates irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender or working patterns. Please complete this form and return it with your application.  Please note the form will not be treated as part of your application.  The data will be treated in the strictest confidence, and will be used for monitoring and statistical purposes only.
  6. Guaranteed Interview Scheme – only if applicable (Appendix E) – The Department for Communities and Local Government uses the guaranteed interview scheme to help widen opportunities for disabled people.  Applicants with disabilities who meet the criteria stated in the person specification as assessed by the panel and submit a completed ‘Guaranteed Interview Scheme’ form will be guaranteed an interview.
  7. Conflicts of Interest (Appendix F) – Please give details of any business or other interest or personal connections which, if you are appointed, could be misconstrued or cause embarrassment to either DCLG or the Corporation.
  8. Details of two referees (Appendix G) – The referees will be approached only if you are invited for the panel interview and the references, which will be taken before the interview, will be made available to the panel.
  9. Advertisement Publicity Survey (Appendix H) – Please indicate how you heard about this post.

Your completed application, preferably in Microsoft Word, should be returned by 11pm on 30 June 2017, by email to VTSChairman@communities.gsi.gov.uk.  We would prefer electronic applications but will accept hard copies by post to:

Christina Machado

VTS Chair Recruitment

Department for Communities and Local Government

Partnership and Delivery Unit

1st Floor, NE, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF