Announcements (Archive)

Chair - The Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS)

Body
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Appointing Department
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Sectors
Business, Finance & Skills, Judicial, Prison & Policing
Location
Skills required
Audit and Risk, Change Management
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
£8,839 per annum
Time Requirements
24 days per annum.

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    20/01/2021

  2. Closed for Applications

    11/02/2021

  3. Panel Sift

    19/02/2021

  4. Final Interview Date

    19/03/2021

  5. Announcement

    17/05/2021 at 10:00

Announcement

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

On 14 May 2021, the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall MP, appointed Harry Rich as the new Chair of the Valuation Tribunal Service Board. Harry has been appointed for a term of three years from 10 May 2021 to 9 May 2024.

Date: 17/05/2021

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Alex Skinner
Added
23/12/2020
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
MHCLG Director of Finance and Local Government Departmental Official
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Political ActivityNone
Notes-
Panel Member
Chris Megainey
Added
23/12/2020
Positions
MHCLG Deputy Director of Finance and Local Government Departmental Official
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Political ActivityNone
Notes-
Panel Member
Lorna Stimpson
Added
23/12/2020
Positions
Member, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) Independent Member
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Political ActivityNone
Notes-

Vacancy Description

About the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS)

The Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).  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 70 staff and is able to encourage the spread of best practice across the organisation, leading to better public service delivery.

Aims & Objectives of VTS

To support the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE) in the administration of a fair, efficient and accessible system to deal with appeals against council tax and business rates valuation. This will be done 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.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

The Chair 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:

  • Leading the development of the Board’s strategy to enable the VTS to deliver and effective and efficient appeals system;
  • 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;
  • Ensuring that the Board, in relation to decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by the responsible minister or MHCLG;
  • Promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources;
  • Delivering high standards of regularity and probity;
  • 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; and
  • Supporting the role of the Chief Executive as the Accounting Officer for the VTS.

Person Specification

We are looking for a motivated team player with strong leadership skills, with high level experience of providing strategic guidance in a Board context.  The successful candidate will be able to see the big picture, whilst recognising the interests of a wide range of stakeholders, and will have proven governance, organisational and financial skills, including those relating to strategic planning, risk management and organisation-wide performance management.

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to motivate and manage Board and staff members;

2. Strong strategic leadership experience and the skills necessary to lead the VTS and to hold the executive to account to make effective use of the organisation’s 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;

6. An ability to take account of a wide context of stakeholder views when setting organisational aims and objectives

Desirable Criteria

1. Knowledge of central or local government, or public administration.

Additional Information

About the Board

The Board comprises of a Chair and Members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government . There are 9 members including the President of the Valuation Tribunal for England who is an ex-officio member of the Board. The founding legislation for the VTS, the Local Government Act 2003, requires there to be service members’ majority on the VTS Board.  Senior Tribunal/Service Members are Board members who are VTE Chairmen who sit on Appeal Tribunal panels.  The Board ensures that effective arrangements are in place to provide assurance on risk management, governance and internal control as per the framework document that exists between VTS and MHCLG.  The Board is specifically responsible for:

  • establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of the VTS, consistent with its overall strategic direction and within the policy and resources framework agreed with MHCLG;
  • ensuring that the Secretary of State is kept informed of any changes which are likely to impact on the strategic direction of the VTS Board or on the attainability of its targets, and determining the steps needed to deal with such changes;
  • ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with MHCLG, and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds; and that, in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account guidance issued by MHCLG;
  • ensuring that the Board receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of VTS; is informed in a timely manner about any concerns about the activities of VTS; and provides positive assurance to MHCLG that appropriate action has been taken on such concerns;
  • demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times, including by using the independent audit committee to help the Board to address key financial and other risks; and
  • appointing, with the Secretary of State’s approval, a Chief Executive and, in consultation with MHCLG, set performance objectives and remuneration terms linked to these objectives for the Chief Executive which give due weight to the proper management and use and utilisation of public resources.

Further Information about the VTS, Board Members and more can be found on the VTS website.

How to Apply

To apply for this post please supply the materials below by 11.00pm on Thursday 11 February 2021:

Part 1: CV and Supporting Letter

Please provide Part 1 of your application in a Word format to be sent in an email titled “VTS – Chair” to PublicAppointments@communities.gov.uk

1. A CV (maximum 2  pages) with your education, professional qualifications and full employment history.

2. An accompanying Supporting Letter (maximum 2 pages) setting out your suitability for the role and how you meet the Selection Criteria for the roles. We suggest you use specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the Criteria.

Part 2: Further Information

To process your application MHCLG require all candidates to provide the following information which should be submitted to the Public Appointments Unit in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government via the below links.

3. A Supporting Information FormThis is an online form in which you are asked to disclose any potential issues which could have, or be perceived to have an impact on public confidence on your suitability for the roles.  Please see the Guidance on Conflicts of Interest below for further information.

4. A Diversity Monitoring Form. This is an online form. All data will be treated in confidence and will not affect your application in any way. If relevant please complete the Disability Confident Interview Scheme section in this Form.

Please note that both Parts of your application are required for it be considered.  We cannot accept information and forms submitted with previous applications because your circumstances may have changed in the meantime and some of this information will be specific to the post being applied for.  The initial assessment of your suitability against the role criteria will be made only from the evidence you set out in your covering letter and CV.