, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 2
Yes, all right. Thank you. And then, moving on, Carolyn, from the valuation tribunal position, in terms of trends in appeal volumes, with a new compliance regime, I was just wondering if perhaps you could help us understand what plans are in place if those…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 2
Yes, and just to go a bit further once again, we heard evidence earlier this morning from individuals who shared that the council tax revaluation moved to every five years, but that the legislation may allow Ministers to make that either longer or shorter…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 2
Okay, thanks. Perhaps, just to go a little bit further on this, as well, within the legislation, it allows the Minister or it proposes for the Minister to have some flexibility around the three-year frequency as well. Have you had conversations about your…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 2
It all sounds very positive, but there must be some risks or concerns you might have around delivering this, and, as you said you've done it recently, what kind of lessons have you learnt and what are the risks you think that you would have a level of worry…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 2
Thanks, Chair. Good morning, all. Thank you for joining us this morning. So, you touched on, in particular from the VOA side, the capacity that's going to be needed with more frequent revaluations. Could you expand a little bit further on the discussions that…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
So, would I be right, then, in saying that, perhaps, from what you've seen so far, you're not confident there's a system in place to be able to assess that definition of fairness, however defined by Welsh Government?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
If you've finished with that question, do you mind if I just move on to something that's just been niggling at me in my mind a little bit? I think it was a comment that, Lakshmi, you made right at the start about the definition around fairness, and that being…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
That's fine. All right. Thank you, Chair.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Clearly, that would create—. So, more revaluations is one point in terms of administrative burden, I guess, but then the appeals process is perhaps, in many ways, a more significant administrative burden. Have you any thoughts about whether you think those…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Could I just make a quick further point on this, Chair?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Okay. Does anybody else want to comment on that at all? No. That's fine. And then, just perhaps the final point from me, Chair, if I may: Welsh Ministers are seeking to have powers to amend regulations in future to enable shorter revaluation cycles. Again…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Yes, that point is appreciated and I guess it's for businesses to understand their ability to plan three, five years down the line and those movements up and down—I guess, generally, it will be up, let's be honest—and what that may look like for them in terms…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Thanks. I guess there is a balance—. Sorry, Lakshmi, you wanted to say something.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
And Stuart.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Okay. Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill - Evidence session 1
Yes, thank you, Mr chairman. Good morning. Thank you, all, for joining us this morning and for taking the time—it's really appreciated. I just want to come on to the non-domestic rates elements within the Bill, and particularly the revaluation. Clearly, there…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
I'm really grateful to you, Carolyn, for taking an in intervention. Many of the points you're making are in reference to Westminster and to the challenges that the UK Government are facing, but very, very little in terms of the Welsh Government. Do you…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Thank you. As a fellow lover of the standard spending assessment that you referred to there, you'll be aware that, in the SSA, it indicates that for residents over the age of 60, councils will receive funding equivalent to about £11.99, but for residents over…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Would you take an intervention there, Mike?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
You clearly have some concerns about the position that local authorities are in—rightfully so—financially, and you've challenged the Government about the funding floor, as well, in your earlier comments. So, when it comes to the budget vote in a couple of…
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Will you take an intervention?
, Plenary
Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding
Wouldn't it be fantastic if the Welsh Government took responsibility and took a lead on this as well, and worked with those local authorities to see how those discrepancies could be worked through? It’s a fact that, in total, council tax in Wales has…
