LOCAL RATEPAYER FORUMS

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LOCAL RATEPAYER FORUMS

• A RATEPAYERS PERSPECTIVE

SIMON BENISON H.B.O.S. GROUP PLC
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INTRODUCTION

• H.B.O.S. GROUP
• 55 MILLION P.A. BUSINESS RATES LIABILITY
• 2,750 RATEABLE HEREDITAMENTS
• INTER-BANK RATING FORUM
• 30 BANKS BUILDING SOCIETIES MEMBERS
• 400 MILLION P.A. BUSINESS RATES LIABILITY
• 25,000 RATEABLE HEREDITAMENTS
• But also Bankers to 000s of SMEs
• OJECTIVES MITEGATION BUDGETING CERTAINTY

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BUSINESS RATES a new chapter

• 400 years of property taxation
• A business cost a necessary or unnecessary
  evil ?
• Substantial tax revenue producer
• 2005 Revaluation Modernisation
• Changing attitudes co-operation

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VOA's CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARTER

• VOA ARE CHARGED WITH
• MAINTAINING THE RATING LIST
• IDENTIFYING COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS
• DEMYSTIFYING RATING VALUATIONS
• COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

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ACCEPTABLE VALUATIONS

• RIGHT FIRST TIME UNDERSTANDABLE ACCEPTABLE
• FAIR, REASONABLE ACCURATE?
• JOINT CO-OPERATION BETWEEN RATEPAYER VOA
• FREE-FLOW OF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
• REPRESENTATION AT L.R.V.F.
• PARTICIPATION IN THE VALUATION PROCESS

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WHATS IN IT FOR RATEPAYERS?

• MOVE AWAY FROM THE APPEALS CULTURE
• AVOID DELAY
• GREATER DEGREE OF CERTAINTY CONTROL
• IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH-FLOW BUDGET PREDICTABILITY
• LOCAL PARTICIPATION
• CHANGES IN LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES
• BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RATING SYSTEM
• ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE VALUATION PROCESS

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APPEALS?

• VALUATION STILL UNACCEPTABLE ?
• if a considered opinion, then appeal it !
• N.B FEWER APPEALS SPEEDIER RESOULTION REFUND
  (if successful)
• MATERIAL CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES (road/ car park
  closures, competition, FM)

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ADVICE?

• WHAT FUTURE ROLE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL RATING
  CONSULTANT?
• QUALIFIED (RICS or IRRV)
• RATES MANAGEMENT/AUDIT
• ADVISING ON MITIGATION OF LIABILITY
• EFFICIENT COST EFFECTIVE USE OF FLOOR SPACE
• REPRESENTING YOUR INTERESTS
• CONTINUOUS CONSULTANCY BEST VALUE

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WIDER RATING ISSUES That concern the ratepayer

• TRANSITION Winners losers (retain or bin?)
• ALTERATIONS TO THE RATING LIST (quicker)
• ODPM - ACCURATE FORECASTING OF RATE PRODUCT
• RATE BILLS understandable and uniform
  (electronic)
• B.I.D.S benefits v. costs
• BILLING AUTHORITY VALUATION OFFICE AGENCY
• SEAMLESS PROCESS OF EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
• UNIFORM REFERENCE
• TRANSMISSION OF STATUTORY DOCUMENTS

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CONCULSIONS

• An opportunity for ratepayers
• to be heard
• to improve their understanding
• to be able to influence
• to mitigate their liability