Explanatory note

These Regulations establish valuation and community charge tribunals and provide for the determination of appeals under section 23 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 in connection with the system of community charges payable from 1st April 1990.

Parts II and III make provision for the establishment of the tribunals on 1st May 1989. Regulation 3 establishes tribunals for each of the areas set out in Schedule 1. Regulation 4 provides for the determination of the number of members of each tribunal and their appointment.

Regulations 5 and 6 regulate the appointment of members and the duration of their appointments. Regulations 7 and 8 deal with the appointment of the tribunal’s president and its chairmen. Regulation 9 provides for the circumstances in which a person is to be disqualified from membership of a tribunal. Regulation 10 introduces Schedule 2, which sets out the allowances payable to members.

Matters relating to the staff, administration and accommodation and equipment for tribunals are dealt with in regulations 11 to 14.

Part IV provides for the procedure for dealing with appeals in relation to community charges. Regulation 16 makes provision for the areas in respect of which tribunals are to have jurisdiction under section 23 of the 1988 Act. Procedure prior to the hearing of an appeal is dealt with in regulations 17 to 20. Regulation 21 sets out the circumstances in which an appeal may be disposed of by written representations. Regulation 22 deals with notice of a hearing, regulation 23 with disqualification from participating in the determination of an appeal, and regulations 24 to 27 with procedure and evidence.

Regulations 28 to 30 deal with decisions and orders made by the tribunal and their recording. Regulation 31 enables a tribunal to review a decision, regulation 32 deals with appeals to the High Court on a question of law, and regulation 33 with the disposal of appeals by reference to arbitration.