Dear Member,

 

A meeting of the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board will be held in Committee Room 3, Council Offices, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 27 June 2007 at 10.30 a.m.

 

Your attendance at the meeting is invited and I append a note of the business to be transacted.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

R Pieroni

Clerk to the Board

 

 

 

Declarations of Interest – Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.    

 

1.           Interim Chairman

 

The Clerk will preside at the first meeting of the Board following the local authority elections until the Board elects its Convener, as provided at item 6 below.

 

2.           Membership

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. VAL-09-07 dated 6 June 2007 by the Clerk giving the details of the substantive and substitute representatives appointed to the Board by the Constituent Authorities, i.e.  The Highland Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in terms of paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Order.

 

3.           Calling of Roll and Apologies

 

4.           Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings

 

There is circulated in separate Booklet A for retention a copy of the Board’s Standing Orders relating to the Conduct of Meetings, previously approved by the Board in January 2002.  No Amendments are recommended.

 

5.           Senior Councillor Allowances

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. VAL-10-07 dated 6 June 2007 by the Clerk on the level of remuneration to be paid to the Convener and Vice Convener in terms of the relevant Regulations and Scottish Executive guidance on their content and implications.

 

6.           Appointment of Convener and Vice Convener

 

i.              Convener

 

Paragraph 3 (1) of the Schedule to the Valuation Joint Boards (Scotland) Order 1995 advises that the Board is required to appoint a Convener.  The Clerk will call for nominations.

 

The Convener will take the Chair following his/her appointment.

 

ii.            Vice Convener

 

Paragraph 3 (1) of Schedule 2 to the Scheme Order advises that the Board is required to appoint a Vice Convener, but that it shall not be competent for a Vice Convener to be a member of the Constituent Authority of which the Convener is a member.

 

The Convener will call for nominations.

 

7.           Minutes – Previous Meeting 

 

There are circulated for confirmation Minutes of the Board Meeting of 27 March 2007.

 

8.           Members’ Guidance – Board Constitution and Functions

 

There is circulated Report No. VAL-11-07 dated 6 June 2007 by the Clerk advising Members of the provisions of the Valuation Joint Boards (Scotland) Order 1995, as amended, on the constitution, membership and functions of the Board.

 

The Board is invited to note the provisions of the Valuation Joint Boards (Scotland) Order 1995.

 

9.           Members’ Guidance – Departmental Functions

 

There is circulated Report No. VAL-12-07 dated June 2007 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer on the services provided by his Department and the Members’ role and relationship thereto.

 

The Board is invited to note the report.

 

10.       Revenue Budget 2007/08 - Monitoring Statement 

 

There is circulated for noting Report No.  VAL-13-07 dated 18 June 2007 comprising a statement on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period to 30 May 2007 and the projected year end position.

 

11.       Corporate Governance

 

There are circulated for approval and retention by Members separate Booklets B-D as follows:-

 

i.              a copy of the Board’s Financial Regulations (Booklet B);

ii.            a copy of the Board’s Standing Orders Relating to Contracts (Booklet C);and

iii.           a copy of the Board’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers (Booklet D)

 

12.       Gender Equality Duty 

 

Members are advised that the Equality Act 2006 provides that, from April 2007, all public bodies have a duty to promote gender equality (similar to the duties to promote race equality under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and disability equality under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005).  The Act requires the Board to have developed Gender Equality Schemes by 29 June 2007.

 

In this regard, there is circulated Report No.  VAL-14-07 by the  Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer setting out for approval a draft Highland and Islands Valuation Joint Board Gender Equality Scheme.

 

13.       Monitoring of Retirements 2006/07

 

There is circulated for noting Report No. VAL-15-07 dated 13 June 2007 by the Payroll and Pension Manager, The Highland Council, advising members of the number of retirements in the year 2006/07 of the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board members of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

 

14.       Departmental Report

 

There is circulated Report No. VAL-16-07 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer advising on the current position of the main activities of the Department.

 

15.       Schedule of Meetings

 

It has been the Board’s practice to meet 4 times in most calendar years and 5 times in an election year.  When selecting meeting dates, every effort is made to minimise conflict with the Constituent Authorities’ own schedules of meetings and also, as appropriate, to take into account the requirements of the budgetary process.  It is recommended that the next two meetings of the Board take place in Inverness on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 and Wednesday, 21 November 2007.