|
Minutes of Meeting of the Highland and Western Isle Valuation Joint Board held in the Council Offices, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 at 10.30 a.m.
Present
|
|
Representing The Highland Council
Representing Western Isles Council
|
Mrs H Carmichael
Mr J McGillivray
Ms M Smith
Miss J Campbell
Mr J Gray
Mr L Fraser
Mr F D S Black
Mr M MacLeod
Mr K Murray
|
|
Officials in attendance:
Mr D Gillespie, Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer
Mr R Clark, Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland
Mrs F Wood, Treasurer’s Office
Miss J Maclennan, Clerk’s Office |
Mrs H Carmichael in the Chair
1. Apologies for Absence
An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Mr P Cairns, Highland Council.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
There had been circulated and were APPROVED Minutes of the Board Meeting of 12 September 2007.
3. Appointment of Monitoring Officer
Members were advised that, at their meeting held on 24 November 2004, the Board appointed Mr Alan Simpson, Head of Legal Services of the Highland Council, as the Board’s Monitoring Officer. Members were informed that, following the retirement of Mr Simpson, Miss Leslie Johnstone had been confirmed as Acting Head of Legal Services, Highland Council.
The Board AGREED to appoint Miss Johnstone as Monitoring Officer to the Board, until further notice.
4. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2007/08
There had been circulated Report No VAL-24-07 comprising a statement on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period to 31 October 2007. The report showed actual net expenditure of £1,373,000 as against anticipated expenditure for the period of £1,485,000, representing an underspend of £112,000 at this point in the financial year. However, it was anticipated that at the end of the financial year the budget would be generally on target with an underspend on doorstep canvass costs and electoral promotion costs where guidance was awaited from the Electoral Commission.
The Board NOTED the position.
5. Report on the 2006/07 Audit
There had been circulated Report No VAL-25a-07 by the Treasurer introducing and commenting on the External Audit Report to Members, in respect of the Financial Accounts, for the financial year ended 31 March 2007. The 2006/07 Statement of Accounts was appended to the report. The External Auditor’s Report was also circulated as Report No VAL-25b-07.
The Senior Audit Manager reported that he had issued an unqualified report on the accounts and was pleased to highlight a further improvement in the time taken to produce them. An Action Plan had been agreed and steps taken to ensure actions were implemented by the specified deadlines. He also commented on the new obligations for the Board arising form the Electoral Administration Act 2006 relating to the arrangements for canvassing for the electoral register and the ingathering of personal identifiers in relation to postal votes. Reference was also made to recent legislative announcements in regard to the freezing of Council Tax at 2006/07 levels and the start of consultation on proposals to replace council tax with a local income tax based on ability to pay. In the meantime, however, the Council Tax register would continue to be maintained. In relation to funding issues arising out of the spending review, he indicated that these were a matter for local authorities.
The Board NOTED:-
i. the External Auditor’s report for the year to 31 March 2007;
ii. the Treasurer’s response to the findings of the Auditor; and
iii. the Statement of Audited Accounts for 2006/07.
6. Fee Proposals for Audit Scotland
There had been circulated Report No VAL-26-07 by the Treasurer which outlined the fee proposals from Audit Scotland in respect of year ended 31 March 2008. It was explained that the indicative fee would be in the region of £5,670 to £6,930 with a fixed charge of £1,200. The budget allocation for 2007/08 was £8,000.
The Board NOTED the estimated audit fee for 2007/08 would be in the region of £6,870 to £8,130.
7. Departmental Report
There had been circulated Report No VAL-27-07 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer advising on the current position of the main activities of the Department. Since the previous meeting of the Board, the Department had been concerned with the conduct of the annual electoral canvas, revaluation appeal clearance and the ongoing maintenance of the Council Tax list and valuation roll.
Particular attention was drawn to the recent success of a trainee valuer in passing his degree examinations with the College of Estate Management and who was now proceeding through the R.I.C.S. Assessment of Professional Competence. In addition, reference was made to the hard work undertaken by the Board’s staff throughout Highland and the Western Isles during the particularly busy period surrounding the May election and the Board asked that their congratulations and appreciation be expressed accordingly.
Thereafter, following discussion of specific elements of the report, the Board NOTED the report.
8. Schedule of Meetings 2008
There had been circulated No VAL-28-07 by the Clerk recommending a schedule of meetings for 2008 and a remit to the Clerk to make the necessary arrangements.
The Board AGREED that the 2008 Board meetings and locations be as follows:-
Wednesday, 9 January 2008 – Inverness
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 – Inverness
Tuesday, 12 August 2008 – Stornoway
Wednesday, 26 November 2008 - Inverness
The meeting ended at 11.25 a.m.