Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board will be held in the Convener’s Hospitality Room, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, on Thursday, 15 September, 2016, 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

M Morris
Clerk to the Board

Business

1. Apologies
    Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
    Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

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.

3. Minutes of Meeting of 10 June 2016  
    Geàrr-chunntas Coinneamh 10 Ògmhios 2016

There are circulated, for confirmation, Minutes of Meeting of 10 June 2016.

4. Membership
    Ballrachd

Members will be advised at the meeting of the following change in a Highland Council appointment to the Board:

• Substantive Member, replacing the late Councillor J Ford

5. Internal Audit Report – Matters Arising from the Statement on Internal Control 2015/16      
    Aithisg In-sgrùdaidh – Gnothaichean Ag Èirigh bhon Aithris mu In-Smachd 2015/16

There is circulated Report No VAL/17/16 by the Audit and Risk Manager, The Highland Council, providing details of the audit work undertaken since the last report to the Board on 25 November, 2015.

The Board is invited to consider the content of the attached report and the audit opinion provided, and to raise any relevant points with the Audit and Risk Manager.

6. Report to Those Charged with Governance on the 2015/16 Audit  
    Aithisg Dhaibhsan air a bheil Uallach airson Riaghladh air Sgrùdadh 2015/16

There is circulated Report No VAL/18/16 comprising covering memo and the draft Annual Report on the 2015/16 Audit, by the Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland. 
 
The Board is invited to comment and otherwise note the report.

7. Audited Accounts 2015/16
    Cunntasan Sgrùdaichte 2015/16

There is circulated separately in Booklet A, Report No. VAL/19/16 which comprises the Audited Statement of Accounts for the financial year 2015/16.

The Treasurer will respond to any matters arising from the Accounts.

The Board is invited to approve the Audited Accounts for signature.

8. Monitoring of Retirements
    Cumail Sùil air Cluaineis

As Members will be aware, the Highland Council is an administering authority of the Local Government Pension Scheme and is therefore responsible for the costs involved with the pension fund, in which a number of employers participate, including the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board.

In accordance with Accounts Commission for Scotland guidance, information is provided to the Board on an annual basis relating to the number and types of retirements of Valuation Joint Board staff members of the Scheme.

The Board is invited to note that there was one retirement by Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board staff members of the Local Government Pension Scheme during the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016.

9. Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2016/17     
    Aithris Sgrùdaidh Buidseit Teachd-a-Steach 2016/17

There is circulated Report No VAL/20/16 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 31 July 2016 and the projected year end position.

The Board is invited to comment and otherwise note the content of the report.

10. Departmental Report      
      Aithisg Roinneil

There is circulated Report No VAL/21/16 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer which outlines the main business of the office of the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer since the last meeting of the Board.

The Board is invited to comment and otherwise note the recent activities of the Department as set out in the report.

11. IT Strategy Report 
      Aithisg Ro-innleachd IT

There is circulated Report No VAL/22/16 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer which details an IT Strategy for the Board.

The Board is invited to comment and otherwise note the IT Strategy as set out in the report.

12. Flexible Working Policy  
      Poileasaidh Obrach Shùbailte

There is circulated Report No. VAL/23/16 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer which provides an update to the existing Flexible Working Policy.

The Board is asked to approve the updated Flexible Working Policy.