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, 2 February, 2017, 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 30 November 2016              
    Geàrr-chunntas Coinneamh 30 Samhain 2016

There are circulated, for confirmation, Minutes of Meeting of 30 November, 2016.  

4. Membership
    Ballrachd

Members are asked to note the following change in Highland Council appointments to the Board:

•  Mrs G Sinclair has been appointed as a Substantive Member, replacing Mr A Duffy

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

There is circulated Report No VAL/1/17 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer setting out the revenue monitoring position for the period to 31 December,  2016 and the projected year end position. 

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

6. Revenue Budget 2017/18     
    Buidseat Teachd-a-Steach 2017/18

There is circulated Report No. VAL/2/17 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer setting out the proposed revenue budget for financial year 2017/18.

The Board is invited to approve the revenue budget for 2017/18.

7. Annual Audit Plan 2016/17     
    Plana Sgrùdaidh Bliadhnail 2016/17

There is circulated Report No VAL/3/17 by the External Auditor, Grant Thornton setting out the 2016/17 Annual Audit Plan for the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board.  The report sets out the planned work to be carried out in connection with the 2016/17 audit. 

The Board is asked to comment and otherwise note the contents of the report.

8. Departmental Report          
    Aithisg Roinneil

There is circulated Report No VAL/4/17 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.

9. Corporate Governance – Standing Orders and Scheme of Delegation 
    Riaghladh Corporra – Gnàth-riaghailtean agus Sgeama Tiomnaidh

Standing Order 5 of the Board’s Standing Orders relating to the Conduct of Meetings provides that the Board will review its Standing Orders at the end of each year.  These were accordingly reviewed at the end of 2016, together with the Board’s Scheme of Delegation.  In this regard, it is suggested that no further changes are necessary at this time to Standing Orders and a minor amendment to the Scheme of delegation to reflect the change in title of the Board’s Personnel Adviser from Head of People and Performance to Head of People and Transformation.  Both documents can be found at:-  

http://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/download/596/highland_and_western_isles_joint_valuation_board_-_corporate_governance_policies

The Board is asked to agree that there is no requirement for any change to the current Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings and an amendment to the Scheme of Delegation to reflect the change in title of the Board’s Personnel Adviser from Head of People and Performance to Head of People and Transformation.

10. Recess Powers  
     Cumhachdan Fosaidh

Members are advised that the legislation establishing the Board provides that, if re-elected to their respective authorities, the Convener and Depute Convener will each continue in post until the first meeting of their respective authorities following the local government elections, at which meeting each authority will appoint its new Board members. 

There will then be a period before the new Board meets on 27 June 2017 and appoints its office bearers when each office will necessarily be vacant.

Should the Convener or Depute Convener be not re-elected to their respective local authority, their office will be deemed vacant from the date of the Election.

The Board is invited to agree that:-

i between the Election and the first meeting of the Board, powers to deal with urgent business requiring Board approval, or consultation with the Convener and/or Depute Convener, be exercised by the Clerk, in consultation with the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer (or, in his absence, the Depute Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer), and, where still in post, the Convener and/or  Depute Convener, and

ii any use of such recess powers be reported to the first meeting of the new Board following the Elections.