Committees

A meeting of the Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board will be held in  Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, on Thursday, 29 August 2012, at 10.30am.

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 for Absence
Liesgeulan

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 4 April 2013
Geàrr-chunntas Coinneamh 4 An Giblean 2013

There are circulated, for confirmation, Minutes of Meeting of 4 April 2013.

4.  Draft Annual Report 2012/13
Dreachd Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2012/13

There is circulated for comment the draft Annual Report for 2012/13 (50kb pdf) prepared by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer and incorporating the Performance Report.

The Board is invited to agree that:-

i.  subject to the inclusion of the Audited 2012/13 Accounts once these are 
   available, the Report be published; and
ii. should any changes be necessary, it be remitted to the Assessor and
   Electoral Registration Officer, in consultation with the Convener and Vice
   Convener, to determine whether to proceed with publication of the Annual
   Report or to delay until after the next meeting of the Board.

5.  Unaudited Accounts 2012/13
Cunntasan Neo-sgrùdaichte 2012/13

There is circulated as Booklet A Report No val-9-13 (917kb pdf) comprising the Statement of Unaudited Accounts for the financial year 2012/13. 

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

The Board is invited to agree that, once an unqualified report from the Auditor is received, the Audited Accounts then be incorporated into the Annual Report and the Report published.

6.  Statement on Internal Control 2012/13
Aithris air In-Ùghdarras 2012/13

There is circulated Report No val-10-13 (68kb pdf) dated 7 August 2013 by the Head of Internal Audit and Risk Management, The Highland Council, comprising statement on internal control for 2012/13.  The report contains an assessment of the adequacy, reliability and effectiveness of the Board’s system of internal financial control and provides information for the annual Statement of Accounts.

The Board is invited to raise any relevant points and otherwise note the report.

7.  Report to Those Charged With Governance on the 2012/13 Audit
Aithisg Dhaibhsan air a bheil Uallach airson Riaghladh air Sgrùdadh 2012/13

There is circulated, for noting, Report No val-11-13 (1304kb pdf) dated August 2013 comprising Report by the Senior Audit Manager, Audit Scotland, on the 2012/13 Audit.

The Board is invited to note the report.

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 were no retirements of any type of Highland and Western Isles Valuation Joint Board staff members for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

9.  Revenue Budget Monitoring Statement 2013/14
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh a' Bhuidseit Ionmhais 2013/14

There is circulated Report No val-12-13 (25kb pdf) dated 7 August 2013 comprising a statement and commentary by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer on Revenue Expenditure and Income for the period to 31 July 2013, and the projected year-end position.

The Board is asked to note the contents of the report.

10.  Departmental Report
Aithisg Roinneil

There is circulated Report No val-13-14 (41kb pdf) dated August 2013 by the Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer advising on the current position of the main activities of the Department, together with, as an Appendix and for approval, a revised Whistleblowing Policy (pp.42-46).

The Board is asked to approve the revised Whistleblowing Policy, as appended to the report, and otherwise to note the report contents.

11.  Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’Phobaill

The Board is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

12.  Post of Assessor and Electoral Registration Officer
Dreuchd Measadair agus Oifigear Clàraidh Thaghaidhean

There is circulated to Members only Report No VAL14/13 dated 19 August 2013 by the Clerk recommending for approval a recruitment process for a new Assessor & Electoral Registration Officer.