, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
They're not stopping producing the bills, though, so everybody will get the information with the bill. I do think there will be multiple opportunities to get the information to people and, realistically, by not providing the information in newspapers, for…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, every council tax payer receives information about council tax as part of their annual bill, so people will have it direct to them in that sense. But what we're asking, of course, is for local authorities to be more creative and think of other ways. So…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Certainly. So, I know that local authorities would be thinking about using council offices, using libraries, using other places where they have contact with people, housing offices and so on. So there would be, I think, multiple opportunities to make people…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Perhaps I'll ask Ruth to say a bit about the duties that there will be on local authorities, in terms of ensuring that people are aware of the information.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
This Bill only deals with the notices in relation to local taxes. It's not a wider programme.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I do know that there are concerns from within that sector, because, obviously, the income that they receive from local authorities providing information through their pages is welcome to them, but I also think that we have to be realistic that many people now…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
That's one of the key things that the legislation wants to do—to put in place a system where, in future, Ministers can make changes to the discounts, disregards, exemptions and premiums in a way that is more responsive, if you like, to conditions.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
The intention is to keep it at 25 per cent, but following the legislation, a future Government could increase it to 50 per cent, as you just suggested. But it would have to, obviously, go through the proper consultation process, and so on, and the detailed…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I do know that there are different views on the single person discount. There are those who would like us to abolish it entirely. But the decision that we've made is to keep the single person discount, keep the rate as it currently is in terms of that 25 per…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
We've currently got a working group that is making its way through all 53 of those discounts, disregards, exemptions and premiums, exploring if they are fit for purpose. They'll also be, of course, considering if there are others that are relevant that should…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I don't know why you would bring it in line with political terms, because I think that council tax reform needs to be seen as a good thing in itself rather than something that is political. I think that bringing it into a political cycle might add an…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
We've suggested five years as the cycle for revaluation for council tax because, again, we think that that strikes that balance between certainty but then also keeping the details up to date. Because as you say, it's been 20 years since the last revaluation…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
We have the phase 2 consultation, which has just closed, in relation to our council tax reform programme. That particular consultation looked at the scale of reform and the pace of reform. Decisions haven't yet been taken with regard to either of those…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
Yes, we'll definitely consider all representations, and recommendations of this committee, but then also continue what I think is good and significant engagement that we have, certainly at official level. But then I'd also say that those same business owners…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think perhaps there's more work for us to do in terms of communicating to stakeholders the extent of information that will be required. For many, many ratepayers, it will just be a relatively simple engagement with the VOA, providing some easily accessible…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, as we said, before initiating any regime, the VOA has to be confident that ratepayers can be reasonably expected to engage and that they aren't encountering any difficulties or any barriers in terms of using the service. So, we'll have to consider that…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, we'll work with the VOA to ensure that they can reasonably be expected to understand the requirements of them, and it will include the provision of guidance from the VOA for ratepayers, and then we'll work with the various sectors to ensure that their…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
We'd have to take a lot of legal advice in that space, rather than taking an instinctive, gut, moral view on it; we'd have to take a lot of legal advice, I think.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think the First Minister answered a similar question previously on this in the Chamber. The Welsh Government doesn't have the ability to identify particular businesses that—we certainly couldn't do it for the VOA—were not allowed to tender, so—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
They'd have to operate within the existing procurement legislation, so, presumably, Fujitsu or any company would be able to tender for that. But we can get some more information for committee on the public procurement rules that will be relevant to this.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
The VOA does already provide a whole range of services in a digital manner at the moment. They do, also, routinely provide alternative means for engagement for those who aren't able to access online services. So, we'll definitely have those discussions as we…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
I think that the additional requirements will be reasonable and proportionate and they won't be onerous. We intend to make a system that is easy for business owners to navigate, that they can very simply confirm their details or otherwise on that annual…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
The costs have been estimated by the VOA and they, of course, are responsible for delivery of the system on an England and Wales basis. So, the online system won't be bespoke to Wales overall, but it will comply with our Welsh language standards. And the cost…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, the VOA is working to deliver the next revaluation in 2026 without the system in place. That's always been the plan. So, bringing forward this work will help with future revaluations from 2029 onwards. So, there's definitely plenty of time to ensure that…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence from the Minister for Finance and Local Government
So, all ratepayers will have to comply with the duties, including those who are receiving 100 per cent support. And through self-declaration, valuation evidence will continually have to be kept up to date if it changes. And that really does reduce the need…
