The Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These regulations, effective April 1st, 2025, amend the Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2009.
Specifically, they increase the mandatory retirement age for Tribunal members from 72 to 75 years old, extending to England and Wales.
The changes are based on powers granted by the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and are claimed to have minimal impact on the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
Arguments For
- Intended benefit: Raising the retirement age for Valuation Tribunal members could help retain experienced individuals and maintain continuity and expertise within the tribunal.
- Evidence cited: The explanatory note lacks specific evidence, but the assumption is that increasing the retirement age is a standard administrative adjustment that has a minimal impact on the tribunal's operation.
- Implementation methods: The amendment is implemented via a direct change to regulation 5(1)(a) of the 2009 regulations.
- Legal/historical basis: The power to make these regulations is derived from paragraphs A19(1) and A19(2)(b) of Schedule 11 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
Arguments Against
- Potential impacts: Raising the retirement age might lead to a lack of generational diversity within the tribunal, and could impact the balance of experience and fresh perspectives on the matter at hand.
- Implementation challenges: While straightforward, administrative burdens may arise relating to informing tribunal members and updating relevant documents and other materials
- Alternative approaches: Rather than increasing the retirement age a phased retirement might be considered, this would provide opportunities for both mentoring and integrating younger perspectives with that of more experienced personnel.
- Unintended effects: The explanatory note does state that no significant impact is foreseen; however, potential impacts could include unforeseen administrative burdens and lack of engagement with the younger generation.
Citation, commencement and extent
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- -(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
- (2) These Regulations come into force on 1st April 2025.
- (3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
This section details the name, effective date, and geographic scope of the regulations.
The regulations are officially titled 'The Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025' and come into effect on April 1st, 2025.
They apply to England and Wales.
Amendment of the Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2009
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- In regulation 5(1)(a) of the Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2009( 2 ) (disqualification: general), for '72' substitute '75'.
This section specifies the amendment made to the existing Valuation Tribunal regulations.
Regulation 5(1)(a) of the 2009 Regulations, which addresses disqualification from membership, is changed.
The age of disqualification is raised from 72 to 75 years of age.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These regulations amend regulation 5(1)(a) of the Valuation Tribunal for England (Membership and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2267) to change the age at which a person will be disqualified from membership of the Valuation Tribunal for England from 72 to 75. A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
The explanatory note clarifies the purpose of the regulations—to increase the mandatory retirement age for Valuation Tribunal members.
It also notes that a full impact assessment was not needed because minimal impact on the private, public, or voluntary sectors is anticipated.