A further meeting on this very important issue was held on the 10th May between officers of the Specialist Rating Unit and Graham Wilson, Chief Executive of Nabma, who was accompanied by rating specialist Iain Dewar. Also in attendance was the President of the National Market Traders Federation.

Following the last meeting of the Retail Forum it was clear that a number of Nabma members operate markets that are separately rated. An approach has been made to the Special Rating Unit to identify a full list of the markets concerned and to provide details of the comparative assessments between single and separate calculations. While this information is still awaited members who attended the Retail Forum will recall that the differential between the single and separate rating assessments at Birkenhead, where the Valuation Tribunal had ruled in favour of separate assessments, was approximately 2.4.The officers from the Specialist Rating Unit suggested that on average they would consider that the move from single to separate assessments has produced a differential of 2 making the rate burden significantly more than it is was under a single assessment.

Members who attended the Retail Forum will also be aware that approximately 200 markets have been identified as possible candidates for separate assessment. While it is important to recognise that every market will have different characteristics and therefore it is difficult to be precise in terms of providing general guidance the information that has already emerged from the markets who have responded to the letters from Regional Valuation Officers is pointing to more markets being subject to separate assessments. However I need to add that of the 200 approached only about thirty per cent have so far responded.

Nabma’s role in the current situation is limited because every member will need to consider its own position but I do see this limited role being an important role for Nabma in bringing together the national picture and also providing a platform for discussions with the Specialist Rating Unit.

Letters have gone out setting out the information required by the Regional Valuation Officers. I feel the letter and the questions raised do not fully represent the markets situation and therefore I have been meeting with The Specialist Rating Unit to revise the letter and provide a more meaningful base to make the assessment. Obviously I am keen to present the best case for markets and in this respect there is the possibility that we will seek advice from counsel on the merit of the case for single assessment and also on what factors are relevant in making the most effective arguments.

The Specialist Rating Unit has agreed to take no further action pending further consideration of the letter and list of questions and another meeting is planned for the middle of June when we will reassess the situation.

At the meeting I emphasised the difficult times facing many markets and how substantial rate increases might question the viability of some markets. In fairness to the officers of the Specialist Rating Unit they recognise these problems but they need to consider the situation in terms of the prevailing rating law.

What clearly is of great concern is if rates payments rise and this has the overall impact of making the total charge to the trader significantly higher then many of our members are going to face serious problems.

I said earlier that every market will have its own characteristic and this means that a substantial amount of work will be done “on site” examining the practices and policies employed and determining how this impacts on the control issue.

I will keep you informed of developments as they arise. If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.



Graham Wilson,
Chief Executive.