Members will be aware of the work done by Nabma over recent months to deal with the proposed rating reassessment of approximately 200 markets.

My last information gave details of a meeting with Valuation Officers where Nabma had put forward the proposal that the rating reassessment be postponed until 2010, instead of the current 2005, so that the full implications can be considered.

I have today received the response of the Valuation Office indicating that this is not possible because of statutory requirements but the same response does provide some constructive suggestions on how we might move forward which I believe are worth considering.

Those of you attending Conference will know that the rating issue is a subject for discussion on Monday afternoon. Following receipt of today’s response from the Valuation Office I have persuaded Chris Royle, Senior Technical Advisor to the Valuation Office, to join us on Monday and hopefully we can together work out a strategy that will be beneficial to our membership.

I know this issue is important to many Nabma members. If you have not signed up for conference and you would like to come for the day and take in this issue, along with all the other events of Monday, you can still register as a day delegate for £50 but you must do this before the close of business on Thursday.