Valuation Tribunal Service

The Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) was created as a corporate body by the Local Government Act 2003 and formally established as a non-departmental public body on 1 April 2004. It is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).

The VTS Board comprises a Chairman and members appointed by the Secretary of State. The majority of Board members must be members of the panel of persons who act as Chairmen of the Valuation Tribunal for England. The Board also includes the President of the Valuation Tribunal for England, Professor Graham Zellick.

The Chairman of the VTS is Anne Galbraith CBE, who was appointed in 2004 and re-appointed to serve until March 2012.

The Deputy Chairman is Peter Lawton who is a member of the panel of persons who act as Chairmen of the Valuation Tribunal for England.

The current Board members are Margaret May, John O'Shea, Ian Tighe and Ronald Barham. The VTS appoints a Chief Executive with the consent of the Secretary of State. Tony Masella was Acting Chief Executive from 2 July 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive on 1 February 2010.

The VTS has the following functions in providing or arranging the services required for the operation of the Valuation Tribunal for England: accommodation; staff (including clerks to tribunals); information technology; equipment; training for members and staff of tribunals; provision of general advice about procedures relating to proceedings before tribunals.

Tribunal clerks are paid employees of the VTS and attend hearings to welcome the parties who are present and to advise the members on points of procedure and law. They and the other tribunal staff act as contact points with the parties to appeals; they can give general advice about the process and send out guidance.

The national clerk or Registrar provides advice and support to the President and gives professional guidance to staff. Jon Bestow was appointed to this role in June 2009.

The VTS has a Head Office of 16 staff based in London and 90 other staff working in two offices around the country or from their home bases.

The VTS works in accordance with a corporate governance framework and requirements laid down by its sponsoring department.