Non-domestic rating services

The consultant shall provide a non-domestic rate service covering all properties occupied by the Council.

The principal objective will be to mitigate Bracknell Forest Council’s Non-Domestic rates liability.

The service will include:
- Carrying out such property inspections and investigations necessary to undertake a rating valuation in accordance with the RICS Rating Consultancy Code of Practice March 2017 or as amended
- Making proposals that may arise from time to time, which may be unconnected with the rating revaluation, but arise over the 3-year period.
- Negotiating with the Valuation Office and settling appeals and appropriate interest on refunds.
- Calculating estimated rating liabilities i.e., payments including calculation of Transitional Relief.
- Advice on any action which can be undertaken by the Council to minimise its rate liability.
- Acting in relation to certificates for transitional arrangements, making applications for certificates as and when appropriate and advising in respect of existing transitional properties subject to existing transitional arrangements.
- Provide specialist rating advice and/or initiatives, as required considering all the characters of the Council’s nature and extent of occupation which will lead to the maximum mitigation of Bracknell Forest Council’s rates liability.
- The consultant will identify the proposed 1st April 2023 rating list entries and inform the Council of its hereditament, proposed assessments and estimates of the likely rate liability, and within such timescale that will ensure that potential savings are maximised.
- The Consultant will carry out an assessment of the prospective liability and meet with the Council to agree which assessments should be formally appealed following the 1st April 2023 rating re-valuation taking effect.
- The Consultant will provide to the Council a detailed written report summarising the results of an appeal settlement recommendation in such format as will include the full rates liability and rate saving details for each appeal settlement, together with interest on the refunded sum. This information to be provided within one month of the Appeal.
- If the consultant is unable to resolve a rating appeal by negotiation with the Valuation Officer or has issues regarding any procedure or decision by the Valuation Officer, the Consultant shall provide a report to the Council, setting out all the factors in relation to the case, and seeking to provide advice and seek instructions in relation to the possible hearing of the appeal by the Valuation Tribunal or Higher Tribunal.
- The Consultant will advise on the liability for each hereditament including any transitional arrangements, however the Adviser will provide periodic budget reports in such format as requested by the Council and provide a Rates Verification Service for demands records each year.
- The Council will endeavour to advise the Consultant of any changes to its property portfolio which could be a ‘material change’ as soon as possible after the change takes place. The Consultant will make “material changes to circumstances” proposed as appropriate and be required to assist in identifying material changes affecting a particular property or hereditament where appropriate.
- The Consultant shall make any applications under Sections 44a or other applications, e.g., empty property relief to the appropriate billing authority.
- The Consultant will undertake periodic meetings with the Council to review/monitor progress and issues as required including the identification of any acquisitions, disposals, merging or splits under any property.
- The Consultant as part of the process will be expected to ensure that all properties are registered/claimed and all valuations where they are not available online have been requested from the VOA and a review undertaken.