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12 Nov 2009 : Column 878W—continued

Non-Domestic Rates: Sports

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grounds used for county cricket (a) there were on the 2005 Rating List and (b) there are on the draft 2010 Rating List; what method the Valuation Office Agency used to rate the grounds for each list; and what the (i) postal address and (ii) rateable value is of each ground included on each list. [297729]

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Members for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) and Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) today to PQs 294135, 294887, 294903, 294527 and 295703 which state that a table has been placed in the Library of the House showing the number of hereditaments and the total and average rateable values for hereditaments in each special category code on both the 2005 rating lists and the draft 2010 rating lists as at 29 May 2009.

The special category code for county cricket grounds is 082.

The aim of a rating valuation is to arrive at the rental value for the premises at the standard valuation date. For both the 2005 rating lists and the 2010 draft lists the
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rateable values for county cricket grounds have been assessed by reference to a percentage of fair maintainable trade. The approach has been discussed with, and accepted by, the English and Wales Cricket Board for 2010 and previous rating lists. The addresses and rateable values of county cricket grounds currently listed in the rating lists and draft lists can be viewed on the live rating lists published on the Valuation Office Agency's website at:

The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.

County cricket grounds have benefited from the popularity of the 20:20 game and this has generated significant trading income gains, particularly in the more prominent locations where existing or improved ground facilities have enabled this to be maximised.

All the major grounds will as a consequence see increased rateable values. Yet again the secondary and amateur facilities show a totally different picture with approaching two-thirds benefiting from reduced bills-that is, if available, reliefs do not remove their liability to rates entirely. Across the country, over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation.

There will be a £2 billion relief scheme in order to phase in significant increases in rates bills. For those grounds experiencing substantial increases in rateable values this will limit the increase in their rate bill to 12.5 per cent. in real terms for next year.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grounds used for (a) rugby league and (b) rugby union (i) there were on the 2005 Rating List and (ii) there are on the draft 2010 Rating List; what method the Valuation Office Agency used to rate the grounds for each list; and what the (A) postal address and (B) rateable value is of each ground included on each list. [297730]

Barbara Follett [holding answer 4 November 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) and the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) today (PQs 294135, 294887, 294903, 294527 and 295703) which state that a table has been placed in the Library of the House showing the number of hereditaments and the total and average rateable values for hereditaments in each special category code on both the 2005 Rating Lists and the draft 2010 Rating Lists as at 29th May 2009. These data provide the most up to date published aggregate data for the number of hereditaments.

The Special Category Code for Rugby League Grounds is 241 and for Rugby Union Grounds is 242.

The aim of a rating valuation is to arrive at the rental value for the premises at the standard valuation date. Because of the differing nature of the numerous classes of property valuation officers have to use various valuation methods to arrive at rental value. For both the 2005 Rating Lists and the 2010 Draft Lists smaller rugby
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grounds have been valued using a rentals approach based on available rental information while larger stadiums have been valued by reference to the contractor's basis with adjustments for ability to pay.

The addresses and rateable values of rugby union and rugby league grounds currently listed in the Rating Lists and Draft Lists can be viewed on the live rating lists published on the Valuation Office Agency's website at:

The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.

The top rugby grounds have experienced significantly increased trading incomes over the five-year revaluation cycle and associated with this has been significant investment in their grounds. At the lower and amateur end of the sport around 70 per cent. of occupiers will see reduced rates bills. Across the country, over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation.

There will be a £2 billion relief scheme in order to phase in significant increases in rates bills. For those grounds experiencing substantial increases in rateable values this will limit the increase in their rate bill to 12.5 per cent. in real terms for next year.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many football stadia (a) there were on the 2005 Rating List and (b) there are on the draft 2010 Rating List; what method the Valuation Office Agency used to rate the stadia for each list; and what the (i) postal address and (ii) rateable value is of each ground included on each list. [297731]

Barbara Follett [holding answer 4 November 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Members for Meriden, (Mrs. Spelman) Peterborough and Bromley (Mr. Jackson) and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) today, (PQs 294135, 294887, 294903, 294527 and 295703) which state that a table showing the number of hereditaments and the total and average rateable values for hereditaments in each special category code on both the 2005 Rating Lists and the draft 2010 Rating Lists as at 29 May 2009.

The Special Category Code for Football Stadia is 109

The aim of a rating valuation is to arrive at the rental value for the premises at the standard valuation date. Because of the differing nature of the numerous classes of property, valuation officers have to use various valuation methods to arrive at rental value. For both the 2005 rating lists and the 2010 draft lists football stadia have been valued by reference to the contractor's basis with adjustments for ability to pay.

The addresses and rateable values of football stadia currently listed in the rating lists and draft lists can be viewed on the live rating lists published on the Valuation Office Agency's website at:


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The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.

Premiership clubs, in particular, have experienced massively increased trading incomes over the five-year revaluation cycle and associated with this has been significant investment in their grounds. It is not surprising then that these clubs will typically see rateable values increase. As regards league football clubs about one-third are likely to see rates bills fall. Across the country, over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation.

There will be a £2 billion relief scheme in order to phase in significant increases in rates bills. For those clubs experiencing substantial increases in rateable values this will limit the increase in their rate bill to 12.5 per cent. in real terms for next year.

Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the textual description is of each SCAT code used by the Valuation Office Agency. [294508]

Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening) on 10 November 2009, Official Report, columns 283-84W. A table showing the numbers of hereditaments for England broken down by full alphanumeric special category code on both the 2005 Rating List and the draft 2010 Rating List at 29 May 2009 has been placed in the Library of the House. These data are consistent with the consultation document titled: "The Transitional Arrangements for the Non-domestic Rating Revaluation 2010 in England", published on 8 July 2009. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:

This table provides the textual description of each scat code used by the Valuation Office Agency. The number of hereditaments in each special category code has been rounded to the nearest 10.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the policy of the Durham Valuation Office is on whether Durham road user charge and a material change for the purposes of (a) calculating rateable value of business premises within and near the charging zone and (b) domestic valuations of dwellings for council tax within and near the charging zone. [294599]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The advice contained in the Valuation Office Agency's Rating Manual, Volume 2, Section 5-PN1, is that the introduction of the London Congestion Charge was a material change for the purposes of assessing rateable values. The valuation officer for Durham considers the Durham Congestion Charge to have been, similarly, a material change.


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The regulations for material change are different for council tax. A proposal would be considered valid only if the introduction of the charging zone was associated with particular changes to the physical state of a dwelling's locality.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 345W, on non-domestic rates, how many assessment deletions were made in each region in each year on the grounds that the property (a) had been demolished, (b) was incapable of beneficial occupation, (c) was being used for residential purposes, (d) was exempt from rating, (e) had been split into two or more separate rateable premises and (f) had been combined with another property into a new, merged rateable premises; and how many assessment deletions were made for any other reason. [297291]

Barbara Follett [holding answer 3 November 2009]: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the number of assessments deleted from the Rating Lists during the period 1 April 2004 to 31 July 2009-this period being consistent with the earlier answer of 12 October 2009.

The table reflects assessments deleted for the following reasons:

To separately identify assessments deleted specifically because the property is now used for residential purposes or incapable of beneficial occupation could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) takeaway food outlets (predominantly off premises), (b) restaurants and (c) cafes there were on the (i) 2005 and (ii) draft 2010 rating list; what the total rateable value was of the properties in each category at each revaluation; what methodology the Valuation Office Agency used to rate the properties in each category at the (A) 2005 and (B) 2010 revaluation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of that methodology. [298308]

Barbara Follett [holding answer 9 November 2009 ]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Members for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman), Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) and Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) today to PQs 294135, 294887, 294903, 294527 and 295703 which state that a table has been placed in the Library of the House showing the number of hereditaments and the total and average rateable values for hereditaments in each special category code on both the 2005 rating lists and the draft 2010 rating lists as at 29 May 2009.

The special category code for takeaway food outlet (predominantly off premises) is 442, restaurants 234 and cafes 409.


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The aim of a rating valuation is to arrive at the rental value for the premises at the standard valuation date. The methodology used for takeaway food outlets (predominantly off premises), restaurants and cafes were the same for both the 2005 and the draft 2010 rating lists and is based on the comparative rental method.

The five-yearly business rate revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.

Over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The Government intend to put in place a £2 billion relief scheme to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases. This is on top of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses and deferring tax payments.

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria the Valuation Office Agency uses to determine whether facilities which are appurtenant exclusively to individual dwellings but which are separate hereditaments should be liable for non-domestic rates. [299837]

Barbara Follett: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hereditaments were on the Valuation Office Agency's Rating List with SCAT code 030 in each year since 1997; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the Agency's methodology and guidance for valuing bowling greens. [294091]

Barbara Follett: The number of hereditaments within the Rating Lists for England having a SCAT Code 030 (Bowling Greens) is detailed in the table. The Valuation Office Agency's advice on the valuation of bowling greens is contained in Rating Manual Volume 5 Section 970: Sports Grounds: Practice Note 1: Bowling Greens, available on its website:

A copy of this will be deposited in the Library of the House of Commons.

The number of properties has been rounded to the nearest 10.

England
1( ) April Number

2000

1,690

2001

1,710

2002

1,740

2003

1,760

2004

1,720

2005

1,660

2006

1,670

2007

1,700

2008

1,700

2009

1,740


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SCAT Code 030 came into effect on 1 April 2000 and therefore the information for the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 is not available.

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library an electronic copy of the Valuation Office Agency's dataset of the (a) address, (b) local authority area, (c) 2005 Rating List rateable value and (d) draft 2010 Rating List rateable value for each hereditament on the central and local rating lists. [297431]

Barbara Follett [holding answer 2 November 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her today (PQ 297432).

The address, 2005 list rateable value and 2010 draft list rateable value from the live database for each hereditament in the central and local rating lists are published on the Valuation Office Agency's website. This information is updated weekly.


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