Commentary on Sections Part 1 – Non-Domestic Rating Section 4 – Power to amend revaluation year
10.This section inserts section 54AB (Power to amend revaluation year: Wales) into the 1988 Act, which confers on the Welsh Ministers a power to make regulations that amend a revaluation year and the interval between revaluation years. New local and central rating lists must be compiled on 1 April in a revaluation year. Regulations made under this power must specify the same year or interval in relation to both local and central rating lists, to ensure that revaluations continue to take place at the same time. Such regulations may not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, Senedd Cymru (draft affirmative procedure).
11.Section 58 of the 1988 Act provides that the Welsh Ministers may, by regulations, prescribe different rules for the calculation of the chargeable amount during a relevant period beginning with the day on which new rating lists are compiled. The relevant period is a period of years that reflects the interval between revaluations. Regulations under this power have provided for transitional relief following revaluations. Section 54AB(3) of the 1988 Act ensures that, if the interval between revaluation years is amended, an amendment must be made so that the power in section 58 operates in relation to the same interval.