Section 8: Central list administration
Prior to this Act, section 53 of the 1988 Act allowed the Secretary of State to, by regulations, designate persons and descriptions of hereditaments which are shown to be on the English central rating list. The system was devised to accommodate the national utility networks. But after the introduction of the central rating list in 1990, changes in the utilities sectors meant minor administrative regulations were required merely to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the central rating list. The government expected the need for such changes to increase as more telecommunication networks are moved to the central list4.
	Under the regulation making powers, the government believed that the administrative function of operating and maintaining the central list would require an increasingly heavy process and regulatory burden. To address this, Section 8 introduces new powers of direction allowing the Secretary of State to direct the valuation officer to show, add, alter or remove the names of persons and descriptions of hereditaments which should appear on the English central rating list. These powers of direction will be used in place of the existing regulatory powers.
	New section 52A(7) requires the central valuation officer to comply with any direction given under this section. New section 52A(8) makes further provision relating to directions under this section. New section 52A(9) provides that a direction under this section has effect from the day specified in the direction.