I do agree with that statement. I am also familiar with the work of CVS, which does excellent work in championing appeals for businesses across the country. The lack of resources in the VOA is a concern that I will address in a moment.
It is clear that businesses are having to wait years for the VOA to get round to processing their appeal. By my calculations, the VOA will now take five years to clear its 2010 revaluation appeals. That is just not good enough. In that time a lot of businesses will go bust, having had to pay unfairly high taxes. Setting the taxes at a fairer level could make all the difference and allow those businesses to stay in business.
The question now has to be asked of the Minister: is the Valuation Office Agency fit for purpose? The VOA pointed out in its 2011-12 annual report that it had closed nine offices and that complaints had increased due to the length of time that business rates appeals take. The truth is that the Government have starved the VOA of resources, that appeals are taking far too long, and that as a consequence many businesses are paying too much in taxes, which is putting many businesses out of business.