(1)Schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41) (administration in relation to non-domestic rating) is amended as follows.
(2)After paragraph 7 (power of valuation officer to enter properties in Wales for the purposes of valuation), insert—
“7A(1)A billing authority in Wales may enter and survey a hereditament in its area if the authority has grounds for believing that the inspection is required for the purpose of carrying out functions conferred or imposed upon it by or under this Part.
(2)But the billing authority must obtain the approval of a valuation tribunal established under paragraph 1 of Schedule 11 before it exercises the power under sub-paragraph (1) above.
(3)After the tribunal has given its approval, the billing authority must give at least 24 hours' notice in writing of the proposed exercise of the power.
(4)A person who proposes to exercise the power under sub-paragraph (1) above must if required produce written evidence of authority to carry out the inspection.
(5)A person who wilfully delays or obstructs a person in the exercise of a power under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.”
(3)In the cross-heading preceding paragraph 6B (power of valuation officer to enter properties in England for the purposes of valuation), for “Power” substitute “ Powers ”.
(4)For the cross-heading preceding paragraph 8 (duty of valuation officers to give access to information relating to rating lists), substitute “ Access to information ”.
(5)In Part 2 of Schedule 11 (valuation tribunals: Wales), before paragraph 2(d) insert—
“(cc)paragraph 7A of Schedule 9 above;”.