A veteran politician has suffered a rates blow over a controversial
farm-based advice centre that was rented from his wife at taxpayers' expense.
Government officials have decided that rates should be paid on the prefab
constituency office run by UUP Mid Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong.
And they have indicated that the bill could be backdated by a number of
years.
Mr Armstrong has stated that the situation is "in order" and he is
not expecting any backdating.
The Assemblyman has faced criticism over his constituency office, which is
located within the family farm holding and close to his home.
He confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph earlier this year that he had claimed
rental expenses from the Assembly for the premises up to the end of 2007,
with the money going to his wife. The rates decision has been made by the
District Valuer of the Department of Finance's Land and Property Services
(LPS) wing.
A spokesman for the Department said the advice centre had not been
previously valued and was therefore not on the LPS Valuation List. This
meant Mr Armstrong was not billed for any rates for the prefab.
"The District Valuer has completed his inspection and a separate
valuation for the constituency office has been entered into the Valuation
List," the spokesman added.
LPS will now write to Mr Armstrong and ascertain the date when the building "
came into existence", he added. He will be billed on the basis of that
information.
The MLA said the situation was due to a general rates revaluation exercise: "
Everything is in order. The rating office is reviewing the whole rates system
and that's what happening," he said.
The prefab advice centre is located off the Coagh Road near Stewartstown in
Co Tyrone.
Mr Armstrong has described it as a "good flagship" for the UUP.In
a further recent twist, the Department of the Environment's Planning Service
ruled that planning permission was needed for the advice centre.
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