URBAN COUNCILS ACT Chapter 29:15 shall be decided by the president, and no other member of the valuation board shall have a voice in the decision on any such matter. (3) Where the valuation board has commenced to consider any objection and before it reaches a decision thereon one of the members of the valuation board— (a) vacates his seat, the valuation board shall commence the hearing afresh after a new member has been appointed in his place; (b) is unable to attend, the valuation board shall not decide the matter until that member is able to attend: Provided that the valuation board may, if it considers it desirable, commence to consider the matter afresh with the alternate or acting member. (4) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make rules to regulate the procedure of all valuation boards which shall be as simple and informal as possible and if no such rules are made or in any case not covered by such rules, the valuation board shall act in such manner and on such principles, as it deems best fitted to do substantial justice and to give effect to this Part. 244 Personal interest of member of valuation board No person shall sit as a member of a valuation board at the hearing of any matter in which— (a) he has a personal interest, direct or indirect; or (b) his spouse or a partner or relative of his, within the first degree of consanguinity or affinity, has an interest, direct or indirect; or (c) any company of which he is an officer has an interest, direct or indirect. 245 Clerk of valuation board (1) The council shall appoint a clerk to its valuation board. (2) If for any reason the clerk of the valuation board is unable to perform his duties, the council may appoint some other person to act in his stead. (3) The council shall determine the remuneration, if any, to be paid to the clerk of the valuation board from its funds. 246 Date and place of sittings of valuation board The valuation board shall sit at such times and places as the president of the board may decide upon so as to complete its work in the shortest possible time compatible with effective adjudication. 247 Valuation of property for rating purposes (1) As soon as possible after a council has been established and thereafter from time to time, the council shall cause to be made— (a) a general valuation of all non-residential property within its area, and for that purpose the council shall fix a date falling within the period during which the valuation is being carried out; and (b) a general assessment of all residential property within its area; and (c) a general valuation roll of all property within its area; in such a manner as to arrive at a fair and equitable valuation or assessment, as the case may be, of the property, having regard to the provisions of this Part. (2) A general valuation and assessment and a general valuation roll shall be made so that the interval between the date the new roll becomes effective and the date the current roll became effective is not less than three and not more than ten years: Provided that the Minister may, by statutory instrument, extend such interval to not more than fifteen years in any particular case. 248 Supplementary valuations (1) Subject to section two hundred and forty-nine, a council shall cause a supplementary valuation or assessment, as the case may be, to be made of— (a) any property which does not appear on the current valuation roll; and (b) any non-residential property the value of which has been materially affected by— (i) alterations, additions or demolitions; or 97