12 COUNCIL TAX PREMIUM ON SECOND HOMES AND LONG TERM EMPTY PROPERTIES PDF 497 KB
Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr. Ioan Thomas
Additional documents:
Decision:
It was
resolved to recommend to the Full Council in March that Gwynedd Council:
·
Allowed
no discount on class A second homes, in accordance with Section 12 of the Local
Government Finance Act 1992
·
Allowed
no discount and raised a premium of 100% on class B second homes, in accordance
with Section 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
·
Allowed
no discount on homes that have been empty for 6 months or more and raised a
premium of 100% on homes that have been empty for 12 months or more, in
accordance with Section 12A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
Minutes:
The report was
submitted by Cllr Ioan Thomas
DECISION
It was resolved to recommend to the Full Council in March
that Gwynedd Council:
·
Allows no discount on class A second homes, in
accordance with Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
·
Allows no discount and raises a premium of 100%
on class B second homes, in accordance with Section 12B of the Local Government
Finance Act 1992
·
Allows no discount on homes that have been empty
for 6 months or more and raises a premium of 100% on homes that have been empty
for 12 months or more, in accordance with Section 12A of the Local Government
Finance Act 1992.
DISCUSSION
The report was
submitted noting that the Full Council in December had resolved to defer a
decision on the Council Tax Premium on second homes and long-term empty
properties. It was noted that the Council had requested the Cabinet to hold a
consultation on the propriety of increasing the level up to 100% in accordance
with Section 12, 12B and 12A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
According to the
1992 Act, it was noted that any decision on the Premium must be made by the
Full Council before the commencement of the relevant financial year and, therefore,
it was not possible to delay the decision. The context was highlighted noting
the regulations of the Council Tax where 'second homes' had been categorised
into two classes (A & B) and that class C referred to empty properties. The
numbers within Gwynedd were reported - 811 within class A, 4,718 within Class
B, and 1,130 in class C in November 2020.
When giving
councils powers to raise a Premium of up to 100%, it was noted that the
Government had published statutory guidance to administrate the Premium. It was
added that the guidance outlined what needed to be considered by the Council
when proposing to introduce the Premium.
It was noted that when the Premium was introduced back in 2016,
attention had been given to two studies, a detailed analysis undertaken in 2013
along with the 2013-16 Housing Strategy. It was noted that the Council had now
adopted a new Housing Strategy and two key reports, namely Holiday Homes
Research Work and the Housing Action Plan.
The consultation
responses were outlined, noting that the consultation had been advertised on
social media and letters had been sent to every second home and long-term empty
property owner informing them of the consultation. 6,227 responses had been
received to the questionnaire and approximately 100 separate letters and
messages. From the responses, 41% stated that they did not own a second home,
53% noted that they owned a second home.
It was noted that
almost 4 in 5 respondents who owned a second home thought
that second homes had a positive impact on local communities, while 3 in 5
respondents who did not own a second home thought that they had a negative
impact on local communities. A clear difference of opinion ... view the full minutes text for item 12
Awdur: Dewi Morgan