Issue - meetings

Resolved:

To allocate the additional income from the premium on empty properties and second homes to the priority areas set out in Part 4 below.

To commission further work to formulate proposals for the use of the additional premium funding of £914k relevant to 2025/26 and the remaining £4k unallocated in this report.

The report was submitted by Cllr Huw Wyn Jones. 

DECISION

Resolved:

To allocate the additional income from the premium on empty properties and second homes to the priority areas set out in Part 4 below.

To commission further work to formulate proposals for the use of the additional premium funding of £914k relevant to 2025/26 and the remaining £4k unallocated in this report.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted stating that councils were required to determine the use of the premium in accordance with the Council Tax Statutory Guidance on empty homes and second homes.

It was reported that the Council had followed this principle in allocating to specific purposes and areas; alignment with the statutory guidance on the use of premium income and alignment with the objectives set out in the Council's Plan. 

Several considerations were then listed which also needed to be made when considering the allocation. These included an increased number of enquiries about the premium, further legislative changes to the tax system in 2026-27 which may result in increased enquiries/appeals, the number and timing of appeals to the Valuation Office putting pressure on residents and the administration of the Tax Service, and that the notice to terminate the Welsh Government's empty housing grant from September 2026 meant that there was no income stream for the realisation of the Housing Action Plan's empty housing targets.

The need to earmark the additional income resulting from the increase in the Empty Property Premium and the collection of premium income that was above the estimates in 2024/25, was highlighted to priority areas.

A value of £1.2 million was recommended for allocation, which was detailed in the report, stating that this was £1.14 million on a permanent basis and £79 thousand on a one-off basis.  

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       The report was welcomed and the importance of the Community Fund was emphasised as it enabled the Council to support communities.

·       Pride was expressed that a column on impact had been added to the report, which provided an opportunity to measure the impact of this funding on the communities and Gwynedd residents.