Issue - meetings

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

The report was submitted by Cllr Huw Wyn Jones.

DECISION

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

DISCUSSION

It was reported that a total surplus of £917,770 for 2025/26 was available for allocation. It was explained that this was a combination of £3,700 of the Premium up to and including 2024-25 which had not yet been committed, and £914,070 of the 2025-26 Premium collected above the commitments.

For transparency, it was highlighted that the Council was expected to announce how the additional income raised would be used to address the problems caused by long-term empty properties and second homes, or to address other local housing problems. The new proposals to be funded were listed, namely storage and transport of household property in emergency accommodation / temporary accommodation, and a Project Manager post for the Housing Action Plan.

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       It was explained that the purpose of the premium was to try to ensure that no one is homeless in Gwynedd, and then a wider context was given regarding the new proposals noted in the report. It was mentioned that there would also be a significant one-off sum to correspond with one of the proposals, but that this would ensure long-term savings for the Council.