To consider
the report of the Leader (attached).
Minutes:
The Leader submitted
a report which requested:
·
Formal confirmation for
2017/18 of previous decisions
not to allow any discounts for second
homes and to disallow discounts on empty
properties.
·
Formal confirmation for
2018/19 not to allow any discounts for second
homes and to disallow discounts on empty
properties, and asked the Council to decide whether additional Council Tax would
be charged on these properties.
The Cabinet's recommendations
to the Council (paragraph 7
of the report) that included a recommendation to charge a premium of 50% on second homes
and empty properties for the 2018/19 financial year.
An amendment was proposed and seconded to accept the Cabinet's recommendations with an additional
clause noting that the Council's intention would be to use a percentage of the money received from charging a premium to provide housing for the young people of our communities.
During the discussion, a number of members expressed their support to the recommendations, and the following
observations were noted:
·
The importance of maximising income and bringing empty houses back into
use.
·
Concern that the legislative
context allowed people to convert empty houses into
self catering units paying business
rates and the need for more policing and continue to lobby Welsh Government on that.
·
There was a need to ensure
that the Council would not shoulder the cost of collecting waste from properties that had been converted
into business houses.
·
This Council was eager to
contribute towards Welsh Government's aim of creating 20,000 affordable housing.
·
People who owned houses but could
not afford to refurbish them to let out
should not be punished.
·
There were 2000 people on the waiting list for housing
in Gwynedd and many more
than needed a house, but saw no
purpose in even going on
the list.
·
It was not believed that
there was any evidence to show that introducing a premium would have
an impact on the tourism industry, and that a positive message needed to be reinforced that Gwynedd was a good place for tourists.
·
If tourists would not wish to pay the additional tax, maybe they could
consider staying in hotels or
supporting local B&Bs.
·
An arms length company could be established to buy houses on the open
market in order to let them
out to local people.
·
A group should be formed, through the relevant scrutiny committee and Cabinet Members, to give consideration over the next year to what
was wished to be achieved
and how best to do that, not only in the housing field, but in
the economy field and other services as well.
·
Economic imbalance was at the core
of all of this and that, by now, the Council
had an opportunity to use its taxation
power to do the right thing about the situation.
Some members noted that
they would be supportive of charging a 100% premium and there was also a call for introducing legislation that required planning
permission to be obtained
to convert a house into a summer house.
Other members noted that
the owners of holiday homes contributed to the local economy and they had concerns that charging any
premiums on second homes could
create the impression that the Council did not welcome tourists to the county.
A registered vote was called for on
the amendment and over a quarter of members voted in favour
of that.
In accordance with Procedural Rules, the following vote was recorded on the amendment noted below:
In favour of the amendment: (45) Councillors - Craig ab Iago, Annwen Daniels, Anwen Davies,
Lesley Day, Dyfed Edwards, Elwyn Edwards, Trevor Edwards, Thomas Ellis, Alan
Jones Evans, Aled Evans, Dylan Fernley, Simon Glyn, Gareth Wyn Griffith, Selwyn
Griffiths, Alwyn Gruffydd, Chris Hughes, John Brynmor Hughes, Jason Humphreys,
Aeron M. Jones, Anne Lloyd Jones, Charles W.Jones,
Dyfrig Jones, Elin Walker Jones, Eric Merfyn Jones, John Wynn Jones, Dilwyn
Lloyd, Dafydd Meurig, Dilwyn Morgan, Edgar Wyn Owen, Michael Sol owen, W. Roy Owen, Gareth A. Roberts, John Pughe Roberts,
W. Gareth Roberts, Mair Rowlands, Gareth Thomas, Glyn Thomas, Ioan Thomas,
Hefin Underwood, Ann Williams, Eirwyn Williams, Elfed Williams, Hefin Williams,
John Wyn Williams and Owain Williams.
Abstentions: (3) Councillors: Eryl Jones-Williams,
Beth Lawton and Dewi Owen.
Against: (1) Councillor Mike Stevens.
RESOLVED
(a)
For the 2017/18 Financial Year:
(1)
That Gwynedd
Council allows NO discount under Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to the two
classes of second homes (classes A and B), as defined in
the Council Tax (Prescribed Class of Dwellings) (Wales) Regulation
1998.
(2)
That Gwynedd
Council allows NO discount in 2017/18 in respect of empty
homes (class C).
(b)
For the 2018/19 Financial Year:
(3)
That Gwynedd
Council allows NO discount on class
A second homes for 2018/19, in accordance with Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
(4)
That Gwynedd
Council allows NO discount and RAISES A PREMIUM OF 50% on
class B second homes for class
B second homes for 2018/19, in accordance with Section 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
(5)
That Gwynedd
Council allows NO discount and RAISES A PREMIUM OF 50% on
homes that have been empty
for 12 months or more for 2018/19, in accordance with
Section 12A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
(6) That the Council's intention would be to use a percentage of the money received from charging a premium to provide housing for the young people of our communities.
Supporting documents: