A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Issue - meetings

Council Tax - Empty Homes Premium

Meeting: 15/10/2019 - Cabinet (Item 326)

326 COUNCIL TAX - EMPTY HOMES PREMIUM pdf icon PDF 101 KB

(KEY DECISION)

 

Report No. 152/2019

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No.152/2019 was received from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Mr G Brown, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment, Property and Finance introduced the report, the purpose of which was to seek approval to change the premium levied on long term empty homes that have been empty and unoccupied for over two years with effect from 1st April 2020.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         There had been 125 responses to the consultation which although seemingly a low number compared favourably to the budget consultation which had received only 32 responses and was considered a reasonable rate of response.

·         The consultation had been widely publicised and promoted including coverage on social media and in the local press.

·         Most people felt that the Council should do what they could to increase income before they looked at cutting services.

·         There had been comments received about the perceived high level of staff salaries and that these should be cut to reduce costs. The Deputy Leader refuted these statements and highlighted the fact that staff pay rises were decided at a national level and agreed with the Unions. Over recent years there had either been no pay rises at all or increases had been kept to a minimum.

·         It was clear that in the majority there was support for the proposals that came forward.

·         Armed forces personnel, residents who were renovating homes so that they could be occupied and those who were in genuine financial difficulty would be exempt from paying the premium

·         Members were pleased to note that there was an element of common sense around recommendations 2 and 3 and felt that this reflected the ‘Rutland Way’.

 

DECISIONS:

 

Cabinet:

 

1.    RECOMMENDED to Council that the premium for long term empty homes be set as follows with effect from 1st April 2020:

·        100% for properties that have been empty for more than two years:

·        200% for properties that have been empty for more than five years; and

·        from 2021/22 onwards, 300% for properties that have been empty for at least ten years.

2.    RECOMMENDED to Council that the Strategic Director for Resources be given authority to waive the premium if the empty home was actively and genuinely being marketed for sale or rent or being renovated for occupation in accordance with the procedure set out in Appendix B.

3.    NOTED that the Local Council Tax Support Discretionary Fund Policy provided support to owners of empty homes who were facing genuine financial hardship.

 

Reasons for the decisions:

The premium was set at 50% from 1st April 2018.  Given the financial pressures that the Council was facing and the desire to reduce the number of empty homes in the area, it was recommended that the premium be increased to the maximum permitted by central government. It was also being recommended that we waiver the premium for those who were actively and genuinely trying to sell or rent their empty home or who were undertaking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 326