Issue - meetings
Council Tax Local Discounts & Exemptions Policy
Meeting: 17/01/2019 - Executive Cabinet (Item 86)
86 Council Tax Local Discounts & Exemptions Policy 
PDF 149 KB
To consider and receive the report of the Director (Customer and Digital)
Decision:
Approval given to the proposed policy changes to increase the Council Tax Long Term Empty Premium from 1 April 2019 as shown below:
|
Effective Date |
Empty Period |
Existing Premium |
Proposed Premium |
|
1 April 2019 |
2 years+ |
50% |
100% |
|
1 April 2020 |
2-5 years 5 years+ |
50% 50% |
100% 200% |
|
1 April 2021 |
2-5 years 5-10 years 10 years+ |
50% 50% 50% |
100% 200% 300% |
Approval given to the following amendments to the Council Tax Local Discounts and Exemptions Policy:
a) to reflect changes to the Long Term Empty Premium from 1 April 2019;
b) to include discretion under delegated powers for the Executive Member for Resources to consider not charging the Long Term Empty Premium in special circumstances.
Minutes:
CouncillorAlistair Bradley arrived at 6.48pm.
Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) presented the report of the Director (Customer and Digital) which informs Members of consultation responses on proposed changes to the Council Tax Long Term Empty Premium. These changes will maximise the incentive for owners of long term empty homes to bring their properties back into use and support work undertaken by the Council to reduce the number of long term empty properties and make better use of existing housing in the borough.
It was noted that discretion would remain to consider waiving or adjusting the Long Term Empty Premium for residents with special circumstances.
Decision:
Approval given to the proposed policy changes to increase the Council Tax Long Term Empty Premium from 1 April 2019 as shown below:
|
Effective Date |
Empty Period |
Existing Premium |
Proposed Premium |
|
1 April 2019 |
2 years+ |
50% |
100% |
|
1 April 2020 |
2-5 years 5 years+ |
50% 50% |
100% 200% |
|
1 April 2021 |
2-5 years 5-10 years 10 years+ |
50% 50% 50% |
100% 200% 300% |
Approval given to the following amendments to the Council Tax Local Discounts and Exemptions Policy:
a) to reflect changes to the Long Term Empty Premium from 1 April 2019;
b) to include discretion under delegated powers for the Executive Member for Resources to consider not charging the Long Term Empty Premium in special circumstances.
Reasons for Recommendation(s):
Charging greater Council Tax premiums on homes that have been empty and unfurnished for more than 2 years will support the Council’s Empty Residential Property Policy and encourage owners to bring these properties back into use. The proposed policy changes demonstrate commitment to meeting the needs of residents and the local area by tackling the borough’s shortage of housing and the demand for affordable homes.
Alternative options considered and rejected:
To leave Council Tax premiums unchanged on homes which have been empty and unfurnished for more than 2 years; this option has been rejected as the Council would not be using all available measures to incentivise long term empty property owners to bring their properties back into use.