Agenda item

9.1

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with details of the Council’s powers to make changes to the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium and to introduce a new Council Tax premium for second homes.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Finance Committee:-

1.     notes the new powers which will enable the Council to make changes to the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium from 2024/25, and the ability to introduce a new Council Tax Premium for second homes from 2025/26; and

2.     agrees to adopt these powers and introduce the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium, for dwellings empty and substantially unfurnished for more than 12 months, from 1 April 2024.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

Legislation provides for making changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium and for the introduction of a second home premium.

9.3.2

The Council must decide if it wants to make changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium. If the Council decides it wants to make changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium, it must decide if it wants to do so from 2024/25 or from 2025/26.

9.3.3

The Council must also decide if it wants to introduce a second home premium. If the Council decides to introduce a second homes premium, that is agrees to apply a premium of 100% to dwellings that meet the definition of being a second home and that it will do so from 2025/26.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The alternative options the Council has is to not adopt these new powers and keep the Long-Term-Empty Premium the same and to not adopt the second home premium.

9.1

The Senior Revenues and Benefits Manager and the Assistant Policy and Support Manager presented a report that provided details of the Council’s powers to make changes to the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium and to introduce a new Council Tax premium for second homes.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Finance Committee:-

1.     notes the new powers which will enable the Council to make changes to the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium from 2024/25, and the ability to introduce a new Council Tax Premium for second homes from 2025/26; and

2.     agrees to adopt these powers and introduce the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Premium, for dwellings empty and substantially unfurnished for more than 12 months, from 1 April 2024.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

Legislation provides for making changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium and for the introduction of a second home premium.

9.3.2

The Council must decide if it wants to make changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium. If the Council decides it wants to make changes to the Long-Term-Empty Premium, it must decide if it wants to do so from 2024/25 or from 2025/26.

9.3.3

The Council must also decide if it wants to introduce a second home premium. If the Council decides to introduce a second homes premium, that is agrees to apply a premium of 100% to dwellings that meet the definition of being a second home and that it will do so from 2025/26.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

The alternative options the Council has is to not adopt these new powers and keep the Long-Term-Empty Premium the same and to not adopt the second home premium.