Issue - meetings

AGREED That Cabinet recommends to Full Council the proposal to increase the long-term empty home premium as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report, Option 1, effective from 1 April 2023.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Performance & Finance presented a report in relation to the options for and proposed changes to the current policy on charging a Council Tax premium on long term empty homes in the district.

The Local Government Act 2012 gave deleted powers, under Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) to increase Council Tax by adding up to 50% to the Council Tax charge on some long-term empty properties.  The amount that councils could charge for long-term empty properties was further amended with the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, details of which were reported at paragraph 1.3 of the report. 

In noting the proposed changes to the current policy, as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report, Members agreed that it would incentivise the owners of long-term empty properties to bring the dwellings back into much needed use. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet recommends to Full Council the proposal to increase the long-term empty home premium as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report, Option 1, effective from 1 April 2023.

Reasons for Decision:

To assist the Council with achieving its objectives of creating more and better-quality homes through our roles as landlord, developer and planning authority and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour within our communities.

Options Considered:

Section 2 of the report details the alternative options that have been considered as part of the production of this report.