Issue - meetings

Recommendation CB 23/106 of Cabinet of 5 December 2023

The recommendation of Cabinet of 5 December 2023 gave due regard to the financial and value for money considerations and the summary of the perceived risks set out in the report.  It was recognised that these premiums could strengthen the incentive of owners of empty properties to bring them back into use and might encourage the sale or even private rental options in support of the Borough Council priorities in respect of housing options.  This view was supported by the Council.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the amendments to Council Tax empty home premiums from 2024/25 financial year onwards, as set out in 1.3.1, be adopted; and

(2)             a Council Tax premium to second homes from 2025/26 financial year onwards, as set out in 1.4.3, be introduced.

This report provides an update to a previous Cabinet recommendation (Cabinet meeting on 10 January 2023) to change Council Tax premium charges, subject to the enactment of the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill.

This Bill has now received Royal Assent and Cabinet is now requested to recommend to Full Council in February 2024 that a Council Tax premium for second homes from the 2025/26 financial year onwards is introduced; and that the amendments to Council Tax empty home premiums from the 2024/25 financial year onwards are adopted.

Following the recent Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, consideration was given to proposals to introduce a Council Tax premium for second homes from 2025/26 onwards and to amend Council Tax empty home premiums from 2024/25 onwards. 

The previous recommendation of Cabinet to Council (CB 23/3) in respect of these proposals had been deferred pending enactment of the Bill.  Whilst the criteria for both empty homes and second homes premium charges remained unchanged the effective date for implementation of the latter had changed due to the delay in the Bill being enacted.

Due regard was given to the financial and value for money considerations, the legal implications and the summary of perceived risks set out in the report.  In addition, it was recognised that these premiums could strengthen the incentive of owners of empty properties to bring them back into use and might encourage the sale or even private rental of properties in support of the Borough Council’s priorities in respect of housing options.

RECOMMENDED*:  That

(1)            the amendments to Council Tax empty home premiums from 2024/25 financial year onwards, as set out in 1.3.1 be adopted; and

(2)            a Council Tax premium to second homes from 2025/26 financial year onwards, as set out 1.4.3, be introduced.

*Recommended to Council