Public consultation required on possible proposal to raise second/empty home premium to 300%

THE next step in a process which could lead to council tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties in Gwynedd rise to 300 percent is getting under way in Caernarfon.

Gwynedd Council’s cabinet is seeking a decision to hold a public consultation on the possible proposal to raise the premium beyond 100% and up to 300% – for the financial year 2023/24.

The full Council has to make an annual decision on the premium rate.

But to comply with legal requirements, if the council wants to increase the premium level the public must be consulted on the proposal first.

The council is also seeking agreement to delegate powers to its head of finance in consultation with the head of legal services so it can prepare the public consultation package.

The decisions will be discussed in the council’s next cabinet meeting being held at the Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, on Tuesday, September 13.

For the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23 Gwynedd has charged a council tax premium of 100%.

That sum was the highest allowed under the law for those financial
years.

However, legislative changes mean the council can charge a premium of up to 300% from April 1, 2023.

This was allowed through the Council Tax Long-Term Empty Dwellings
and Dwellings Occupied Periodically (Wales) Regulations of 2022, which came into force in March 2022.

It is part of a wider package of changes announced by the Welsh
Government to tackle the issue of second homes
and unaffordable housing faced by many communities in Wales.

The were set out in the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

The measures aim to address the shortage of affordable housing within Gwynedd and the high number of second homes – considered among the Council’s “top priorities.”

According to the council report, in July 2022, the there were 4,656 dwellings subject to the premium on second homes (Class B), 200 further second homes in Class B but not paying the premium as they were
subject to an exemption and 761 properties within Class A where occupation was prohibited for a period of at least 28 days in the relevant year,

Quoting the Welsh Government the agenda says there is a “a commitment to take immediate and radical action using the planning, property and taxation systems.”

The cabinet’s decision for a public consultation is sought so that “appropriate action” over the premium can be taken, the council agenda reads.

It would then allow the full council to reach a decision on the premium level for 2023/24 at its meeting on December 1, 2022 – whether to increase the premium or to keep it at the same level.

The same meeting will also see the cabinet discuss a number of issues including the request to approve and adopt the Agreed Syllabus for Religion, Values and Ethics, Amending the Council’s Welsh Language Policy as well as health and safety, employment, finance and education and other matters.