Issue - meetings

Council Tax Discount Review

Meeting: 10/01/2019 - District Executive (Item 99)

99 Council Tax Discount Review pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Decision:

 

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

 

a.

approved the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement a Care Leavers Discount from April 2019.

 

b.

approved that the additional amount to fund the Care Leavers discount is added to the budget which currently funds Council Tax Discretionary reductions.

 

c.

agreed to defer the decision to increase in the Empty Home Premium on empty properties to the maximum percentage, as detailed in the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, to a future meeting of the District Executive

Reason:

To request the use of the Council’s local discretionary powers to implement a Care Leavers discount from 1 April 2019, in accordance with the provisions contained in section 13A Local Government Finance Act 1992.  Also to reconsider an increase to the Empty Home Premium charged on properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, in accordance with the Rating (property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

 

Minutes:

The Revenues Team Leader introduced the report and advised that consultation had taken place with Somerset County Council and the Children’s Society on the proposed Care Leavers Discount.  She noted the Empty Homes Premium was proposed in accordance with the Government’s Rating (property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Revenues Team Leader and the Lead Specialist (Vulnerable Customers) advised that:-

 

·         once a property had been empty for two years the Empty Home Premium would apply.  There were no exemptions proposed for new owners although they could apply to the District Valuer to have it removed from the list if the property was uninhabitable. 

·         The Empty Homes Premium did not apply to commercial properties. 

 

During discussion, Members expressed concern that the Empty Home Premium could discourage developers from purchasing long-term empty properties.  It was also mentioned that the Care Leavers Discount could be extended to ex–prisoners who also needed help with their Council Tax payments.  Officers stated that there was already a range of support in place for prisoners and ex-prisoners and agreed to provide details to members.

 

It was proposed and seconded to defer the decision on the Empty Home Premium to a future meeting of the Executive to allow officers to investigate the possibility of amending the scheme for the purchasers of long-term empty properties.  This amended proposal was put to the vote and unanimously agreed by Members.

 

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

 

a.

approved the use of the Councils local discretionary powers to implement a Care Leavers Discount from April 2019.

 

b.

approved that the additional amount to fund the Care Leavers discount is added to the budget which currently funds Council Tax Discretionary reductions.

 

c.

agreed to defer the decision to increase in the Empty Home Premium on empty properties to the maximum percentage, as detailed in the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018, to a future meeting of the District Executive

Reason:

To request the use of the Council’s local discretionary powers to implement a Care Leavers discount from 1 April 2019, in accordance with the provisions contained in section 13A Local Government Finance Act 1992.  Also to reconsider an increase to the Empty Home Premium charged on properties that have been empty for 2 years or more, in accordance with the Rating (property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.