RESOLVED:

Cabinet recommended that Full Council determines that:

1.    For any dwelling within the area of the Council if, on any day, there is no resident of that dwelling and it is substantially unfurnished, the following shall apply:

• the discount in s11(2)(a) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (LGFA) shall not apply to that dwelling; and

• the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by 100 percent, where the dwelling has been empty for more than 1 year on 1 April 2024.

2. Where a dwelling within the area of the Council, if on any day there is no resident, and it is furnished:

? the discount in s11(2)(a) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (LGFA) shall not apply to that dwelling; and

? the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by an amount up to 100 percent, with effect from 1 April 2025.

The Cabinet Member for Transport left the room for this item having declared an interest.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services then presented the report noting that they wanted homes to be used and they wished to discourage homes being left empty, with changes in legislation now permitting the changes proposed within the report. The Council would encourage landlords to use properties in a socially responsible way.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care spoke on the important of the issue.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet recommended that Full Council determines that:

1.    For any dwelling within the area of the Council if, on any day, there is no resident of that dwelling and it is substantially unfurnished, the following shall apply:

• the discount in s11(2)(a) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (LGFA) shall not apply to that dwelling; and

• the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by 100 percent, where the dwelling has been empty for more than 1 year on 1 April 2024.

2. Where a dwelling within the area of the Council, if on any day there is no resident, and it is furnished:

? the discount in s11(2)(a) of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 (LGFA) shall not apply to that dwelling; and

? the amount of council tax payable in respect of that dwelling and that day shall be increased by an amount up to 100 percent, with effect from 1 April 2025.