Council to consider 100% holiday home premium recommendation
Katy Jenkins, local democracy reporter
Charging a 100 per cent council tax levy on second homes in Ceredigion could move a step closer this week as members decide on starting the process of considering a recommendation from scrutiny.
The recommendation to council that a 100% increase is levied on the council tax of holiday homes in the county came from thriving communities overview and scrutiny earlier this year, and was also backed by the language committee last month.
The discussions evolved following the submission of a Notice of Motion by Cllr Mark Strong, seconded by council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, that “Ceredigion County Council calls on the Welsh Government to:
1. add a new clause to the Planning Act so that it is compulsory to make a planning application before obtaining the right to convert a residential home into a holiday home or a holiday let.
“2. adapt the policy framework to allow for maximum thresholds to be set with regard to the number of holiday homes in a given area.
“3. make it compulsory for second-home owners to ask for planning permission before turning a second home into a holiday business or an AirBnB business.”
Due diligence
As the scrutiny recommendation is not part of the motion due diligence process has to be followed including discussions with the chief finance officer, business case development and assessment, and detailed advice sought to ensure all members are “fully informed of all relevant facts and implications, following due process.”
Council is asked to vote on whether this process should be started and agree “an appropriate process to be implemented to consider the recommendation” to increase the council tax premium, as well as considering the full Notice of Motion.
The meeting on Thursday will be available to view on the council’s Welsh and English Facebook pages.
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If people can afford a second home that stands empty 90% of the time they can pay a council tax premium without blinking. There should be rules like Jersey enjoys. An island off the French coast has more clout than our nation and we just keep on sucking it up.
Let’s face it, Welsh government at national and local levels are in thrall to anyone with money. 100% tax hikes only make areas more exclusive and therefore MORE attractive. The local pub becomes gastro-dining boasting local, top quality produce, this used to be called “export quality”. The Ceredigion motion is right – changes to planning rules and caps within communities – but the tax hikes just line someone’s pockets. But with Adam Price on paternity leave and the Ceredigion MS as Llywydd, Plaid in Westminster a marginal voice and the House of Lords unable to comment on devolved matters, Wales… Read more »
Exactly. The emphasis should be on legislation aimed at preventing holiday homes, not merely discouraging them, while promoting local affordability. It shouldn’t be difficult.