Agenda item

In supporting this item, Councillor J Collop asked why it hadn’t been done before.  Councillor Daubney explained that the Council had negotiated with the County Council previously so it would retain a larger element of the money in order to spend it in local Partnership work, for example the work put in to help improve educational attainment.  The County Council had identified the additional finances derived through this process to assist with their budget deficit, but had concluded that the current agreement on the split of the money would continue for 2 years, after which it would be reviewed.

Councillor Daubney further explained that until now offering the 5% discount enabled the identification of second homes, but the view was that this would be forgone, whilst the current information could be retained in the short term. 

RESOLVED:   That, under Section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as enacted by Section 75 of the Local Government Act 2003, Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as enacted by Section 11 and Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and in accordance with the provisions of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) Regulations 2003 and the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 the Council determines:

1.     That the council tax discount for second homes defined as being within Class A of the Regulations is set at 0% for 2016/2017;

2.     That the council tax discount for second homes as defined by Class B of the Regulations is set at 0% for 2016/2017;

3.     That the council tax discount for empty dwellings defined as being within Class C of the Regulations is set at the following for 2016/2017:

a.     100% for three months starting on the day the property becomes unfurnished

b.     0% once the three month period has expired;

4.     That the council tax discount for uninhabitable dwellings defined as being within Class D of the Regulations is set at the following for 2016/2017:

a.     50% for 12 months starting on the day the property becomes uninhabitable

b.     0% once the 12 month period has expired;

5          That the levy rate for Long Term Empty Properties as defined in the Regulations is set at 50% for 2016/2017;

6          That any period of occupation of less than six weeks shall be disregarded when calculating the maximum period of a reduction or the start date of the levy; and

7          That delegated authority be given to the Portfolio Holder for Resources in consultation with the Ward Member and the Chairman of the Resources and Performance Panel to consider individual applications to the Discretionary Hardship Fund

8          In accordance with Section 11A(6) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as enacted by Section 75 of the Local Government Act 2003 and the Local Government Finance Act 2012, these determinations shall be published in at least one newspaper circulating in West Norfolk before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the determinations.