Plans to increase council tax on second homes in Cornwall could be given final approval next week
The Council says the 100% premium will be worth an estimated £25 million a year
Final approval for plans to place a Council Tax premium on second homes worth an estimated £25 million a year could be granted when Cornwall Council meets next week.
The proposals, which were approved by the cabinet in December, will be debated when the full council meets for the first time in 2023 next Tuesday (17 January).
The proposed implementation of a premium on second homes follows changes to the current billing process which were announced in the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in May.
If the legislation is approved by Parliament before 1 April this year a 100% Council Tax premium for second homes could introduced from April 2024.
According to the Council Tax database, there are 13,292 second homes registered in Cornwall, which is widely recognised as impacting negatively on the local housing market.
Cllr David Harris, deputy leader of Cornwall Council and portfolio holder for resources, said: "The opportunity to impose this premium on second homes is something we must grasp with both hands, and I am sure we will see support across the chamber for this."
The extra funding would be available for supporting a wide range of council services, and not just focused on housing.
Cllr Harris added: "A number of people have asked why we do not ringfence any extra money raised for Housing.
"The short answer is because we do not need to, as in terms of providing housing, our issues are not money making sure we have the builders/stakeholders ready to build the type of housing we need as soon as possible, as Councillor Monk, the Housing Portfolio Holder has recently confirmed."
Next Tuesday’s meeting will take place in the Council Chamber at County Hall in Truro, starting at 10.30am.