Agenda item
Update on the following motion submitted on 10 December 2020 under Rule 10.1 of the Council's Rules of Procedure
- Meeting of Council, Thursday, 17th June, 2021 10.00 am (Item 6.)
- View the declarations of interest for item 6.
Proposer:
Cllr. Mark Strong
Seconder:
Cllr. Ellen ap Gwynn
Council notes 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
Minutes:
Proposer: Cllr. Mark
Strong
Seconder: Cllr. Ellen ap Gwynn
Council notes 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.
Councillor
Mark Strong gave an outline of the circumstances which led to the Notice of
Motion, confirming that the recommendation has been considered and commended by
the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Language
Committee, placing particular focus on unfair competition, and the need for
young people in our communities to be able to buy a home.
Councillor
Ellen ap Gwynn noted that it is a pleasure to second
this Motion, and thanked the staff for the full report on the situation
presented to both Committees. She noted that the Language Committee were fully
in support of this Motion.
Councillor
Euros Davies noted that the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny
Committee also voted in support of the recommendations.
Councillor
Dafydd Edwards proposed an improvement on the Motion, to include the insertion
of ‘on a community basis’ at the end of the 2nd point of the motion;
and to insert ‘and retrospectively’ at the end of the 3rd point of
the motion. This was seconded by
Councillor Rowland Rees-Evans. However, following discussion, both withdrew the
proposal of improvement to the Motion.
The Council considered a recommendation by the
Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee that 100% increase is
levied on Council Tax of holiday homes in the county.
Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn
asked that Officers present a report on the implications of setting a 100% tax
on such properties, and defer a full discussion on this until such a report is
received. She also recommended that a
fund is set up to assist local young people to purchase homes.
Councillor Ceredig Davies noted that Council had
previously agreed that any additional funding received from the Council Tax
premium on holiday homes would be spent in those communities, therefore any
amendment to the policy would need to be considered by Council. It should not be retrospective.
Councillor Gareth Davies stated that the planning
should come first.
Councillor Elizabeth Evans noted that the levy
stands and a report should also consider a breakdown of private renting in
Ceredigion.
Following a vote, it was RESOLVED to:
1.
Agree the motion as stated:
2. note the recommendations made by the Thriving Communities Overview
and Scrutiny Committee and the Language Committee; and
3. that Officers prepare a report for
consideration by Council regarding the Thriving Communities Overview and
Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation that a 100% increase is levied on the
council tax of holiday homes in the County.
Supporting documents: