1)       That, subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 50% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 2 years, raising the Council Tax to 200%, from 1 April 2019.

2)       That, subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 100% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 5 years, raising the Council Tax to 300%, from 1 April 2020.

3)       That, subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 100% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 10 years, raising the Council Tax to 400%, from 1 April 2021.

4)       That, subject to recommendations 1-3 being agreed, the Long Term Empty Premium will not apply where a property already subject to a Long Term Empty Premium changes ownership until a further 2 years has passed. At which time the 100% Long Term Empty Premium will apply and this will increase in line with normal progression of the Premium.

To bring long term empty properties back into use as soon as possible and to incentivise this by adding penalties through the additional Council tax premium charged.

Option 1

That subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 50% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 2 years, raising the Council Tax to 200%, from 1 April 2019; and

That subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 100% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 5 years, raising the Council Tax to 300%, from 1 April 2020; and

That subject to the relevant legislation coming into force and subject to following any guidelines issued, Cabinet approves an additional 100% Council Tax premium on Long Term Empty properties longer than 10 years, raising the Council Tax to 400%, from 1 April 2021; and

That subject to recommendations 1-3 being agreed, the Long Term Empty Premium will not apply where a property already subject to a Long Term Empty Premium changes ownership until a further 2 years has passed. At which time the 100% Long Term Empty Premium will apply and this will increase in line with normal progression of the Premium.

Option 2

That subject to the relevant legislation coming into force some but not all of the options are approved by Cabinet.

Option 3

Do nothing.