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Question from: County Councillor Jake Berriman Subject: Long term empty Council-owned dwellings
Question:
In a recent briefing on Housing Services, Members were advised that Powys Council currently has 345 live homelessness cases and appraised of the difficulties and complexities faced by residents in housing need to find suitable, affordable accommodation where they live. We heard of ongoing plans to build new homes and to work with the private sector to bring vacant, long-term void properties back into residential use through an Empty Property Action Plan.
It was disappointing, therefore, to find that this excludes Council owned property, especially as in a recent Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee, when looking through details of schools’ assets, I noticed a large number of residential properties, owned and managed by PCC that were empty, and I am advised many of which have been languishing unoccupied your years.
Can the Portfolio Holders please advise on the number of residential properties owned by Powys Council (excluding those managed through the HRA), how many of these have been vacant for more than 12 months, and how long in total, and what the loss of Council Tax revenue is annually, on average, as a result of this regime of managing these residential properties? If, on the other hand, the Council Tax Premium applies to these empty residential properties, can I be advised who pays and where the money goes?
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
The Council owns 13 Non HRA residential properties as set out below, 6 of which have been empty and vacant for more than 12 months. Two of the properties are currently on the market for sale with the remainder under regular review.
These properties are liable for Council Tax and attract the premium unless an appropriate exemption is applied. While empty the Council is liable for the CT charge and the service who owns the property meets these costs.
The Council Tax and any premium applicable is paid into the Council’s Council Tax budget, which supports the Council’s overall revenue budget.
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