Issue - meetings

It was noted that in accordance with council procedure rule 17.6, a recorded vote would be taken on the motion or any amendments and substantive motions.

It was proposed by Councillor Yates and seconded by Councillor Campbell that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed, namely:

1.  That Members approve the Thanet District Council element of Council Tax charges as set out below for the listed property bands:

2.  That Members approve the determinations at Section 1 of this report.

The Monitoring Officer conducted a recorded vote on the motion as follows:

43 Members voted in favour the motion: Councillors Albon, Ashbee, Bambridge, J Bayford, R Bayford, Boyd, Braidwood, Campbell, Crittenden, Currie, Dennis, Dexter, Duckworth, Everitt, Fellows, Game, Garner, Hart, Hopkinson, Huxley, Keen, Kup, Pat Moore, Ovenden, L Piper, S Piper, Pugh, Rattigan, Rawf, Rogers, Roper, Rusiecki, D Saunders, M Saunders, Savage, Scobie, Scott, Shrubb, Taylor, Tomlinson, Whitehead, Wright, Yates.

No Members voted against the motion:

One Member abstained from voting on the motion: Councillor Wing.

The motion was carried.

Cabinet considered this issue in order to correct the wording to the decision made at the previous cabinet meeting.

Councillor Yates proposed, Councillor Whitehead seconded and Cabinet approved the increase in premium for all properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished for five years or more. This will take effect from April 2020 and will see the premium increased from 100% to 200%.

It was the responsibility of the Council to set tax base for the coming year by 31 January of that year. This information is then used by Kent County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and the various town and parish councils when setting their own Council Tax and precepts.

The meeting was advised that legislation has been passed to allow councils to increase the Long Term Empty Premium currently being charged for domestic properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished for two years or more.

A public consultation undertaken by TDC in December 2018 resulted in respondents being in favour of further increasing the Long Term Empty Premium for properties empty for between 5 years and 10 years to 200%, with effect from April 2020. This meant that for properties empty and substantially unfurnished for between 5 years and 10 years, an additional 200% Council Tax would be charged, making Council Tax payable at 300% from April 2020. This would affect about 100 properties in the district.

From April 2021, the legislation would allow for a 300% premium on properties empty for longer than 10 years, making Council Tax payable at 400%.

Councillor Yates proposed, Councillor Whitehead seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  The District's Council Tax Base for 2020-21 as 44,546.40 and the tax base for the towns and parishes in the Council’s administrative area, as set out in the table at Annex 2 (to the cabinet report);

2.  The increase in premium for all properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished for five years but less than 10 years. This will take effect from April 2020 and will see the premium increased from 100% to 200%;

3.  Not to revise the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020-21.