The Isle of Wight Council has declared its intent to charge owners of second homes and empty properties more council tax — once it becomes law.
How much those property owners will be charged is undecided.
Up until last night’s (Wednesday) full council meeting, the authority was suggesting — put forward by the ruling Alliance Administration — a 100 per cent tax premium on second homes and empty properties.
That suggestion was quashed when Cllr Joe Robertson, leader of the Conservatives at County Hall, proposed removing the figure altogether and determining the charge when they had the authority to do so.
He said he supported the principle but felt it was misleading the public, as there is no law in place yet to allow the council to charge anything.
Cllr Robertson also thought the rationale behind the 100 per cent figure had not been set out and needed to be backed by evidence, analysis and data.
Cabinet member for strategic finances, Cllr Chris Jarman said the 100 per cent figure was included because, following guidance from the council’s finance officer, the authority should maximise its revenue at every opportunity.
He also said it sends a strong signal to property owners of the council’s intent to bring the charges in at the earliest opportunity, so they do not risk missing out on a substantial amount of income.
Cllr Richard Quigley said when the time comes he would vote to charge the maximum allowed, but that could potentially not be until April 2025.
He said it was more important the authority show the intent to charge a premium, but a lot more information was still required.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans questioned why the authority should not make the most out of second homeowners, especially after the authority charged Islanders the most it could in a council tax increase this year.
Cllr Robertson’s amendment passed and was then voted through, with 19 councillors for, 12 against (all Alliance members) and one abstention.
The premiums are proposed as part of a Government bill which is still going through the stages of officially becoming law, so cannot be enforced yet.
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