Plans to double the council tax bill for homes in Sefton that have been left empty for years has divided opinion.
The proposals, to increase the premium charged added to the council tax bill of owners of homes empty in the borough for two years or more from 50% to 100%, were put to public consultation last year.
Under the plans, homes empty for more than 10 years could attract a premium of 300% in a bid to discourage properties laying unused in the borough.
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At a meeting of Sefton Council’s overview and scrutiny committee held at Bootle Town Hall tonight, January 10, the contents of a report detailing the results of a public consultation and the council’s recommendation to introduce a 10 year premium were discussed.
Senior officer Paul Reilly said that plans to introduce the premium for homes empty by more than 10 years would bring it in line with other local authorities in the area.
He added: “Not only does it generate more funding for the council, but more importantly the aim is to try to encourage people who own long term empty homes to bring them back into use for the benefit of the borough.”
In the report, the details of the consultation showed among the 129 people who respond there were a range of views from claims of “extortion” and that home-owners are being used as “an easy target to solve Sefton Council’s financial problems” to others being more welcoming of the plans.
One person stated that leaving homes empty for so long was “immoral” and another saying the plans constituted an “excellent proposal.”
Some said there should be exemptions for those trying to sell their property or exemptions and discretion in certain circumstances.
Ultimately, of the 129 people who responded, a total of 66 people were in favour with 51 people strongly agreeing 15 agreeing. This is set against seven who neither agreed nor disagreed and 55 who either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
According to the report only 645 properties in the borough would be affected by the changes, so the response rate was “relatively substantial”.
Approving the 10 year increase could generate an additional £117k of which Sefton would retain £98k in 2023/23.
The plans are part of a report also detailing the council tax base for the year – which Mr Reilly said has seen an increase totalling around £2.5m “driven by an increase in housing growth and secondly the reflection in a reduction in the council tax reduction scheme.
Mr Reilly said they form the basis of the move towards setting a budget for the following financial year, details of which will come to the next meeting of the committee before going on to full council.
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