Last updated at 16:55, Monday, 24 September 2012

SECOND homeowners are set to be hit with a hike in their council tax bills.

Barrow Borough Council has opted to remove council tax reductions for second homes and has reduced discounts for empty homes.

The decision follows a government reorganisation of the scheme which means the authority would take a £90,000 hit.

The existing council tax benefit system is being ended by the government in March next year. Councils across the country are being tasked with creating their own reduction schemes to support people who cannot afford to pay the full amount for council tax.

Funding a reduction scheme for Barrow was discussed at a recent executive committee meeting of the council.

Officers proposed a scheme which will see the 10 per cent discount for second homes removed from April 2013. Now the council offers a discount of 100 per cent for properties that are vacant for up to six months and it is not proposing to change this.

However, a discount of 50 per cent on houses which are empty for more than six months will be removed, and a 50 per cent premium will also be added to any houses empty for more than two years.

The council will still allow a 100 per cent reduction on houses which are being renovated for a period of up to a year.

Councillor Jeff Garnett said he did not see why owners of two properties should receive discounts on second homes.

He said: “I struggle to get my head round the fact that somebody living in a second home could get a discount for their council tax.

“They are still getting the facilities and if they are not there, than that is their problem. This is a step in the right direction.”

Members of the committee voted to pass the reforms on to full council for approval, which next meets on October 16.

First published at 16:54, Monday, 24 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk