Meetings
NDM7386 Plaid Cymru debate - Second Homes
This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.
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Meeting: 23/09/2020 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 13)
Plaid Cymru debate - Second Homes
NDM7386 Sian
Gwenllian (Arfon)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of
Wales’s communities and specifically recognises the detrimental impact of
unsustainable levels of second homes in depriving the ability of local people
to access homes in those communities.
2. Welcomes the steps some local
authorities have taken as a result of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 to introduce
council tax premiums on second homes as one behaviour changing method around
the use of second homes and to facilitate the introduction of measures to meet
the local need for housing, but agrees that renewed intervention and leadership
is now required at a national level.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to
act immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would
include but would not be limited to:
a) using the planning system to control the
ability to change the use of a residential dwelling from a sole or main
residence to a second home;
b) enabling the introduction of a cap on
the proportion of the overall housing stock in a community which may be used as
second homes in communities where the concentration of second homes is already
unsustainable;
c) modernising legislation which currently
means that not a penny of council tax must be paid on some second homes;
d) doubling the council tax premium which
may be charged on second homes to at least 200 per cent to reinforce work
already taking place in some local authorities in seeking to change behaviour
around the use of second homes, generate revenue to be invested in social
housing and to compensate communities for the detrimental impact of an overuse
of second homes on local communities and local services;
e) doubling the higher rates of land
transaction tax for an initial period of six months in an attempt to prevent
house prices from spiralling further beyond the reach of the local population
and first time buyers in many communities;
f) taking positive steps to promote access
to housing at a price which is within the reach of the local market, including
the possibility of encouraging the development of homes which have local market
clauses attached;
g) encouraging and prioritising the
purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order
to meet the local need for social housing; and
h) looking afresh at what constitutes an
affordable home.
Amendment 1 Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the housing crisis in many of
Wales’s communities and the need to enable local people to access homes in
those communities.
2. Calls on the Welsh Government to act
immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would
include but would not be limited to:
a) taking positive steps to promote access
to housing at a price which is within the reach of local people, including
reintroducing a reformed right to buy and exploring the options for encouraging
the development of homes which have local market clauses attached;
b) encouraging and prioritising the
purchase of empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order
to meet the local need for social housing; and
c) clarifying what constitutes an
affordable home.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to work
with the tourism sector and the Valuation Office Agency to establish an
evidence base for policy regarding eligibility for self-catering accommodation
to be recorded on the non-domestic rating list.
If Amendment 1 is agreed, Amendments 2and 3
will be de-selected
Amendment 2 Rebecca
Evans (Gower)
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the challenges second homes –
and empty homes - can have on the affordability and availability of housing in
some communities in Wales.
2. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s
long-standing commitment to the provision of good quality, affordable housing,
recognising its fundamental role as the bedrock of strong sustainable
communities.
3. Welcomes that whilst the pandemic has
had an impact on the building of affordable homes, the Welsh Government will
meet the 20,000 target by the end of this Senedd term, which will help to meet
the need for local housing.
4. Notes that Wales is the only nation in
the UK where local authorities are able to charge a premium of up to 100 per
cent of the standard rate of council tax both on second homes and long-term
empty properties.
5. Further notes that in Wales, unlike the
rest of the UK, the Welsh Government did not provide a temporary tax reduction
for buy to let investors, investors in furnished holiday lets or buyers of
second homes.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake
an evidenced, thorough review of second home ownership in Wales and the
measures that might be necessary to ensure the needs of individuals,
communities and the economy, in particular the visitor economy, are well
balanced. Such a review should look at the role of taxation, planning, local
regulation and the supply and access to affordable housing of all tenures.
If Amendment 2 is agreed, Amendment 3 will
be de-selected
Amendment 3 Neil
McEvoy (South Wales Central)
In sub-point 3(g), after 'associations'
insert:
', through compulsory purchase if
necessary,'
Minutes:
The
item started at 18.16
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7386
Sian
Gwenllian (Arfon)
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and specifically
recognises the detrimental impact of unsustainable levels of second homes in
depriving the ability of local people to access homes in those communities.
2.
Welcomes the steps some local authorities have taken as a result of the Housing
(Wales) Act 2014 to introduce council tax premiums on second homes as one
behaviour changing method around the use of second homes and to facilitate the
introduction of measures to meet the local need for housing, but agrees that
renewed intervention and leadership is now required at a national level.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to act
immediately in developing and introducing a package of measures which would
include but would not be limited to:
a)
using the planning system to control the ability to change the use of a
residential dwelling from a sole or main residence to a second home;
b)
enabling the introduction of a cap on the proportion of the overall housing
stock in a community which may be used as second homes in communities where the
concentration of second homes is already unsustainable;
c)
modernising legislation which currently means that not a penny of council tax
must be paid on some second homes;
d)
doubling the council tax premium which may be charged on second homes to at
least 200 per cent to reinforce work already taking place in some local authorities
in seeking to change behaviour around the use of second homes, generate revenue
to be invested in social housing and to compensate communities for the
detrimental impact of an overuse of second homes on local communities and local
services;
e)
doubling the higher rates of land transaction tax for an initial period of six
months in an attempt to prevent house prices from spiralling further beyond the
reach of the local population and first time buyers in many communities;
f)
taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within
the reach of the local market, including the possibility of encouraging the
development of homes which have local market clauses attached;
g) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of
empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the
local need for social housing; and
h)
looking afresh at what constitutes an affordable home.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
10 |
0 |
42 |
52 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete
all and replace with:
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Recognises the housing crisis in many of Wales’s communities and the need to
enable local people to access homes in those communities.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to act immediately in developing and introducing
a package of measures which would include but would not be limited to:
a)
taking positive steps to promote access to housing at a price which is within
the reach of local people, including reintroducing a reformed right to buy and
exploring the options for encouraging the development of homes which have local
market clauses attached;
b) encouraging and prioritising the purchase of
empty homes by local authorities and housing associations in order to meet the
local need for social housing; and
c)
clarifying what constitutes an affordable home.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to work with the tourism sector and the Valuation
Office Agency to establish an evidence base for policy regarding eligibility
for self-catering accommodation to be recorded on the non-domestic rating
list.
A
vote was taken on amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
13 |
0 |
39 |
52 |
Amendment
1 was not agreed.
Amendment
2 Rebecca
Evans (Gower)
Delete
all and replace with:
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Recognises the challenges second homes – and empty homes - can have on the
affordability and availability of housing in some communities in Wales.
2.
Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to the provision of
good quality, affordable housing, recognising its fundamental role as the
bedrock of strong sustainable communities.
3.
Welcomes that whilst the pandemic has had an impact on the building of
affordable homes, the Welsh Government will meet the 20,000 target by the end
of this Senedd term, which will help to meet the need for local housing.
4.
Notes that Wales is the only nation in the UK where local authorities are able
to charge a premium of up to 100 per cent of the standard rate of council tax
both on second homes and long-term empty properties.
5.
Further notes that in Wales, unlike the rest of the UK, the Welsh Government
did not provide a temporary tax reduction for buy to let investors, investors
in furnished holiday lets or buyers of second homes.
6.
Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake an evidenced, thorough review of
second home ownership in Wales and the measures that might be necessary to
ensure the needs of individuals, communities and the economy, in particular the
visitor economy, are well balanced. Such a review should look at the role of
taxation, planning, local regulation and the supply and access to affordable
housing of all tenures.
A
vote was taken on amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
27 |
4 |
21 |
52 |
Amendment
2 was agreed.
As
Amendment 2 was agreed, Amendment 3 was de-selected
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM7386
Sian
Gwenllian (Arfon)
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Recognises the challenges second homes – and empty homes - can have on the
affordability and availability of housing in some communities in Wales.
2.
Welcomes the Welsh Government’s long-standing commitment to the provision of
good quality, affordable housing, recognising its fundamental role as the
bedrock of strong sustainable communities.
3.
Welcomes that whilst the pandemic has had an impact on the building of
affordable homes, the Welsh Government will meet the 20,000 target by the end
of this Senedd term, which will help to meet the need for local housing.
4.
Notes that Wales is the only nation in the UK where local authorities are able
to charge a premium of up to 100 per cent of the standard rate of council tax
both on second homes and long-term empty properties.
5.
Further notes that in Wales, unlike the rest of the UK, the Welsh Government
did not provide a temporary tax reduction for buy to let investors, investors
in furnished holiday lets or buyers of second homes.
6.
Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake an evidenced, thorough review of
second home ownership in Wales and the measures that might be necessary to
ensure the needs of individuals, communities and the economy, in particular the
visitor economy, are well balanced. Such a review should look at the role of
taxation, planning, local regulation and the supply and access to affordable
housing of all tenures.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
26 |
3 |
23 |
52 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.