Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The following motion had been referred by Council to the Cabinet for consideration:
‘That this council should lobby government to bring forward a revised council tax scheme that seeks to encourage a system linked to emissions. The scheme should be able to vary council tax to overtly incentivise the construction of properties that can demonstrate high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency, while acting as a penalty for those that don't. Methods to encourage investment in retrofitting to existing properties should also be explored, given the largest proportion of housing emissions will come from existing housing stock rather than new build’.
The Chairman invited Cllr Downes to speak to the motion.
Cllr Downes addressed the meeting stating that the Council had made the climate change declaration and that there was a need to act on the issues that we as an authority had control over which included the Council Tax scheme. High levels of sustainability and energy efficiency through development should be rewarded with a variation in Council Tax.
The Chief Executive informed the meeting that the Council had submitted an expression of interest with regard to financial modelling work which would consider the principle of a reduced Council Tax to reflect carbon reduction however the legislation with regard to Council Tax and Business Rates still had to be adhered to.
Consideration was given to:
· The financial modelling exercise
· The intention for new development was encouraging
· Retrospective schemes would be expensive
· The need to encourage low carbon building projects
Following discussions Cllr Downes informed the meeting that he would amend his motion to read:
That this council should lobby government to change the council tax scheme to one that seeks to encourage a system linked to emissions. The scheme should be able to vary council tax to overtly incentivise the construction of properties that can demonstrate high levels of sustainability and energy efficiency, while acting as a penalty for those that don't. Methods to encourage investment in retrofitting to existing properties should also be explored, given the largest proportion of housing emissions will come from existing housing stock rather than new build.
It was therefore:
RECOMMENDED to Council that Motion 558 as amended be supported
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Publication date: 22/10/2019
Date of decision: 17/10/2019
Decided at meeting: 17/10/2019 - Cabinet