WLGA welcomes WAG decision to better support service families
08 October 2009
The WLGA has today welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government’s decision to introduce a 50% discount on council tax on second homes owned by armed service personnel in Wales.
Cllr Lindsay Whittle (Caerphilly), WLGA Spokesperson for Equality, Social Justice and Community Safety said,
“What this announcement does is to recognise the personal sacrifices made by armed forces personnel and we fully support the Assembly Government’s decision. For a member of the armed forces and often their families, being mobile is the nature of the job. This can sometimes have a detrimental impact on their lives and that of their families, both socially and financially. At a recent meeting of the WLGA Council, Wales’ 22 leaders unanimously agreed to support and implement any changes to Assembly Government regulation around council tax on second homes owned by armed forces personnel.”
“Regulations in Scotland and England mean that an automatic 50 per cent reduction on the council tax for family homes owned by armed service personnel is enacted. However, the same regulations have not applied in Wales. Here, discretionary discounts have applied to second homes as a whole and not to specific groups such as armed forces. We therefore welcome the Minister’s decision to address this anomaly which local authorities are fully committed to supporting.”
“Earlier this year I was fortunate to visit the troops serving in Afghanistan with other councillors from across the UK on a visit organised by SABRE. After speaking with many Welsh soldiers it became very clear how pleased they are to know that their welfare and needs and their families is being considered seriously by local authorities.”
Later this month Wales’ 22 leaders will also be considering their response to the Ministry of Defence’s consultation paper, ‘The Nation’s Commitment to the Armed Forces Community.’ This paper aims to ensure that all services provided to the Armed Forces community are not subject to disadvantage.
Ends
Notes to Editors
• Differences in regulations In Scotland and England compared to Wales have meant that service families have had to apply for a 50% council tax discount on second homes and local authorities have been given the discretion to apply this.
• The Minister’s plan will mean that authorities will be obliged to provide the discount to armed service personnel whose properties in Wales are not permanently occupied. Properties where the families of armed service personnel live and to which the personnel return on leave are considered main residences and will not qualify for the discount.