Application of Job Related Accommodation Council Tax Discount for members of HM Forces

The request was successful.

Dear Gwynedd Council,

In line with the reference material listed below: If Service Personnel’s sole/main residence in Wales is left empty due to Service-related reasons, then they should be eligible for a council tax discount of 50% on that home for the duration it remains unoccupied. However, in order to qualify for that discount, they must demonstrate that their current home is job related, by meeting at least one of the criteria set out within the regulations approved by Parliament.
These regulations state that a dwelling is job-related for a person if it is provided for them by reason of their employment.

The FOI Queries:

1. Does your authority honour the Job Related Accommodation Discount (currently 50%) for single or married service personnel who, due to their employment, live in Ministry of Defence provided accommodation but have an unoccupied and furnished property in your CT area?

2. If the answer is no to the above question, in either full or part, what are your authority’s guidance/policy documents covering the area of Job Related Accommodation Discount for serving military personnel?

3. Sole or Main Residence: With the application of Job Related Accommodation Discount, in regards to serving members of HM Forces, how does your authority categorise accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence? e.g as the sole of main residence, rendering their own property as a second home.

4. How many properties currently receive the 50% Job Related Accommodation Discount to members of HM Forces in your area?

5. What proof of employment does your authority require for those applying for the Job Related Accommodation Discount?

Reference:

Welsh Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 612 (W.58) Council Tax Wales: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2010/6...

House of Commons Briefing Paper, November 2018: http://researchbriefings.files.parliamen...

Yours faithfully,

S Griffiths

Gwynedd Council

Rhyddid Gwybodaeth / Freedom of Information

Dear S Griffiths,

Freedom of Information (ref 34)

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

Your request has been passed to me to process and I can confirm that it
has been logged under the reference number 34.

The Council may take up to 20 working days, from the date of receipt, to
respond to your request. You should therefore receive the information you
have requested, subject to the application of any exemptions permitted
under the Act, by 13/05/2019. If you require further information please
contact me by phone on 01286 679809 or by emailing
[1][email address].cymru by quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,
Gwawr Owen

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address].cymru

Green Wena Haf (CG), Gwynedd Council

Dear S Griffiths

 

Freedom of Information (Ref T34 )

 

Thank you for your recent request. Please see below for the information
requested:

 

 

1.            Does your authority honour the Job Related Accommodation
Discount (currently 50%) for single or married service personnel who, due
to their employment, live in Ministry of Defence provided accommodation
but have an unoccupied and furnished property in your CT area? YES

 

2.            If the answer is no to the above question, in either full or
part, what are your authority’s guidance/policy documents covering the
area of Job Related Accommodation Discount for serving military personnel?

 

3.            Sole or Main Residence:  With the application of Job Related
Accommodation Discount, in regards to serving members of HM Forces, how
does your authority categorise accommodation provided by the Ministry of
Defence? e.g as the sole of main residence, rendering their own property
as a second home. - Empty Property

 

4.            How many properties currently receive the 50% Job Related
Accommodation Discount to members of HM Forces in your area? Between 5 and
10 during the last financial year 2018/19 (Currently 6)

 

5.            What proof of employment does your authority require for
those applying for the Job Related Accommodation Discount? - Sufficient to
satisfy an audit; Letter from employer, Council Tax Bill (if applicable)
Utility Bill with away address details.

 

Reference:

 

Welsh Statutory Instrument 2010 No. 612 (W.58) Council Tax Wales: 
[1]http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2010/6...

 

House of Commons Briefing Paper, November 2018: 
[2]http://researchbriefings.files.parliamen...

 

Please note that where information is subject to copyright belonging to
the Council, you will need to obtain the permission of the Council to
re-use it for purposes other than private study or non-commercial
research. The Council may charge for re-use. Where third party copyright
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copyright holders concerned.

 

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If you are unhappy with the way the Council has handled your request, you
may ask for an internal review. Please contact me if you require an
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date, we will advise you accordingly.

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Please see below for the contact details:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF102HH

 

Telephone: 02920 678400

Email: [3][email address]

Fax: 02920 678399

 

Yours sincerely,

W Green

References

Visible links
1. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2010/6...
2. http://researchbriefings.files.parliamen...
3. blocked::mailto:[email address] mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]