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

The request was successful.

Dear Merthyr Tydfil 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

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

 

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

 

We acknowledge your request for information about Council Tax received by
the Data Disclosure and Records Officer on 11^th April 2019.

 

We are considering your request and you will receive the Councils full
response within the [1]statutory time limit of 20 working days, which in
this instance is no later than 14^th May 2019, unless the information is
exempt or we require additional time to consider whether disclosure is in
the public interest in accordance with [2]Section 2 of the Act.  

 

The [3]Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. Before we provide the information we will
consider whether it is proper to release it and if any of the exemption
categories do apply then the information may not be released. We will tell
you if this is the case, and you will have a right of appeal. If the
information you request contains reference to a third party then they may
be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release
the information to you. You may have to pay a fee for this information; we
will consider this and let you know. If a fee is applicable the Council
will issue you with a Fees Notice. The 20 working day time limit will not
start until we receive your payment. If you have any queries or concerns,
please contact the Data Disclosure and Records Officer on 01685 725000 or
[4][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]. You can find out more about the Act from the
Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [5][email address]

Website: [6]www.ico.org.uk

 

Responses to completed requests for information are published online
within our disclosure log. Our disclosure log is located in the find it
section of our external website ([7]www.merthyr.gov.uk). Please click
[8]HERE to view our disclosure log.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Swyddog Datgelu Data a Chofnodion/Data Disclosure and Records Officer

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

 

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000

E-bost/E-mail: [9][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[10]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
2. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
3. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000...
4. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.ico.org.uk/
7. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/
8. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/English/Servic...
9. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
10. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/

FOI (Freedom of Information), Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

Dear Sir/Madam

RE:     Freedom Of Information Act 2000 – INFORMATION Request

We have considered your request and provide the following information:

 

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?

N/A

 

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.

Main Residence – if they are living in armed forces accommodation and
paying contributions in lieu of Council Tax to the Ministry of defence.

 

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

1

 

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

A letter from the applicant together with evidence from the MOD that they
have had to leave their property vacant and live in MOD accommodation and
/ or confirmation that they are making contributions in lieu of council
tax.

 

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Archives.

 

We supply this based on your original request. If this is not what you
wanted or if you feel we have not fully understood your request please do
not hesitate to contact us to clarify your exact requirements. If you have
any queries or concerns or are in any way dissatisfied with the handling
of your request and you wish to make a complaint please contact the
Information Governance Team on 01685 725000 or [2][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]. If
you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint please contact
the Councils Complaints Team on 01685 725000 or
[3][email address], alternatively you may wish to submit a
complaint using the Councils [4]online complaints form. You can find out
more about the Act from the Information Commissioner at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office (Wales)

2^nd Floor

Churchill House

Churchill Way

Cardiff

CF10 2HH

 

Tel: 0330 414 6421 

Email: [5][email address]

Website: [6]www.ico.org.uk

Responses to completed requests for information are published online
within our disclosure log. Our disclosure log is located on our external
website ([7]www.merthyr.gov.uk). Please click [8]HERE to view our
disclosure log.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Swyddog Datgelu Data a Chofnodion/Data Disclosure and Records Officer

Tîm Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth/Information Governance Team

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Council

 

Canolfan Dinesig/Civic Centre

Stryd Y Castell/Castle Street

Merthyr Tudful/Merthyr Tydfil

CF47 8AN/CF47 8AN

Ffon/Tel: 01685 725000

E-bost/E-mail: [9][Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]

 

Croesawn ni ohebu yn y Gymraeg/We welcome correspondence in Welsh.

Croesawn ohebu yn Gymraeg a fydd hyn ddim yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh and this will not lead to a delay.

Mae'r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw ffeiliau a drosglwyddir gydag ef yn gyfrinachol
ac wedi'u bwriadu ar gyfer pwy bynnag y cyfeirir ef ato neu atynt. Mae
cynnwys yr e-bost hwn cynrychioli barn y sawl a enwir uchod, felly nid
ydyw'n dilyn ei fod yn cynrychioli barn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr
Tudful.

Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful
Canolfan Dinesig
Stryd Y Castell
Merthyr Tudful
CF47 8AN

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. The contents of this e-mail represent the views of the
individual(s) named above and do not necessarily represent the views of
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF47 8AN

Teleffon\Telephone: 01685 725000

[10]http://www.merthyr.gov.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://eform.merthyr.gov.uk/default.asp...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.ico.org.uk/
7. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/
8. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/council/data-p...
9. mailto:[Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council request email]
10. http://www.merthyr.gov.uk/