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

The request was successful.

Dear Neath Port Talbot County Borough 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 Team, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received 11th April 2019.

We are generally required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to provide you with a response promptly, and within no more than 20 working days of receipt of a request, which will be on or before 14th May 2019 (this date takes into account Bank Holidays).

If we require any clarification or further details we will contact you as soon as possible, if this is the case then the timescale for response specified above may be subject to change.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact this team.

FOI Team
[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council request email]

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FOI Team, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Dear Sir,

I refer to your Freedom of Information request of the 10th April 2019. Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s answers to your questions are listed below in the body of your email.

If you are dissatisfied with the response to your request, under the Authority's FOI Policy, you may appeal in writing setting out the reasons why you think the decision is erroneous, to the Authority's Monitoring Officer at the following address:-

Head of Legal Services & Monitoring Officer Civic Centre Port Talbot
SA13 1PJ
FOI Team
[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council request email]

In the event that you appeal and are dissatisfied with that response, you may then appeal direct to the Information Commissioner, whose address is:

Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
SK9 5AF.

Yours faithfully
FOI Team
[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council request email]

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Simon Griffiths

Dear FOI Team,

Unfortunately, there is no information available. I note that you stated that your responses are within my test however these are not visible to me.

I would appreciate it if you could send them again, either as an attachment or within your own response.

Yours sincerely,

Simon Griffiths

FOI Team, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

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

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Dear Mr. Griffiths,

Please see attached as requested.

Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
[Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council request email]

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