Dear Shetland Islands Council,

Please treat this email as a Freedom of Information request.

I would like the following information.

With regards to second homes:

1. How many homes in the council area are second homes?

2. Of these, how many receive a discount to their council tax? Please break these figures down by council ward.

3. Additionally, how many second home owners are subject to a reduced rate of council tax discount? Please break these figures down by council ward.

4. I understand that the council is required to spend any additional income raised by reducing the rate of council tax discount on second homes locally, or via Registered Social Landords. How much additional income was raised through reducing the council tax discount rate for second homes in the last 24 months and what was this additional income spent on?

With regards to empty homes:

5. How many homes in the council area are empty?

6. How many empty homes in the council area currently receive a council tax discount? Please break this figures down by ward.

7. Additionally, how many empty home owners are subject to a reduced rate of council tax discount, or are subject to an increase in council tax? Please break these figures down by council ward.

8. What is the total additional income raised by the council by reducing the rate of council tax discount on empty homes, or increasing it in the last 24 months? What was this additional income spent on?

I would prefer not to receive the requested information in pdf format files. I would prefer to receive it in MS Excel format files.

I look forwards to hearing from you in due course.

Yours faithfully,

Ally Tibbitt

Dear Shetland Islands Council,

This FOI request is now overdue. Please could you confirm when the requested information will be released?

Thanks,

Ally Tibbitt