Latest news with #CumbraeCommunityCouncil
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Scottish islanders battling second home tax force council to reconsider: Could more follow suit?
A Scottish Island may be about to force a u-turn over the decision to impose double council tax on second homeowners. Residents of Great Cumbrae, a small island off the west coast of Scotland, have been left outraged by the tax, according to reports in the Telegraph. North Ayrshire Council is now reviewing its decision to impose a 100 per cent council tax premium on second homeowners amid the backlash. Residents argue the tax will hurt the local economy due to its heavy reliance on tourism. Roughly one third of all properties on the island are second homes, while one quarter of its 1,400 residents work in tourist related jobs. Cameron Inglis, the Conservative leader on North Ayrshire Council, told the Telegraph that the reaction from residents had been 'fiery.' Residents on the island of Great Cumbrae argue that the second home tax will hurt the local economy due to its heavy reliance on tourism Pictured: Millport, Great Cumbrae Island 'We are asking second home owners to pay double, get nothing in return, so that we can balance our budget gap,' said Inglis. 'The whole thing has been pushed through so that supposedly rich people can plug a budget gap. The whole thing is a sham. It's smoke and mirrors.' Meanwhile, Alex Harvie, chairman of the Cumbrae Community Council said the double council tax would reduce income across the island and potentially 'start a spiral of decline' as facilities fall into disrepair. An impact assessment found the council tax hike would strip £500,000 off the island's £12.9million annual GDP. It remains to be seen as to whether this will be the first of many challenges faced by councils over the 100 per cent council tax premium. The majority of Scottish councils have now doubled council tax on second homes and three quarters of local authorities in England and Wales have also done so. Second homes for council tax purposes are defined as furnished properties where nobody lives, or where the owner has their main residence elsewhere. It means many second home owners in England paying the typical Band D council tax of £2,171 are seeing their annual bills rise to £4,342. Holiday hotspots such as Cornwall, Norfolk and Somerset are among those introducing the tax, in a bid to make homes more affordable for local people. For those who own second homes that are in a more expensive bracket, the costs could be astronomical. For example, someone who owns a Band H home in Salcombe - a second home hotspot in Devon - will see their council tax double from £4,716.42 to £9,432.84. Have you been hit by the second home council tax hike? Get in touch: editor@ Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council forced into second homes climbdown after ‘fiery' residents' revolt
A Scottish council could be forced into reversing its second home tax raid after a revolt from residents. North Ayrshire Council is reviewing the impact of the policy on the island of Great Cumbrae after residents complained it would harm their economy, which is reliant on tourism. The SNP-led authority imposed a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners last month, sparking an opposition movement among its 1,400 residents. The majority of Scottish authorities introduced similar charges after being given the power to do so in 2024. More than 200 authorities in England also launched a second homes raid this year – something The Telegraph is campaigning against. There are 450 second homes on Cumbrae, a small island situated one mile – or a 10-minute ferry – from the Scottish mainland. Its close proximity to the mainland makes it an attractive destination. One in three properties on Cumbrae are a second home while around a quarter of residents work in tourism-related jobs. An impact assessment found the council tax raid would strip £500,000 off the island's annual GDP of £12.9m. Cameron Inglis, the Conservative leader on North Ayrshire Council, said the reaction from residents had been 'fiery'. He told The Telegraph: 'We are asking second home owners to pay double, get nothing in return, so that we can balance our budget gap. 'The whole thing has been pushed through so that supposedly rich people can plug a budget gap. The whole thing is a sham. It's smoke and mirrors.' Mr Inglis added that ringfencing 10pc of the additional revenue for affordable housing was the equivalent to £110,000, which would pay for the construction of approximately 20 houses a year, built using council money and government grants. He said: 'That's not 20 houses for the island. That's 20 houses across the whole county. It's a drop in the water when it comes to the number of houses we need.' Alex Harvie, chairman of the Cumbrae Community Council, said the premium would force second home owners to sell up, reduce income for the island and could 'start a spiral of decline' as facilities fall into disrepair. In an appeal to North Ayrshire Council to re-examine the impact on the island, he accused the authority of rushing through the policy before the completion of a three-month review period to allow it to respond to the initial impact assessment. The council's initial impact assessment found 'concerns' with the economic impact on Great Cumbrae and cast doubt as to whether it would benefit housing availability. It conceded the island 'may not lend itself or be suitable for permanent island living'. A consultation, of which around 60pc of the respondents were not second home owners, also found widespread opposition to the policy. Only 38pc were in favour of the premium while 59pc were against. North Ayrshire has now been forced to review its original impact assessment following the pressure applied by the community council. A public consultation has been opened with the council accepting representations from residents, visitors and businesses until May 20. A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said: 'Like other councils across Scotland who have already adopted this measure, we hope to see real long-term benefits to the availability of housing for people in communities across North Ayrshire, and for homes to be occupied for longer periods of time throughout the year.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council forced into second homes climbdown after ‘fiery' residents' revolt
A Scottish council could be forced into reversing its second home tax raid after a revolt from residents. North Ayrshire Council is reviewing the impact of the policy on the island of Great Cumbrae after residents complained it would harm their economy, which is reliant on tourism. The SNP-led authority imposed a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners last month, sparking an opposition movement among its 1,400 residents. The majority of Scottish authorities introduced similar charges after being given the power to do so in 2024. More than 200 authorities in England also launched a second homes raid this year – something The Telegraph is campaigning against. There are 450 second homes on Cumbrae, a small island situated one mile – or a 10-minute ferry – from the Scottish mainland. Its close proximity to the mainland makes it an attractive destination. One in three properties on Cumbrae are a second home while around a quarter of residents work in tourism-related jobs. An impact assessment found the council tax raid would strip £500,000 off the island's annual GDP of £12.9m. Cameron Inglis, the Conservative leader on North Ayrshire Council, said the reaction from residents had been 'fiery'. He told The Telegraph: 'We are asking second home owners to pay double, get nothing in return, so that we can balance our budget gap. 'The whole thing has been pushed through so that supposedly rich people can plug a budget gap. The whole thing is a sham. It's smoke and mirrors.' Mr Inglis added that ringfencing 10pc of the additional revenue for affordable housing was the equivalent to £110,000, which would pay for the construction of approximately 20 houses a year, built using council money and government grants. He said: 'That's not 20 houses for the island. That's 20 houses across the whole county. It's a drop in the water when it comes to the number of houses we need.' Alex Harvie, chairman of the Cumbrae Community Council, said the premium would force second home owners to sell up, reduce income for the island and could 'start a spiral of decline' as facilities fall into disrepair. In an appeal to North Ayrshire Council to re-examine the impact on the island, he accused the authority of rushing through the policy before the completion of a three-month review period to allow it to respond to the initial impact assessment. The council's initial impact assessment found 'concerns' with the economic impact on Great Cumbrae and cast doubt as to whether it would benefit housing availability. It conceded the island 'may not lend itself or be suitable for permanent island living'. A consultation, of which around 60pc of the respondents were not second home owners, also found widespread opposition to the policy. Only 38pc were in favour of the premium while 59pc were against. North Ayrshire has now been forced to review its original impact assessment following the pressure applied by the community council. A public consultation has been opened with the council accepting representations from residents, visitors and businesses until May 20. A spokesman for North Ayrshire Council said: 'Like other councils across Scotland who have already adopted this measure, we hope to see real long-term benefits to the availability of housing for people in communities across North Ayrshire, and for homes to be occupied for longer periods of time throughout the year.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
STV News
05-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Second homes tax poses 'serious risk' to Millport's economy, islanders say
A second homes tax could pose a 'serious risk' to the Cumbrae island economy, according to the local community. North Ayrshire Council is reconsidering its plans to bring a double council tax on second homes following backlash from the Cumbrae Community Council. 'Our community is extremely concerned that the impacts of this policy disproportionately impact Cumbrae,' Graham Wallace, advisor to Cumbrae Community Council, said. 'This is a cynical cash grab by North Ayrshire Council that will lead to vacant properties on our island that nobody wants. It will directly reduce vital income into our local economy.' Back in February, North Ayrshire Council voted to double the council tax for second homes from April 1, 2025, bringing it into line with almost all other Scottish local authorities. However, those plans are now under review. The council opened up a consultation to review the double council tax charges on second homes following the Cumbrae Community Council's challenge at the end of April. North Ayrshire Council previously argued that the aim was to increase the availability of housing by encouraging more homes to be used for living in, rather than lying empty for long periods. However, the community of Millport – the town on Cumbrae – has argued that the second home council tax 'disproportionately' impacts the island's 'fragile' economy and housing balance. 'The type of properties that will be forced onto the market are not the ones permanent residents want,' Mr Wallace said. 'They are small flats in old buildings which are expensive to heat in the winter. We're calling for a proper plan, including a detailed study into Cumbrae's second homes, and a programme to make them fit for permanent occupation —rather than driving people and investment away.' The local community council has claimed that the new tax could strip £500,000 annually from the island's economy, which generates approximately £12.9m per year. 'Given the island's reliance on tourism and part-time residents, this poses a serious risk to local jobs, services, and community stability,' a spokesperson from the Cumbrae Community Council said. Despite a population of just 1,262, Cumbrae accounts for 30% of all second homes in North Ayrshire, which has a population of 133,413. According to the Cumbrae Community Council, that means the per capita impact on the island will be '74 times greater than on the mainland'. The community council is calling for residents, visitors and businesses to contribute to the consultation which closes on Tuesday May 20, 2025. North Ayrshire Council has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
05-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Scottish island community council attacks 'cynical' second homes tax
The Cumbrae Community Council, which represents residents of Great Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, claimed that the policy was a 'cynical cash grab' that would disproportionately and negatively affect the island. North Ayrshire Council, the island's local authority, brought in a 100% premium on council tax bills for second homes from April 1, 2025. Most other Scottish councils, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, do the same. But Cumbrae Community Council has argued that it has a unique housing situation and the policy does not work there as it does on the mainland, claiming the policy could 'strip £500,000 annually from the island's economy'. READ MORE: 'Housing is a human right': MSPs back tax increase on second homes in Scotland 'Our community is extremely concerned that the impacts of this policy disproportionately impact Cumbrae', Graham Wallace, an advisor to Cumbrae Community Council, said. 'This is a cynical cash grab by North Ayrshire Council that will lead to vacant properties on our island that nobody wants. It will directly reduce vital income into our local economy. 'The type of properties that will be forced onto the market are not the ones permanent residents want. They are small flats in old buildings which are expensive to heat in the winter. 'We're calling for a proper plan, including a detailed study into Cumbrae's second homes, and a programme to make them fit for permanent occupation – rather than driving people and investment away.' The community council pointed to figures which it said showed that 'despite a population of just 1262, Cumbrae accounts for 30% of all second homes in North Ayrshire – compared to 37% on the mainland, which has a vastly larger population of 133,413'. It added: 'This means the per capita impact on Cumbrae will be 74 times greater than on the mainland.' North Ayrshire Council announced at the end of April that it would run an Island Community Impact Assessment (ICIA) after an application for one was put in with regards to the 100% premium on second homes' council tax. It said at the time: 'The application for review is made on the grounds that the applicant considers that North Ayrshire Council, in making its decision, has failed to assess the extent to which North Ayrshire Council considers that the policy, strategy or service (as the case may be) can be developed or delivered in such a manner as to improve or mitigate, for island communities, the outcomes resulting from it.' It added that 'any person may make written representations' to the review by emailing legalpostbox@ or by writing to Head of Democratic Services, North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Friarscroft, Irvine, KA12 8EE by May 20. Cumbrae Community Council urged people to write to oppose the council tax hike for second homes. When the tax hike was announced, councillor Christina Larsen, the cabinet member for finance, said it was with "the aim of helping to increase the availability of housing by encouraging more homes to be used for living in, rather than lying empty for long periods". "We will continue to monitor how the scheme develops and consider any adjustments as necessary," she added. North Ayrshire Council has been approached for comment.
