5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance: Vacant Land Tax

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 15 May 2018.

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Photo of Vikki Howells Vikki Howells Labour 5:41, 15 May 2018

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you, Cabinet Secretary. As you will know, this is an issue of real interest to me and was the subject of my short debate earlier in the year. So, I have two questions for you today.

Firstly, I note your comments about a vacant land tax incentivising positive behaviours, but do you agree with me that a central aim of it will also be to tackle the harmful behaviours associated with land banking? For example, I can think of numerous examples from my constituency where a piece of disused land, sometimes very sizeable, lies at the heart of a community and is kept in an appalling condition, impacting on community well-being. I quoted a constituent in my short debate who spoke of 11 years of hell living next to such a plot. In what way do you think the vacant land tax could be used as a lever to tackle these sorts of problems?

Secondly, Cabinet Secretary, I know you've also previously spoken about the importance of defining vacant land, saying this is key to both the operation of the tax and achieving the policy effect. In particular, I think it's important that derelict buildings, not just empty plots of land, which are often the community eyesores I alluded to earlier, are included in such a definition. Would you be able to provide us with an update on your thinking around this, please?