9. The Council Tax (Long-term Empty Dwellings and Dwellings Occupied Periodically) (Wales) Regulations 2022

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:37 pm on 22 March 2022.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 4:37, 22 March 2022

(Translated)

Let us recall that we're talking about discretionary powers here—don't forget that. These are discretionary powers. This isn't an order saying, 'Use these powers', or, 'You must implement these powers.' This is but one element in a far broader range of possible tools that our local authorities could adopt. You mustn't look at this in isolation; this is simply one element of a far broader solution, and some of those are ones that you yourself have referred to, although it took five minutes of negativity to come to some constructive points at the end. But, in isolation, this isn't a solution, and nobody is suggesting that it is, but it is one tool among many that local authorities can adopt. And I emphasise that it's one among many, and there are other steps that we as a party have supported in terms of tackling the affordability of homes, the amount of homes available, changes to planning, changes to statutory registration of holiday lets, and that is alongside the use of the taxation system, in order to start to deal with the problem in those areas where there is a crisis—and we must bear that in mind too. And 'crisis' is the word, if I may say so. And if it is a crisis, then the Government's solution needs to reflect that crisis.

I understand the point that the committee made on human rights. But what of the human rights of those people who are driven out of their communities because they can't afford homes in those communities—these communities where they've been born and raised, where they call home and where they want to live? The right to live at home—'Hawl i Fyw Adra'—is what the campaign is called. Those who have nowhere to live have rights too. So, I would encourage Members to support this motion as one piece of the jigsaw, as one part of the effort to deal with the problem, and to provide an additional option to local authorities. Many may not choose to use it, but it is an option in those areas where the problem is most intensive, and the response demands such a response.