Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has unearthed that Gwynedd County Council has lost £13,096,541.20 between 2015/16 and 2023/24 from property owners switching from council tax to business rates.
Responding to a Freedom of Information Request, Gwynedd advised that the the yield losses in all Council Tax (including premium) in each financial year, from property owners switching from council tax to business rates are:
2015/16 - £ 553,658.05
2016/17 - £ 613,620.26
2017/18 - £1,231,561.98
2018/19 - £1,478,605.48
2019/20 - £1,318,711.49
2020/21 - £2,346,544.79
2021/22 - £2,010,829.05
2022/23 - £2,183,855.74
2023/24 - £1,359,154.41
It is believed that the figures would be higher if it was assumed that the properties switching from homes/second homes to business rates in one financial year, remained qualified for business rates in the following financial years.
Commenting on the loss of Council Tax, Janet said:
“I have previously highlighted that authorities such as Conwy, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire are seeing high numbers of properties switching to qualify for business rates, rather than pay normal council tax, let alone the premium.
“Now we have evidence that Gwynedd has the same problem too, losing over £13million!
“At a time when local authorities across Wales are struggling financially, it is a major failure of Welsh Government that they have developed severe taxation policies that results in serious financial losses.
“I do not doubt that there would now be more properties paying council tax, and money coming in to local authorities, should the second home premiums not have been introduced”.
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi datgelu bod Cyngor Gwynedd wedi colli £13,096,541.20 rhwng 2015/16 a 2023/24 wrth i berchnogion eiddo newid o'r dreth gyngor i ardrethi busnes.
Wrth ymateb i Gais Rhyddid Gwybodaeth, dywedodd Gwynedd fod y colledion ar gyfer Treth Gyngor (gan gynnwys premiwm) ym mhob blwyddyn ariannol, yn sgil perchnogion eiddo yn newid o'r dreth gyngor i ardrethi busnes, fel a ganlyn:
2015/16 - £ 553,658.05
2016/17 - £ 613,620.26
2017/18 - £1,231,561.98
2018/19 - £1,478,605.48
2019/20 - £1,318,711.49
2020/21 - £2,346,544.79
2021/22 - £2,010,829.05
2022/23 - £2,183,855.74
2023/24 - £1,359,154.41
Credir y byddai'r ffigurau'n uwch pe tybiwyd bod yr eiddo sy'n newid o fod yn gartrefi/ail gartrefi i ardrethi busnes mewn un flwyddyn ariannol yn parhau i fod yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes yn y blynyddoedd ariannol canlynol.
Wrth sôn am golli’r Dreth Gyngor, dywedodd Janet:
"Rwyf wedi tynnu sylw o'r blaen at awdurdodau fel Conwy, Ceredigion a Sir Benfro yn gweld niferoedd uchel o eiddo yn newid i fod yn gymwys ar gyfer ardrethi busnes, yn hytrach na thalu’r dreth gyngor arferol, heb sôn am y premiwm.
"Nawr mae gennym dystiolaeth bod gan Wynedd yr un broblem hefyd, gan golli dros £13 miliwn!
"Ar adeg pan mae awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru yn cael trafferthion ariannol, mae'n fethiant mawr gan Lywodraeth Cymru eu bod wedi datblygu polisïau treth difrifol sy'n arwain at golledion ariannol difrifol.
"Dwi ddim yn amau y byddai mwy o eiddo yn talu’r dreth gyngor, a mwy o arian yn dod mewn i awdurdodau lleol, pe na bai'r premiymau ail gartrefi wedi eu cyflwyno".
DIWEDD
