Here is our latest update, covering: Helping to tackle city's housing pressures; Wales's First Black Headteacher commemorated in striking artwork; and Cardiff landlord ordered to pay just over £4,500.
Helping to tackle city's housing pressures
Owners of long-term empty properties in Cardiff could be facing a further increase in their council tax charges under new plans to help alleviate pressures on housing availability in the city.
From April, a council tax premium of 50% could rise to 100% for homes left unoccupied and unfurnished for more than a year in a bid to encourage owners to bring these properties back into use.
Second homes in the city and furnished dwellings that are not anyone's main home could also be charged a premium of 100% from April 2024 if recommendations being considered by Cabinet at its next meeting on Thursday, March 2 are approved.
The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 gave councils the discretion to apply a premium of up to 100% on top of the standard rate of council tax for long-term empty dwellings and since April 2019, a premium of 50% has applied to these properties in Cardiff. The Act also enabled councils to charge a premium of up to 100% on properties occupied only periodically.
The regulations have recently changed and Local Authorities now have the power to charge premiums of up to 300% of the annual Council Tax charge.
Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, Cllr Chris Weaver, said: "Empty properties not only cause issues such as nuisance, vandalism, criminal activity, and visual deterioration, they are a wasted resource. Given the housing pressures we're currently experiencing, it's essential we do everything we can to increase the availability of homes.
"The Shared Regulatory Services monitor empty homes in the city and incentivise owners to act positively to bring properties back into beneficial use in several ways, but the number of long-term empty properties charged a council tax premium has actually increased since we first introduced the 50% premium, suggesting a 50% additional charge may not be enough as an added incentive to bring properties back into use.
"While we have the power to apply a 300% charge, increasing by the proposed levels would help ensure payments are received as well as allowing us to consider any impact on the housing market and plan a way forward accordingly.
"The option to increase the rate on these homes of up to 300% in the future would be available if we feel that would improve the housing situation in the city."
This year's figures show that there are 1,232 properties in the city that are empty for more than six months at any one time, while records show there are nearly 3,000 homes considered to be dwellings that are not a person's sole or main residence and are furnished.
Wales's First Black Headteacher commemorated in striking artwork
A giant mural of Betty Campbell MBE has been painted on the front of Mount Stuart Primary School in Butetown, to commemorate Wales' first black headteacher and celebrate the contributions she made to education in Wales and the wider world.
Mrs Campbell held the role of headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary School from 1965 until 1999and dedicated her life to the school. She was a pioneer in multi-cultural education, diversity and a founder of Black History Month, putting the teaching of black history and culture on the school's curriculum.
Children at the school have learned about her legacy and wanted something at the school site to remember her. With support from the Governing Body and funding from Cardiff University, artist Bradley Rmer who painted the iconic ‘My City, My Shirt' was commissioned to paint the 10-metre tall mural.
Helen Borley, Headteacher at Mount Stuart Primary School said: "We are immensely proud of our school's connection to Mrs Campbell as Mount Stuart's first headteacher and Wales's first Black Headteacher. She is a continued inspiration to us and our community. Mrs Campbell's legacy is a powerful message of what you can achieve given determination and drive."
Cardiff landlord ordered to pay just over £4,500
A Cardiff landlord has been ordered to pay just over £4,500 for failing to rectify faults relating to two flats he owns and rents out in Claude Road in Plasnewydd.
Christopher Harper, from Spencer David Way, in Trowbridge, did not attend Cardiff Magistrates' Court last Friday (February 24th) but was convicted in his absence.
This latest case came to light, following Mr Harper's refusal to comply with legal notices served on him to fix several faults at these rented properties, following a previous prosecution against him in September last year.
The court heard that the defective fire alarm, inadequate structural fire protection and an insecure front door were still not fixed, and Mr Harper continued to fail to submit gas and electricity certificates for these properties, in line with the licensing requirements.
Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Communities at Cardiff Council said: "The majority of private sector landlords provide a very good service for their residents, but unfortunately there is a minority that do not.
"When we take these matters to court, we do this to benefit the residents living at these properties, so that the faults identified are fixed and the properties are safe to live."