14th February 2025
Re-invest tax windfall into parishes, County urged
ANY second home council tax premiums received by Cornwall County Council should also be re-invested in parishes like Morval that do not necessarily have a high number of holiday homes or are wealthy areas.
That’s the view of Redruth Town Council’s Cllr Katie Grasso who has persuaded her colleagues to lobby all councils in Cornwall, pressing for a fairer distribution of second home council tax premiums.
Mrs Grasso, who was born in Falmouth but later moved to the Redruth South ward with her family where they are renovating a Victorian farmhouse, believes that a hard work ethic should always pay off but not necessarily at the expense of the less fortunate.
The interior designer businesswoman says that after studying the recent tax base figures for the new second home council tax premiums, Cornwall Council really ought to consider a much fairer way of proportioning the proceeds.
That way all areas would have equal benefit reflected in their precepts, and not only those in busy tourist locations or wealthier areas which also have a much higher rate of second home ownership.
Poorer areas should receive similar amounts to those wealthier locations, where the need is often greater, and that would benefit the county as a whole, she says.
Looking at second home council tax in general, Redruth Town Council also agreed with her view that Cornwall Council should ring-fenced the money solely for housing purposes.
Her council has now written to all parish and town councils in Cornwall asking for their views on the topic.