PEMBROKESHIRE County Council is considering whether to introduce a 'council tax premium' on second homes in the area.

Council tax is collected on domestic properties and the money is raised to part-fund local services.

At present, second home owners pay 100 per cent council tax, and do not receive any discounts.

But new legislation will allow each local authority in Wales the discretion to charge second homeowners additional council tax of up to 100 per cent of the standard rate.

The council has started consulting on whether the premium should be introduced and if so, at what level it should be charged.

The consultation process will include writing to around 3,000 owners of second homes in the county.

Increasing council tax for second home owners was one of the favoured options to come from a recent county council online survey.

Of the 562 people who responded to the survey, 73 percent thought it was acceptable to increase council tax for second home owners, 16 percent thought it unacceptable and 9 percent had no views on the matter.

The council’s Economy Overview and Scrutiny committee heard last year that 12.5 percent of Pembrokeshire homes are second or holiday homes.

In Newport the rate was 37 per cent, in Tenby 35 per cent, Saundersfoot 28 per cent and the Havens 32 per cent.

It is thought that introducing an extra charge could help increase the supply of affordable housing, especially in rural areas.

For more information and to give your views online go to: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay Alternatively, phone the council’s contact centre on 01437 764551 to request a hard copy.

The deadline for responses is Monday, February 22.