SECOND HOMES IN YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK

That this House acknowledges the effect the rapid increase in second home ownership can have on rural communities, including the decline and closure of key local services and amenities; recognises that the high level of second home ownership inflates the prices of housing locally and further restricts the opportunity for young people to be able to get a foot on the housing ladder; welcomes the decision by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to become the first local authority in the country to formally offer to trial a scheme which would significantly increase council tax on second homes in the park; believes this would provide councils in areas with high second-home ownership with a fair and effective way of raising money to fund key local services and deliver affordable homes for lower income families; and calls on the Government to give local councils the power to increase significantly council tax on second homes.