AM's delight at armed forces council tax cut

Wrexham's AM, Lesley Griffiths, has expressed her delight at news that the Welsh Assembly Government are to put members of the armed forces from Wales, on the same financial footing as those from Scotland and England, when it comes to receiving reductions in the amount of council tax they pay.

The AM had been at the forefront of calls for Welsh armed forces families, who live in an MoD property when working, to receive an automatic 50% reduction in their council tax on properties they own back home in Wales.

The AM was commenting following an announcement by the Welsh Local Government Minister, Dr Brian Gibbons that he will now introduce the 50% discount.

Currently, local authorities have the discretion to apply discounts on all second homes but most do not offer reductions.

The Minister’s plan will mean that authorities will be obliged to provide the discount to armed service personnel whose properties in Wales are not permanently occupied.

Commenting on the announcement, Lesley Griffiths AM said: "I am delighted that the Welsh Assembly Government have made this move and responded so quickly to calls for parity for armed service personnel from Wales.

"A couple of weeks ago, I called on the Government to implement this fifty per cent discount and they are to be congratulated for listening to those calls for action. This discount is a recognition of the debt we owe members of our Armed Forces from Wales - some of whom put their lives on the line on a daily basis in conflict zones across the world."