Council Tax decision will go back to committee

The decision on if the level of council tax on second homes will be raised in Orkney has been delayed.

Just last month members of the Orkney Islands Council policy and resources committee supported the move.

This was despite a plea by North Isles councillor Stephen Clackson, who wanted to retain the current discounted system for isles residents who have a second home in Kirkwall, to enable them to hold down a job on Mainland Orkney.

However, at the meeting of the Full Council, held today, Councillor Clackson again reiterated his call for the same reasons, saying that the OIC should “island proof its own policies for the outer isles,” and again highlighted that owning or renting a second home on the Orkney Mainland helped islanders sustain their own communities.

In reply, council convener Harvey Johnston – who chaired the discussions at the original meeting following several councillors leaving the chamber after declaring an interest in the item – agreed that the item should be brought back to committee level in the New Year where it will again be debated.