Tomorrow will be a long day, not only because we have the Budget debate for setting the Council Tax for 2013/14. Also on the agenda are two motions, one of the use of voice recognition software, or in simple terms a lie detector. The other motion is to lobby the Government to introduce legislation that would require planning consent if you wanted to change a dwelling into either a second home, or a holiday let. It will not be easy to get the Government to introduce this legislation, and will be likely to be a long process. Though, that should not be the reason not to start the process.
To remind yourself of the motion, click HERE
Previously, I have blogged on the number of second homes at the Parish, Cornwall Council Electoral Divisions and Community Networks. However, missing out of that data was the number of holiday lets. Now thanks to the Community Intelligence team for their help, I have those numbers.
I will give you the top 10* on both second homes and holiday lets for both Parish and CC Electoral Divisions to add support to the motion.
Parish:
| Parish | Holiday lets business rates database 29/11/2012 | Second homes Council tax database 27/11/2012 | Total Holiday Lets and Second homes November 2012 | Total household spaces, 2011 Census | % household spaces holiday lets and second homes |
| 1) St. Minver Lowlands | 261 | 507 | 768 | 1292 | 59% |
| 2) St. Minver Highlands | 151 | 253 | 404 | 775 | 52% |
| 3) St. Merryn | 288 | 438 | 726 | 1406 | 52% |
| 4) St. Endellion | 125 | 275 | 400 | 863 | 46% |
| 5) Poundstock | 131 | 107 | 238 | 519 | 46% |
| 6) St. Tudy | 123 | 25 | 148 | 333 | 44% |
| 7)Maker-with-Rame | 38 | 270 | 308 | 736 | 42% |
| 8) St. Just-in-Roseland | 75 | 293 | 368 | 905 | 41% |
| 9) St. John | 5 | 140 | 145 | 368 | 39% |
| 10) Gerrans | 94 | 178 | 272 | 704 | 39% |
Porthleven is listed as number 76 out of 211 listed Parishes with:
| Porthleven | 81 | 151 | 232 | 1753 | 13% |
Now here is the top 10 for CC Electoral Division:
| Electoral Division | Holiday lets business rates database 29/11/2012 | Second homes Council tax database 27/11/2012 | Total Holiday Lets and Second homes November 2012 | Total household spaces, 2011 Census | % household spaces holiday lets and second homes |
| 1) St Endellion | 559 | 1,054 | 1,613 | 2,930 | 55% |
| 2) Padstow | 450 | 978 | 1,428 | 3,366 | 42% |
| 3) Roseland | 246 | 603 | 849 | 2,458 | 35% |
| 4) St Ives North | 218 | 593 | 811 | 2,691 | 30% |
| 5) St Issey | 263 | 279 | 542 | 2,215 | 24% |
| 6) Looe West and Lansallos | 191 | 328 | 519 | 2,170 | 24% |
| 7) Poundstock | 234 | 228 | 462 | 1,966 | 23% |
| 8) Flexbury and Poughill | 321 | 167 | 488 | 2,252 | 22% |
| 9) St Ives South | 100 | 377 | 477 | 2,243 | 21% |
| 10) Mevagissey | 211 | 319 | 530 | 2,526 | 21% |
Now you can see there needs to be something done before it is too late. And I believe control via the planning system is one way you can protect communities. Furthermore, the number of second home and holiday lets fluctuate because a number of these types of dwelling switch roles on a regular basis. This adds to the problem in collating the actual numbers.
I will publish the whole list of second homes and holiday lets at a later date
* As of 29/11/12 second homes and 27/11/12 for holiday lets
