The government is consulting over allowing local councils to have greater control over collecting Council Tax.

Amazingly Council Tax has to be collected in the first 10 moths of the year. This means that Direct Debits happen in the first 10 months of the year, then take a two months holiday in February and March and then start up again in April. How daft is that.

The other proposals are to allow councils much more discretion over second home Council Tax discounts, and empty home discounts – perverse financial incentives to make the housing crisis worse- in fact councils may even be given the opportunity to charge a premium for empty homes.

Good solid changes which are long overdue. These changes have been Lib Dem policy for a very long time so great to see more Lib Dem policies implemented.

How much of a premium do you think empty homes should pay?