A COUCNIL official has assured people living in Ipswich that the council tax discount given to second homeowners will be reduced from next April.Cllr David Ellesmere, deputy leader of Ipswich Borough Council, spoke out after the East Anglian Daily Times revealed few district and borough councils in the county had formally considered using their powers to reduce the discount from 50% to 10%.

A COUCNIL official has assured people living in Ipswich that the council tax discount given to second homeowners will be reduced from next April.

Cllr David Ellesmere, deputy leader of Ipswich Borough Council, spoke out after the East Anglian Daily Times revealed few district and borough councils in the county had formally considered using their powers to reduce the discount from 50% to 10%.

He said: "We obviously know this is coming up and we are being circumspect at the moment.

"I would find it inconceivable if we did not get rid of the discount at Ipswich Borough Council."

If the council tax discount is reduced for the 160 holiday homes in the borough it could raise an estimated £68,000.

Although a proportion of the money would have to be given to Suffolk County Council and the Police Authority, the district and borough councils could use the rest for local services.

Mr Ellesmere said the cash could be used to reduce council tax in the area as well as ensuring that people do not "subsidise" second homes, which reduce the borough's housing stock.

He added: "What happens at the moment is that second homeowners are getting a reduction in council tax so they have no incentive to get tenants into the properties."

He said that people currently being housed in 'bed and breakfasts' in Ipswich could use the empty homes.

But he conceded that although people would benefit from the extra cash it would not make a "massive difference".

The council is aiming to make a decision on whether to reduce the discount in time for the budget next year and before the legislation, which was passed last month, comes into effect in April.