A Plaid Cymru councillor has called for council tax on second homes to be doubled.

Cllr John Roberts, who represents the Aber Valley ward, said Caerphilly County Borough Council should follow the lead of councils in Swansea, Gwynedd and Pembrokeshire.

Cllr Roberts said money raised from doubling the council tax could be used for small projects in local communities.

There are 234 second homes in the county borough – 36 of which are in Caerphilly, while 23 are in the St Cattwg ward. There are six second homes in Cllr Roberts’ Aber Valley ward.

This information was revealed after Cllr Roberts submitted a Freedom of Information request to the council.

Cllr Roberts said doubling the council tax on second homes could generate more than £350,000 a year, based on Band D properties.

He also suggested the money could also be used to boost the recent Community Empowerment Fund announced by the council.

If a second home was acquired because a relative had died, Cllr Roberts suggested a grace period of six or 12 months could be applied before charging the additional council tax.

Cllr Roberts intends to raise the findings at the next Plaid Cymru group meeting – with the aim of raising the issue through a notice of motion at a future council meeting.

He said: “I would hope councillors from other parties would support this.”

Number of second homes by ward:

• Aber Valley – 6
• Abercarn – 8
• Argoed – 4
• Bargoed – 15
• Bedwas. Trethomas and Machen – 11
• Blackwood – 12
• Caerphilly (Morgan Jones and St Martin’s wards) – 19
• Cefn Fforest – 2
• Crosskeys – 8
• Crumlin – 7
• Darran Valley – 3
• Draethen, Waterloo and Rudry (Part of the St James ward) – 3
• Llanbradach and Pwllypant – 6
• Maesycwmmer – 4
• Nelson – 10
• New Tredegar – 12
• Newbridge – 11
• Pengam – 2
• Penmaen – 6
• Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn – 17
• Pontllanfraith – 7
• Rhymney – 15
• Risca West – 14
• St Cattwg – 23
• Van (Part of the St James ward) – 3 
• Ynysddu – 6