Taking away the 50 per cent reduction currently enjoyed by second homeowners and landlords of properties that are empty for more than six months has been suggested.

Members of the community services and regeneration and development scrutiny panels agreed to ask council officers to draw up reform proposals for consultation with the council's party groups.

As reported by the Courier, council figures show that cutting the discount on the 2,547 empty homes in Calderdale from 50 per cent to just 10 per cent could net the council £1 million. The extra income from the area's 159 second homes could be up to £80,000 a year.

Discussing how the council is to tackle its affordable homes shortage, Peter Coles (Lib Dem, Luddenden Foot) even asked if the council was able to double council tax for some homeowners.

"I'm not suggesting we do it," he said. "I'm saying so we have it as a possibility?"

Geoffrey Wainwright (Con, Skircoat) said some of the borough's homes were "unlettable and unsaleable" and suggested the council look at selective demolition.

"People now expect a better standard of living and better living conditions and rightly so," he said.

"These houses that are left, they're unlettable, and the landlord can't afford to put them right, then they become a blight to the area."

Colin Raistrick (Ind, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said Calderdale is building over its Government-required quota for new houses and should review its planning policy to force developers to provide more affordable housing