A DECISION will be made next week on whether Torfaen council will join forces with Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) to help bring empty properties back into use.

Torfaen is one of eight councils covered by the Valleys Taskforce, which was established by the Welsh Government in mid-2016.

A report on the proposed agreement says that RCT would deliver the scheme in the first year and undertake the day to day running, after receiving £4.5 million in funding from the Welsh Government.

Grant funding of £10m has been provided by the Welsh Government for the next two financial years years to bring empty properties back into use.

Local authorities would be required to make a 35 per cent contribution to the fund in the second year.

However, in the report, Torfaen council proposes to cap its contribution at £35,000.

The report anticipates that the council would contribute £7,000 per property and that four or five would be brought back into use each year.

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The report says: “Empty properties provide an opportunity to deliver more affordable accommodation options for residents of Torfaen and as such bringing these into use will provide much needed accommodation and also increased revenue into the Council.

“Furthermore, empty properties can cause a range of issues within communities ranging from health and safety issues, distress to immediate neighbours and an unsightly appearance that detracts from communities, leading in some cases to increased anti-social behaviour and crime in communities.”

A decision will be made by the council's cabinet on May 19.