Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
Call for new fiscal devolution framework for councils
14/07/2026 A major APPG report has called for a new fiscal devolution framework that balances local shares of national taxes with strong equalisation safeguards. |
Council leaders demand review of ‘MegaShed’ planning law
02/07/2026 The leaders of all three political groups on South Gloucestershire Council have called for urgent reform of historical planning consents. |
Councils given green light to refund CIL errors
30/06/2026 Councils can now compensate homeowners who missed out on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) exemptions due to clerical mistakes, housing minister confirms. |
Bill 'first step' in fiscal devolution era
13/05/2026 The Overnight Visitor Levy Bill is the ‘first step in a new era of fiscal devolution in England', the Government has said. |
Hospitality leaders call for visitor levy to be dropped
12/02/2026 Hospitality leaders are calling on the Government to abandon proposals for a new overnight visitor levy in England. |
London Councils urges Government to keep visitor levy revenue local
05/02/2026 London Councils is calling on the Government to ensure boroughs retain at least 50% of revenue raised in their area from any future overnight visitor levy. |
London boroughs could see major financial boost from tourist levy
15/01/2026 The overnight visitor levy could generate more than £350m for the capital, research has found. |
Budget: Mayors to get tourist tax power boost
26/11/2025 England’s regional mayors will soon have the power to introduce a levy on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and holiday lets. |
Leeds businesses could pay thousands in parking levy fees
06/10/2025 A workplace parking levy is being discussed by Leeds City Council to produce funds for a planned tram network. |
Call for local tourist tax continues
22/07/2025 Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is said to have backed the proposal for councils to introduce visitor levies. |
Council leaders call for tourist levy powers for historic cities
17/07/2025 Council leaders representing the historic cities of Bath and Cambridge have jointly called for the power to introduce a ‘modest’ visitor levy. |
Waverley BC demands ‘fairer’ local infrastructure rules
24/06/2025 Waverley Borough Council has called for ‘clearer’ and ‘fairer’ legislation around the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). |
Liverpool tourism tax gets the green light
28/04/2025 Hoteliers in Liverpool have backed plans to introduce a £2 overnight visitor charge. |
Plans for UK’s first coastal ‘tourist tax’ halted
21/01/2025 Plans to introduce a levy on hotel stays in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been halted after the Government declared the result of a ballot void. |
Edinburgh set to declare Scotland's first ‘tourist tax’
09/01/2025 The City of Edinburgh Council is set to vote through a visitor levy this month, more than six years after it began working on the scheme. |
Wales introduces tourism tax Bill
27/11/2024 A Bill that would allow councils to introduce a levy on overnight stays has been introduced in Wales this week. |
Council chiefs call for sugar tax on milkshakes
05/11/2024 Local authority leaders have called for the soft drinks industry levy to be devolved to councils to tackle obesity and to be expanded to milk-based drinks. |
Edinburgh backs ‘tourist tax’ plan
23/08/2024 Councillors have agreed key details for a visitor levy in Edinburgh that could bring in up to £50m a year. |
