William Eichler 28 May 2024

Scottish councils criticise ‘excessive’ tourism tax delay

Scottish councils criticise ‘excessive’ tourism tax delay   image
Image: Fotokon / Shutterstock.com.

Local authority leaders across Scotland have called on Holyrood to accelerate plans to empower them to charge visitors for overnight stays.

MSPs are expected today to back legislation that will enable councils to introduce a levy on tourists staying in hotels and other forms of accommodation.

However, as it stands there is an 18-month lead-in time required to take place after a consultation has taken place and the formal decision has been made for a council to introduce the levy.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) criticised the long lead-in time as ‘disproportionate and excessive’.

‘After years of successive cuts to areas such as infrastructure, culture, and leisure, the services and facilities crucial to both our communities and local visitor economies require the additional revenue which would be re-invested from a Visitor Levy scheme now,’ read a statement from COSLA.

‘We call on MSPs to back the Stage 3 amendment supporting a reduction in the lead-in time, to ensure that our communities and visitor economies see crucial investment as soon as possible.’

Black hole spending review image

Black hole spending review

Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, reflects on what the Spending Review means for local government.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Flood Risk Engineering and Strategy Officer

Coventry City Council
£49,764 - £55,623
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recuriter: Coventry City Council

Senior Integrated Transport Officer

Derbyshire County Council
£34,324 - £37,529
Are you an experienced transport planning professional ready to influence strategic policy and drive real change Matlock, Derbyshire
Recuriter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Worker

Durham County Council
£29,093 - £32,654 p.a. i.e. Grade 7
We are looking to appoint a Support Worker to work within the Direct Payments Team to provide advice and support to people accessing Direct Payments.  Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Specialist Support Interpreter

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £27,269 - £30,060
The DurhamLearn Foundation Learning programme area delivers Digital Skills, English & Maths Functional Skills and ESOL.   An opportunity has arisen fo Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £34,314 - £37,938 (Pre-Progression)/ Grade 11 £39,513 - £43,693 (Post-Progression)
Are you an experienced social worker keen to ensure that children and young people, who, unable to live with their parents are brought up by members o Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner