VAB28 Cynghordy Estate

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Cyllid | Finance Committee

Bil Llety Ymwelwyr (Cofrestr ac Ardoll) Etc. (Cymru) | Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill

Ymateb gan Ystad Cynghordy | Evidence from Cynghordy Estate

General principles

1. What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective, which is to:

§ ensure a more even share of costs to fund local services and infrastructure that benefit visitors between resident populations and visitors;

§ provide local authorities with the ability to generate additional revenue that can be invested back into local services and infrastructure to support tourism;

§ support the Welsh Government’s ambitions for sustainable tourism?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

WE ALREADY PAY OVER £10000 OF RATES ANNUALLY AND RECEIVE VERY LITTLE IN RETURN. WE ARE UNCONVINCED THAT ANY NEW  FORM OF TAXATION WILL RESULT IN ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL FACILITIES

The Bill’s implementation

The Regulatory Impact Assessment is set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf). This includes the Welsh Government’s assessments of the financial and other impacts of the Bill and its implementation.

2. Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

WE RUN SELF- CATERING COTTAGES ON OUR FARM. DETERMINING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN EACH COTTAGE EACH NIGHT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. SO ACCURATE DETERMINATION OF THE CORRECT TAX IS IMPOSSIBLE.

3. Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

GROUP LEADERS WILL STATE THEY HAVE FEWER GUESTS THAN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AND WILL BOOK FEWER COTTAGES THAN THEY ACTUALLY NEED LEADING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS

4. What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

WE ARE NOT BARCELONA, TABLE MOUNTAIN OR AMSTERDAM. WE ARE A REMOTE FARM IN NORTHERN CARMARTHENSHIRE. THE WELSH GOVERNMENT HAS NO IDEA OF THE IMPACT OF THIS TAX  ON TOURISM IN AN UNPOPULAR, UNPROMOTED AREA

Subordinate legislation

The powers to make subordinate legislation are set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf).

The Welsh Government has also set out its statement of policy intent for subordinate legislation (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155951/Statement%20of%20Policy%20Intent.pdf).

5. What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Other considerations

6. Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

THE LEGISLATION IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO IMPLEMENT ACCURATELY. ANY TAXATION LEGISLATION WHICH RESULTS IN INACCURATE CALCULATION OF TAX DUE IS POOR QUALITY LEGISLATION

7. On 26 November, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Finance Committee with some indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155952/Letter%20from%20the%20Cabinet%20Secretary%20for%20Finance%20and%20Welsh%20Language%20Indicative%20Stage%202%20amendments%20that%20.pdf) he intends to bring forward at Stage 2 of the legislative process (https://senedd.wales/NAfW%20Documents/Assembly%20Business%20section%20documents/Guide%20to%20the%20Legislative%20Process/Guide_to_the_Legislative_Process-eng.pdf).

Do you have any views on the indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions the Welsh Government intends to bring forward at Stage 2?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

REGISTRATION SHOULD BE COMPLETED IF AT ALL BEFORE TAXATION IS INTRODUCED - TO DO OTHERWISE IS UNWORKABLE

8. Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill, the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment, or any related matters?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

ATTENTION HAS NOT BEEN PAID TO THE CONCERNS OF GENUINE HOLIDAY LET BUSINESSES, SUCH AS OURS, WHICH IS A FARM DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT