VAB82 Fiona Buchan

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 Fiona Buchan | Evidence from Fiona Buchan

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 provide self caterer accommodation as a second home owner as we have done since 2005 and we have already been subjected to huge increase in council tax demands in Pembrokeshire  back dated to 2023 in our case.  Yet another levy on visitors will be a charge that we have to pass on to them.  Our visitor numbers have reduced significantly in recent years as many simply cannot afford to come.  Pembrokeshire holiday businesses and local traders are already feeling the effects. Eg. Gwaun Valley Butcher in Letterstone who buy from local farmers.  This will impact the resident population and young families and doubtless more will leave the area in search of work.

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).

Difficulty of collecting the Levy.  From my conversations with local businesses,  I do not believe that anyone from the Welsh Government has bothered to ask their views.

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).

Yes - visitors numbers will drop as is already the case, businesses will struggle to stay afloat, visitors who do come for holidays will spend less money locally, eat at home,  be unable to partake in holiday activities and certainly not support Pembrokeshire’s wonderful local arts and crafts, bookshops, galleries and craftsmen.  Accommodation providers will close and many of these properties are only suitable for holiday living.

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).

I do not believe that they have consulted widely with local business and independent trades.  They only have to speak to West Wales Holiday Cottages or anyone employed in the holiday industry and services it needs - cleaners, gardeners, window cleaners etc to find out the true impact.

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).

I think this legislation will have a negative impact on independent small self catering cottages

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).

It will be an extra administrative and financial burden on already almost unviable small letting businesses.

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).

I have read some of this very long winded report.  I understand the negative impact of tourism on the environment, footpaths, beauty spots, playgrounds, local infrastructure and services etc but at the same time the positive impact it has on helping businesses to thrive and succeed and expand has to be considered when considering another tax on already stretched finances.  In my opinion this will act as a deterrent to the vital income from tourism that the local residents are so dependent on.