Areas to be able to introduce an overnight visitors levy: CCN responds

Today the government has announced it will introduce the ability for mayors to introduce an overnight visitor levy, should their areas wish to to do so.

Read the full details here, with a consultation now open until the middle of February.

Below, the County Councils Network responds to the announcement.

Cllr Natalie Oliver, Economic Growth Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“Confirmation that areas will be able to adopt a voluntary mayoral overnight stay levy, for those that wish to introduce it, is a step in giving places greater fiscal devolution to potentially enhance infrastructure and support local economic growth.

“Those places will now need to weigh up the impact on their local areas in deciding whether to introduce the levy, and the County Councils Network will be engaging in the consultation. But it is important to recognise that frontline council services will not benefit if the proceeds are retained solely by mayoral strategic authorities. Therefore, it should be made available to councils, and in all areas which wish to utilise it.”

Earlier this year, the CCN modelled the impact of an overnight tourist levy, amongst other fiscal devolution measures.