A full assembly of Stirling Council will focus on the mooted plans – which is able to see a three-per-cent cost added to lodging stays in the course of the peak season between April and October.
Councillors will vote on much-debated plans to introduce a so-called ‘vacationer tax’ in Stirling subsequent week after the proposals had been lastly revealed.
The introduction of customer levies has been an space of debate throughout Scotland, with a number one tourism commerce physique urging Stirling Council to carry off on the plans to keep away from inflicting confusion for native venues.
Beneath new powers granted by the Customer Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, the draft scheme proposes a 5 per cent levy on in a single day stays throughout all types of paid customer lodging inside the Stirling Council space.
A year-long interval of session over the proposals was launched final December, with an early engagement course of within the early months of this yr adopted by a stint of statutory session.
In paperwork submitted for councillors forward of a full council assembly on December 11, the result of that session has now been revealed.
The agenda has agreed sure adjustments to the preliminary proposals – together with a discount within the levy charge from 5 to 3 per cent and the appliance of the added cost solely from the beginning of April to the top of October in an effort to keep away from piling on the ache throughout off-season.
Council officers say the adjustments reflecting issues raised by companies in the course of the session.
The extent of the session can be outlined, with a web based survey over the levy receiving 863 responses along with a collection of drop-in occasions which attracted round 75 companies, people and organisations from areas together with Stirling, Balfron, Killin and Callander.
On the change from 5 to 3 per cent, the report stated the change “balances the necessity for for income era with the requirement to mitigate short-term unfavorable impacts on customer demand”.
Officers have estimated the levy plans might generate greater than £2 million of additional funding for the council, with the numerous bulk of that set to be devoted to sustaining companies and amenities utilized by the enterprise and tourism sector in Stirling.
The merchandise is a part of the complete council assembly – the primary for the reason that new SNP administration seized energy on the native authority final month – and councillors shall be requested to advocate the choice for the seasonal, three per cent charge.
Different choices embrace sustaining the levy on the authentic 5 per cent or not introducing a customer levy within the area.
One other consideration for the plans shall be current proposals set out by the Scottish Authorities which can serve to tweak the scheme by providing councils the flexibility to cost a set quantity moderately than as a share of lodging prices.
The adjustments would additionally see native authorities given the choice of setting totally different mounted quantities akin to for various geographical areas, instances of yr or forms of lodging.
The invoice at Holyrood is about to be launched and debated early subsequent yr.
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee stated: “The customer levy empowers councils by giving them a brand new option to elevate cash for funding in vacationer companies and amenities.
“Our purpose has been to offer councils the pliability to design a levy that works for his or her areas, whereas guaranteeing companies can simply perceive what it means for them.
“The Act handed final yr was an instance of partnership working between the Scottish Authorities, native authorities and tourism companies. By way of common discussions with our companions, it turned clear that additional flexibility could be welcomed.
“That’s the reason now we have determined to legislate subsequent yr, to make sure native customer levies work successfully for everybody.”
