Council Gearing Up For Highland Visitor Levy Consultation
5th September 2024
The Highland Council is reaching an important milestone in the preparation of introducing a visitor levy in Highland.
Following an extensive consultation in 2019 - in which 6,600 residents, businesses and visitors responded. The Council agreed to the principle of implementing a visitor levy in Highland as means of securing investment for the sector and helping Highland become more resilient and sustainable.
This is reflected in the visitor levy being identified as a priority action within the Council's Programme ‘Our Future Highland 2022-2027’.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Tourism is one of our most important sectors and the levy would form an essential part of how we sustain, maintain and develop the services and infrastructure which the sector relies on.
“The upcoming consultation will give everyone the opportunity to put forward their views on how a levy scheme should operate and what the proceeds should be spent on.
“We recognise that this consultation will only be one stage in the process, and we will be building up on ongoing opportunities for representatives from across the region to feed in and shape how the levy can be delivered."
The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 received Royal Assent and was enacted on 5 July following a 3 stage process which formally commenced in May 2023. The Act sets out the framework in which visitor levy schemes in Scotland must be prepared and operated. Statutory guidance is also being prepared, led by VisitScotland which will provide further parameters and is expected to be published during September 2024.
As set out in the legislation, local authorities must publish an outline visitor levy scheme for consultation and consider feedback prior to deciding on whether or not to introduce a levy. Should the Council agree to introduce a levy, an 18-month implementation period will then begin before the levy scheme becomes operational. It is anticipated that the Act will come into force this autumn. The Highland Council is expecting to launch its 3-month consultation during the last quarter of 2024. This will be widely promoted, and we will be encouraging anyone who has an interest to submit their comments via an online portal.
A page dedicated to the Visitor Levy has been published on the Council’s website which includes key information about the legislation, the process so far and next steps. A link to the consultation will be available on this page once made public.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Specialist expertise will be utilised to help boost development and green energy opportunities in Scotland. The Planning Hub will support planning authorities to improve their resourcing, skills and capacity to deliver planning determinations promptly.
A process for responding to community requests for the creation of Firework Control Zones in The Highland Council area has been approved by Members of the Communities and Place Committee. The option of using a Firework Control Zone is one of the tools available to respond to serious firework misuse and the Council will work with communities and key partners to consider appropriate and proportional response to local firework issues.
The Highland Strategic Local Action Group who met during August, considered, and agreed funding for 49 projects submitted to the Community Led Local Development fund (CLLD), which makes up part of The Highland Council Community Regeneration Funding (CRF) programme. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "It is the third year in a row that we have been successful in securing a large allocation of CLLD funding from the Scottish Government.
Fiona Duncan, Fiona Grant, Fiona Malcolm, Alison Clark and Finlay MacDonald have been appointed as Chief Officers with The Highland Council. Convener of the Council Cllr Bill Lobban said: "Congratulations to all three Fiona's, Alison and Finlay on their appointments to Chief Officers.
The Highland Council welcomes the positive Care Inspectorate Inspection report following a recent unannounced inspection visit to Pennyland ELC, Thurso. Following the inspection, Pennyland ELC received the following: How good is our care, play and learning? - 5 Very Good How good is our setting? - 5 Very Good How good is our leadership? - 5 Very Good How good is our staff team - 5 Very Good.
The Highland Council's Climate Change Committee has approved this week a report outlining the Council's commitment to aligning its operations with the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill. The report highlights the positive impact of the circular economy on reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency, and contributing to the Council’s ambitious net zero emissions targets.
Communication improvements within the housing service has helped to reduce the time taken to complete repairs over the past two years. A performance report to the Council's Housing and Property Committee presented quarterly data which charted its continued improvement from 2022/23.
On Thursday 22 August 2024, The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee agreed how, when and where it will enable delivery of development across Highland with the approval and adoption of the Local Development Plan Delivery Programme for IMFLDP2. As in the report recommendations, the committee agree to consult more widely on a draft Highland Delivery Programme.
Intervention by the Scottish Government has led to the suspension of planned industrial action by council workers, including refuse collectors, this week. The action has been suspended by all three trade unions after the Scottish Government provided £77.5 million to fund an improved pay offer.
The Highland Council is reminding individuals and community groups that there is still time to take part in the consultation seeking views on the Draft Community Wealth Building Strategy. This new strategy aims to ensure every area and community across the Highlands can participate in, and benefit from economic activity.
