West Dunbartonshire Council has voted to proceed with a 5% visitor levy, despite more than 60% of consultation respondents expressing opposition to the proposal. The decision came after a brief debate at committee, where councillors approved the final scheme, agreed to establish a Visitor Levy Forum, and authorised officers to make future amendments in line with legislation. An attempt by some members to delay the decision – citing the limited time available to scrutinise the papers—was rejected.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said:
“We warned that this exercise was a consultation ‘in name only’ and this decision proves just that. Nodding through this new tax despite more than 60% opposition further underlines how flawed this entire process has been, with stakeholder concerns casually brushed aside. From start to finish, it’s been an absolute shambles – an exercise in how not to consult.
Other councils in Scotland have taken the pragmatic and measured decision to postpone their work in order to consider changes at a national level which would allow for a simpler flat-fee option. Instead, West Dunbartonshire have pressed ahead at speed with their predetermined outcome.
Overall, the lack of proper governance, scrutiny and transparency throughout has badly undermined public and business confidence, and it leaves serious questions about how decisions are being made in West Dunbartonshire.”