Issue - meetings

(a)      note the various stages including the outline proposal, consultation, and public report that local authorities are required to engage in prior to a decision on whether to proceed with a visitor levy;

(b)      note the absolute earliest proposed date that Aberdeen City Council could introduce a visitor levy is 01 April 2027;

(c)      note the sector’s key stakeholders (referenced in section 3.21 of this report) that have co-designed the outline proposal;

(d)      approve the Aberdeen visitor levy scheme outline proposal (A Visitor Levy for Aberdeen - Proposal for Consultation) in the Appendix hereto; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to proceed with wider consultation and its subsequent evaluation and report back to the Finance and Resources Committee on the consultation, and seeking a decision on how to proceed, on 6 August 2025.

With reference to article 18 of the minute of meeting of 9 August 2024, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of City Regeneration and Environment which outlined the proposal for introducing a Visitor Levy in Aberdeen.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the various stages including the outline proposal, consultation, and public report that local authorities are required to engage in prior to a decision on whether to proceed with a visitor levy;

(b)      note the absolute earliest proposed date that Aberdeen City Council could introduce a visitor levy is 01 April 2027;

(c)      note the sector’s key stakeholders (referenced in section 3.21 of this report) that have co-designed the outline proposal;

(d)      approve the Aberdeen visitor levy scheme outline proposal (A Visitor Levy for Aberdeen - Proposal for Consultation) in the Appendix hereto; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer - City Development and Regeneration to proceed with wider consultation and its subsequent evaluation and report back to the Finance and Resources Committee on the consultation, and seeking a decision on how to proceed, on 6 August 2025.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Greig, moved:-

that the Committee approve the recommendations contained within the report.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Watson, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)    approve recommendations (a), (b), (c) and (e);

(2)    approve the Aberdeen Visitor Levy Scheme outline proposal (A Visitor Levy for Aberdeen - Proposal for Consultation), subject to amending the range of Levy Rates to be consulted upon to 2% - 10% rather than the proposed 5% - 10% outlined in the Appendix; and

(3)    note the report is void of the Council’s position leading up to the introduction of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024; therefore agree special mention must go to former Council Leader Jenny Laing who championed local authorities’ ability to have the power should they wish to implement a Tourism levy as far back as 2015, which included a report to Council.

Councillor Brooks, seconded by Councillor Farquhar, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       note the various stages required by the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, including an outline proposal, consultation and public report that local authorities are required to engage in prior to a decision on whether to proceed with a visitor levy (aka Tourist Tax);

(2)       note that the Council is not under any legal obligation to impose a Visitor levy;

(3)       note the requirements of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 to reach a decision following consultation with people and bodies affected by the proposal;

(4)       note that (with reference to paragraph 3.21 of the report) the Council has not included the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) as a key stakeholder.

(5)       in reference to statements made by this administration in the City Council Delivery Plan, instruct the Executive Director - City Regeneration and Environment to consult with the public by asking the simple question of “Do you want to see a Tourist Tax  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14