Tourism tax ‘a mistake’ Brighton and Hove councillor admits (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Tourism tax ‘a mistake’ Brighton and Hove councillor admits
9:50am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News
A councillor has admitted that an online survey to gather views on council finances mistakenly included a proposal to impose a tourism tax.
The online survey from Brighton and Hove City Council asks residents to give their priorities for how the local authority should fund services.
It says the views will be taken into account when councillors are making decisions about the budget.
But councillor Geoffrey Bowden said the inclusion of an option to vote for a tourism tax was a mistake.
Pressed by The Argus to explain the reason for the proposal he replied via Twitter: “I didn't see it and have no idea how it crept in under the radar. Mea culpa for not spotting it and killing it at birth.”
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
- Fatboy in Brighton Festival video celebration
- Newspaper claims police set to be called in over Albion dressing room incident
- WITH VIDEO: Lorry stuck under bridge in Hove
- Van drove off after three-car accident
- Police appeal for Eastern European language speakers in recruitment blitz
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(13)
Phani Tikkala
says...
10:46am Wed 9 Jan 13
Time for the opposition to grow some cojones
GIVE UP
says...
10:47am Wed 9 Jan 13
Mylex58
says...
10:52am Wed 9 Jan 13
He added: "As long as it's is less than the price of a pint."
When asked to comment on the proposal, Cllr Bowden's response was somewhat ambivalent. "The impact of tourists is a fine balance," he is quoted as saying. But interestingly, he didn't rule out imposing a tourist tax.
NickBrt
says...
10:56am Wed 9 Jan 13
Sarah Booker Lewis
says...
11:03am Wed 9 Jan 13
Phani Tikkala wrote:No comments were deleted from this story. Your other comment appears on an article highlighting the issue.
Well as my first comment was deleted I'll say it again...
Time for the opposition to grow some cojones
minnie&teddy
says...
11:29am Wed 9 Jan 13
minnie&teddy
says...
11:29am Wed 9 Jan 13
Thumper Hove
says...
1:36pm Wed 9 Jan 13
It is obviously being discussed & considered - how else could such a question be added to a survey unless the greenies were thinking about it??
BornInBrighton1968
says...
2:07pm Wed 9 Jan 13
Now is the time for all Briton men and women of good charachter to work towards kicking-out the incompetent Green's from office
BornInBrighton1968
says...
3:48pm Wed 9 Jan 13
BornInBrighton1968 wrote:Sorry, that should have been 'Brighton men and women, not 'Briton'...
Mistake my ar*e; I'd wager that the Greens would love to impose this tax. The only 'mistake' is that they have now made the public aware of this.
Now is the time for all Briton men and women of good charachter to work towards kicking-out the incompetent Green's from office
AngelicDevil
says...
7:56pm Wed 9 Jan 13
minnie&teddy wrote:Precisely!
well we british have to pay tourism tax when we go abroad its often added in the package so its not seen, also we have to pay toll money on foriegn roads too but visitors don't pay on our roads!!
In Canada you get hit with tourism taxes and local taxes and room taxes and and and the list goes on!
I think it would be a good thing for the UK to bring in. We shouldn't be shying away from discussing such policies.
Mylex58
says...
3:09pm Thu 10 Jan 13
AngelicDevil wrote:Angelic Devil is making a broader point about national taxes on tourists and we already have that to a large extent with our Air Passenger Duty which is now extortionate for flights to the Far East & Australia (and this affects inbound tourists as well as UK holidaymakers.) As far as Brighton is concerned, I don't see any harm in having a proper discussion about imposing a tourist tax. My view though is that it would be a crazy decision for a city whose economy revolves so much around tourism. It's never a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you.
minnie&teddy wrote:Precisely!
well we british have to pay tourism tax when we go abroad its often added in the package so its not seen, also we have to pay toll money on foriegn roads too but visitors don't pay on our roads!!
In Canada you get hit with tourism taxes and local taxes and room taxes and and and the list goes on!
I think it would be a good thing for the UK to bring in. We shouldn't be shying away from discussing such policies.
Martha Gunn says...
10:28am Wed 9 Jan 13
But I suppose that is what you get from this bunch of Green Party bungling clowns who regard running the Council as a bit of a lark.