Title

FINANCE

Mayors in tourism tax plea

English mayors have urged the Government to allow councils to introduce visitor levies to boost regional economies, tourism and infrastructure.

Steve Rotheram (C) Liverpool City Region

Steve Rotheram (C) Liverpool City Region

English mayors have urged the Government to allow councils to introduce visitor levies to boost regional economies, tourism and infrastructure.

In a letter signed by a coalition of English mayors, the group argued that tourism taxes would help ‘empower local places' by contributing to the growth of transport and cultural infrastructure.

The group argued English regions ‘risk being left behind' as Wales and Edinburgh introduce visitor levies of their own.

Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram, who spearheaded the letter, said: ‘A small charge on overnight stays – the kind most of us wouldn't think twice about when travelling abroad – would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special.'

 

FINANCE

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

FINANCE

Beyond winning and losing: leadership lessons for LGR

By Max Wide | 01 October 2025

Max Wide explores the leadership choices posed by reorganisation and reflects on how collaboration, cultural integration and private sector insights can help...

FINANCE

Dear secretary of state – part 2

By Steve Leach | 01 October 2025

As the new secretary of state Steve Reed settles into his new role, Steve Leach and Colin Copus tell him that now is not a good time for a ‘disruptive, expen...

FINANCE

Counties' concern over devolution proposals

By Martin Ford | 25 September 2025

County councils have hit out at proposals to give mayors control over services like health and criminal justice – warning against a return to two-tier govern...

Popular articles by Izzy Lepone