Thanet District Council has decided to drop plans for a tourism tax because the Government has ‘no intention' of giving the council the powers to implement one.

The tax was proposed by the tourism working group to help the council pay for the facilities used by visitors to the area.

However, at a meeting last Thursday the council decided not to adopt the proposal.

Council leader Rick Everitt said the council has ‘no powers' to implement the tax and the Government has ‘no intention' of giving the council such powers.

Instead, the council decided to introduce additional council taxes on second homes and long-term empty properties from April 2025.