Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has urged Welsh Government to look again at council tax exemptions for businesses impacted by the 182 day regulations.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Chair of the Welsh Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Tourism asked Rebecca Evans, Finance and Local Government Minister to assess the problems the new rule was causing.
Last year the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru coalition passed a bill which meant self-catering accommodation needed to be available to let from 70 days to at least 182 days.
Mr Rowlands, a harsh critic of the new regulations said:
I'm sure you would be the first to acknowledge the importance of these self-catering businesses in supporting our communities, both in the jobs that they create and sustain and the difference that they make to their communities. I am sure you would also acknowledge and accept some of their anxiety and worry due to these 182-day regulations that they are facing at the moment, and many hoped that there would be some sensible exemptions to the premiums.
Clearly, this hasn't been delivered, and I think this needs to be reiterated here today. In light of this, Minister, will you today commit to working closely with this really important sector to ensure that we don't see these legitimate, hard-working businesses close, which would consequently result in loss of jobs and, therefore, an impact on our communities here in Wales?
The Minister said they were trying to strike a balance between supporting the tourism industry and allowing that to thrive but at the same time recognising that there is an important issue in terms of underused properties.
Mr Rowlands added:
I still remain very concerned about the limited council tax exemptions and fear many self-catering businesses will struggle to meet the 182 days. As a Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales I am particularly worried for my region and urge Welsh Government to take any steps necessary to makes sure the system works for everyone.
Sam Rowlands AS yn poeni am ddyfodol busnesau hunanarlwyo yn y Gogledd
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru, wedi annog Llywodraeth Cymru i edrych eto ar esemptiadau’r dreth gyngor i fusnesau sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan y rheoliadau 182 diwrnod.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, fe wnaeth Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid a Chadeirydd Grŵp Trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar dwristiaeth ofyn i Rebecca Evans, y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol, asesu'r problemau yr oedd y rheol newydd yn eu hachosi.
Y llynedd fe wnaeth clymblaid Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru basio mesur a oedd yn golygu bod angen i lety hunanarlwyo fod ar gael i'w osod rhwng 70 diwrnod ac o leiaf 182 diwrnod.
Dywedodd Mr Rowlands, beirniad llym o'r rheoliadau newydd:
Rwy'n siŵr mai chi fyddai'r cyntaf i gydnabod pwysigrwydd y busnesau hunanarlwyo hyn wrth gefnogi ein cymunedau, o safbwynt y swyddi y maen nhw’n eu creu ac yn eu cynnal a'r gwahaniaeth y maen nhw’n ei wneud i'w cymunedau. Rwy'n siŵr y byddech hefyd yn cydnabod ac yn derbyn peth o'u pryder a'u gofid oherwydd y rheoliadau 182 diwrnod hyn y maen nhw’n eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, ac roedd llawer yn gobeithio y byddai rhai esemptiadau call i'r premiymau.
Yn amlwg, dyw hyn ddim wedi cael ei gyflawni, ac rwy'n credu bod angen ailadrodd hyn yma heddiw. Yng ngoleuni hyn, Weinidog, a wnewch chi heddiw ymrwymo i weithio'n agos gyda'r sector pwysig iawn hwn i sicrhau nad ydyn ni’n gweld y busnesau cyfreithlon, gweithgar hyn yn cau, gyda hynny wedyn yn arwain at golli swyddi ac yn cael effaith ar ein cymunedau yma yng Nghymru?
Dywedodd y Gweinidog eu bod yn ceisio taro’r cydbwysedd iawn rhwng cefnogi'r diwydiant twristiaeth a chaniatáu iddo ffynnu ond gan gydnabod bod eiddo sy'n cael ei danddefnyddio yn fater pwysig.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
Rwy'n bryderus iawn o hyd am yr esemptiadau treth gyngor prin ac yn ofni y bydd llawer o fusnesau hunanarlwyo yn ei chael hi’n anodd bodloni’r rheol 182 diwrnod. Fel Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru rwy'n poeni'n arbennig am fy rhanbarth ac yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i gymryd unrhyw gamau angenrheidiol i sicrhau bod y system yn gweithio i bawb.
