Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has hit out at unfair rules which affect the tourism industry in his region.
Opening the Welsh Conservative debate: Business rates for self-catering accommodation, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government said the debate was about the confusion and unfairness of the implementation of the 182-day Order.
He said:
From April 1 2023, evidence must be provided that a property has been made available to let for at least 252 days, and actually let for at least 182 days. However, the Valuation Office Agency's assessment will be based on records for the 12 months prior to this date, meaning self-catering businesses will be and have been assessed on the new regulations coming into force in 2023, dating back to 2022.
It is extremely unfair and unreasonable to assess and judge self-catering accommodation on the old rules when the new rules come into place next April. This could lead to detrimental impacts on the tourism sector and is causing confusion in the sector, a sector which is so important to our economy and to our local communities.
The Government state they've consulted widely. However, I find it difficult to fully accept, as the self-catering accommodation sector and leading figures in the tourism sector, in my capacity as chairman of the Senedd cross-party group on tourism, have outlined their sheer confusion, anger and frustration regarding the implementation of this Order.
I believe that Welsh Government should reflect on the serious concerns expressed by self-catering accommodation providers across Wales regarding the assessment period for determining this eligibility.”
We know, the prime reason for these regulations being brought in was to differentiate between second homes and legitimate self-catering holiday accommodation However, with the criteria being assessed this year, before those rules are in place, before those regulations actually come into force, we will see a skewed set of results, as self-catering accommodation have not been given the proper time to plan, adjust their business plans and ensure their businesses are geared up for this change. So, it will not achieve what the Government are seeking to achieve.
Sam Rowlands AS yn tynnu sylw at reolau annheg sy'n taro'r sector twristiaeth
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros y Gogledd, wedi beirniadu'r rheolau annheg sy'n effeithio ar y diwydiant twristiaeth yn ei ranbarth.
Wrth agor dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Ardrethi busnes ar gyfer llety hunanddarpar, dywedodd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Lywodraeth Leol fod dryswch ac annhegwch yn ymwneud â gweithredu'r Gorchymyn 182 diwrnod.
Meddai:
O Ebrill 1 2023 ymlaen, rhaid darparu tystiolaeth bod eiddo ar gael i'w osod am o leiaf 252 diwrnod, ac wedi’i osod am o leiaf 182 diwrnod. Fodd bynnag, bydd asesiad Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio’n seiliedig ar gofnodion am y 12 mis cyn y dyddiad hwn, sy'n golygu y bydd busnesau hunanddarpar yn cael eu hasesu yn ôl y rheoliadau newydd sy'n dod i rym yn 2023, sy'n dyddio'n ôl i 2022.
Mae'n hynod annheg ac afresymol asesu a barnu llety hunanarlwyo ar sail yr hen reolau pan ddaw'r rheolau newydd i rym fis Ebrill nesaf. Gallai hyn arwain at effeithiau niweidiol ar y sector twristiaeth ac mae'n achosi dryswch yn y sector, sector sydd mor bwysig i'n heconomi a'n cymunedau lleol.
Mae'r Llywodraeth yn dweud eu bod wedi ymgynghori'n eang. Mae'n anodd i mi dderbyn hyn yn llawn yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel cadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar dwristiaeth, fodd bynnag, gan fod y sector llety hunanarlwyo a ffigurau blaenllaw yn y sector twristiaeth wedi amlinellu eu dryswch, eu dicter a'u rhwystredigaeth lwyr ynghylch dull gweithredu'r Gorchymyn hwn.
Dwi'n credu y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried pryderon difrifol darparwyr llety hunanarlwyo ledled Cymru ynglŷn â'r cyfnod asesu er mwyn penderfynu ar y cymhwysedd hwn."
Rydyn ni'n gwybod mai'r prif reswm dros gyflwyno'r rheoliadau hyn, oedd gwahaniaethu rhwng ail gartrefi a llety gwyliau hunanarlwyo dilys. Fodd bynnag, gyda'r meini prawf yn cael eu hasesu eleni, cyn i'r rheolau hynny ddod i rym, rydyn ni'n gweld set o ganlyniadau anghyson, gan nad yw llety hunanarlwyo wedi cael digon o amser i gynllunio, addasu eu cynlluniau busnes a sicrhau bod eu busnesau'n barod am y newid hwn. Felly, fydd y rheolau ddim yn cyflawni'r hyn mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei obeithio.
