The Visitor Levy is an opportunity for Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Liberal Democrats have supported a Transient Visitor Levy for many years.

We can't afford to delay it this week.

We're clear it can't be used to prop up Scottish Government cuts.

We have won core commitments for the money to be spent fairly across the city, from the city centre all the way to the city limits.

Writing in the Edinburgh Evening News this month, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Ed Thornley said:

"The feedback I have received from residents has been one of warm welcome – if it is spent in the right way. Yet, there are those who would see it fail.

The rules on this are clear, anything that the Visitor Levy would be spent on must have been through the Visitor Levy Forum.

New suggestions now would delay the process, delay the benefit and risk us not getting the money the council needs to improve our city as those who oppose the levy will use that as an opportunity.

This is especially important if there are new changes that could be questioned in the legislation.

That opens the council up to judicial review and yet more public money spent defending the council rather than improving our city.

So, my plea to my colleagues is simple - don’t change this again now, don’t risk it all. Vote this through."

At the Culture and Communities committee, Councillor Fiona Bennett said:

“We must be absolutely clear about what this funding is for. It must be additional. It must sustain, support and develop. It cannot be used to prop up Council services that should already be properly funded. It is our job as a Council to fund our city properly, but it is also the job of the Scottish Government to fund local government fairly. This must not be used in any way as justification for reducing our core funding.”