By local democracy reporter John Wimperis: Candidates to be the next West of England Metro Mayor clashed over the idea of a tourist tax at a hustings on housing issues in Bath.
Voters across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire will be voting for the next Metro Mayor to head the West of England Combined Authority on May 1. At the hustings on housing issues on April 16, both Liberal Democrat candidate Oli Henman and Green candidate Mary Page suggested some form of regulation of short term lets — but disagreed on how far it should go.
Mr Henman said: “Many houses have been taken out of rent because they are being made into AirBnBs and short term lets. That’s taking away from our housing stock in the heart of our city centres.”
Ms Page said that 217 homes in Ashley ward in Bristol were now AirBnBs. She said: “I was looking towards AirBnb tax because there’s no control over that.”
But she said she would not support imposing a similar tax on hotels, as she said the hotel industry was already “squeezed” and taxing it could push more people into AirBnBs and made the problem worse. Mr Henman said: “It’s both, I don’t think it’s either or.”
He said: “It’s not that this is additional for the hotel. It’s the tourist you are charging through the hotel.” He said that antisocial behaviour in the Walcot area in Bath, for which he is a Liberal Democrat councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, had increased due to the prevalence of short term lets.
Labour candidate Helen Godwin declined to weigh in on the topic. The three candidates were speaking at a hustings before housing association professionals arranged by Homes for the South West Bath and North East Somerset Housing Mission Delivery Board, at the Curo offices in Bath on April 16.
Organisers said all candidates were invited but Reform candidate Arron Banks and Independent candidate Ian Scott were not in attendance. Nor was Conservative candidate Steve Smith who said he had to cancel at the last minute and sent a statement to be read on his behalf.
The Metro Mayor is the single most powerful politician in the area, with powers over transport and investment. The Metro Mayor is also supposed to lead coordination between the constituent councils on housing strategy through a regional housing plan. But attempts to work together to draw up this plan in the West in the past have not been successful.
Discussing their approach to housing, Ms Page told the hustings: “I view houses as homes. They are homes for humans. They should not be viewed as wealth creation assets for private equity.”
Mr Henman suggested new light rail infrastructure — such as between Bristol and Midsomer Norton — be delivered alongside housing to connect people to where they work. He said: “Wherever we build, it needs to be well connected.”
Ms Godwin said: “I think we have got to look at things like a good landlord charter. We have a good employer charter. There’s no reason we can’t do that for housing as well.”
Chair of Homes for the South West, Louise Swain, who moderated the event, said: “Homes for the South West is ready to work with the next mayor to tackle the housing crisis and drive economic growth. We’re calling for a fresh approach that unlocks WECA’s potential by using public land for affordable homes, investing in infrastructure, and building the skills needed to deliver thousands of new homes across the region.
“I welcomed the opportunity to hear first-hand each candidate’s vision for housing. The next mayor’s leadership will be key to ensuring that housing in the West of England can meet the needs of the people who live here. I look forward to working closely with the new mayor.”
The full list of candidates in the election is:
- Arron Banks (Reform UK)
- Helen Godwin (Labour)
- Oli Henman (Liberal Democrat)
- Mary Page (Green)
- Ian Scott (Independent)
- Steve Smith (Conservative)
You will need to bring one of the accepted forms of photo ID with you to vote. If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a temporary ID called a voter authority certificate until 5pm on Wednesday April 23 here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
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