Following the approval of the Workplace Recycling Regulations by the Senedd the new regs will come into force on 6 April 2024. This will mean that all business, public and third sector workplaces will be required to separate recyclable materials in the same way as households. The Welsh Government’s stated aim ‘is to increase the quality and quantity of recyclable materials collected from workplaces with less going to landfill’.
This is potentially going to cause a number of businesses difficulty, particularly with regard to the number of recycling bins that are required to sit outside properties of multiple occupancy; getting guests to recycle in the first place, finding a suitable carrier and with issues such as hygiene. There is a new ‘Separate Collection of Waste Materials for Recycling – A Code of Practice for Wales’ which has now been published at: https://www.gov.wales/separate-collection-waste-materials-recycling-code-practice. The Code is a practical guide for information on how non-domestic premises can comply with the Workplace Recycling Regulations by 6 April 2024. Current information on the reforms, tools and resources can be found here: Workplace recycling | GOV.WALES, including guidance for workplaces and waste collectors. Further resources will be added throughout 2024 so please revisit this page. WRAP Cymru – Workplace Recycling Webinars WRAP Cymru is also hosting a series of webinars to share practical advice on how your workplace can get ready for the Workplace Recycling Regulations. Further information on the webinars and how to sign up can be accessed here: Workplace Recycling -Webinars (wrapcymru.org.uk)
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Here is the piece of research that is referred to in the statement below and which will be utilised to justify its development. Key points are as follows.
The Welsh Government with its Social Research Unit has released findings from a recent piece of consumer research into Statutory Licensing. Compliance with health and safety requirements was found to rank highly for domestic trip intenders when booking accommodation. Accommodation that is ‘operating safely’ is considered important for the vast majority (89%) – marginally ahead of ‘positive reviews’ (88%) and comfortably ahead of being ‘environmentally friendly’ (73%). A majority (83%) of domestic trip intenders stated they would be ‘more likely’ to book accommodation if there was a legal requirement to confirm compliance with health and safety. When asked the relative importance of different elements to be included within health and safety requirements, ‘Gas safety’, ‘electrical safety’, ‘fire risk assessment and ‘food hygiene’ were deemed the most important – more than 4 in 5 regarding them as ‘very important’. Other areas tested included ‘water safety’, ‘legionella risk assessment’, ‘insurance’ and the ‘ability to raise concern with an independent body’. In addition to those tested, trip intenders suggested a range of other potential areas including ‘accessibility standards’, ‘child safety’ and ‘local crime levels’. The full presentation can be found here. Latest research results relating to views of visitors / residents regarding statutory licensing www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2023-12/statutory-licensing-scheme-visitor-accommodation-providers-views-consumers-and-residents.pdf Firstly and somewhat rather disappointingly, the announcement seems to have been used as a platform to single out self-catering as the problem child once again and repeat the same tired old rhetoric about ‘the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets’. Yes, still lumping the sector conveniently in with second homes!
Of particular and concerning note the announcement makes mention of a phased approach - ‘the first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will – for the first time – provide a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation’. A second phase being a ‘to follow with a licensing scheme’ and a third which looks at introducing quality standards at a later stage? More tax assessment than looking to build a level playing field? Our initial reaction is that this sounds like it is going way beyond the bounds of what was discussed at consultation and worryingly sounds more like a licensing scheme, rather than a registration or licensing scheme 'lite' after all. This may of course, not be the case as detail is limited in what amounts to a page of quotes: Anyway, here is the ‘statement’ from Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister with Tourism Portfolio: ‘Plans to introduce a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales have been announced by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden today (Tuesday, January 9) with legislation expected to be introduced to the Senedd before the end of the year. The registration and licensing scheme is intended to deliver a register of visitor accommodation types and to enable providers to demonstrate compliance with safety and quality requirements. It is intended to enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales by ensuring anyone who lets out visitor accommodation meets a relevant set of standards. This follows a public consultation, extensive engagement with the sector, as well as a recently published survey that found 89% of visitors considered it important the accommodation they stay in is operating safely. Many parts of the world have already adopted licensing, certification or registration schemes across their visitor accommodation sectors and the Welsh Government has been considering best practice to design one that is simple and easy to use for accommodation providers in Wales. Across the UK, Northern Ireland has had a certification scheme established for all visitor accommodation since 1992, with Scotland having recently introduced a licensing scheme for short term lets. The UK Government is also pursuing a registration approach for short term lets. In Wales, the first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will – for the first time – provide a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country and will include details on who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating. Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden said: “Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life so this information will be crucial in helping us better understand the sector, as well as helping to inform future policy decisions at a local and national level. “The visitor economy is changing rapidly, and while the growth of online booking platforms has brought many benefits, there are concerns around compliance with existing requirements and the impact of short-term lets on housing stock and our communities. “I’d like to thank businesses across the visitor economy for the enormous resilience they’ve shown through the unprecedented challenges of recent years. The input from the sector, visitors and communities has been invaluable to our work so far. We will continue this engagement as we develop the scheme.” Once a registration scheme is fully established, the intention is to follow with a licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation. This will initially focus on confirming compliance with safety requirements visitor accommodation providers should already be meeting, before looking at introducing quality standards at a later stage. The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in communities’. Statement from Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Tourism (30th January 2024)31/1/2024 'As we start the new year, I’m pleased to update Members about Visit Wales activity, particularly a visit from 17 influential US tour operators, who are currently touring Wales and meeting suppliers. Visit Wales started the year with a high-profile presence at Britain and Ireland Marketplace (BIM) 2024, a major international business-to-business event in London last week. As part of VisitBritain’s Showcase Britain, an add-on to the BIM event, Visit Wales has worked with colleagues in VisitBritain to secure a four-day Wales familiarisation visit from 17 key US tour operators.
The US operators are visiting a wide range of destinations, from Wrexham to St Davids and Caernarfon to Cardiff. As they travel through Wales, staying in a selection of outstanding hotels, their stops will include some of Wales’ signature destinations, all of whom are keen to develop their international travel trade business. This includes Conwy Castle, Penderyn Distillery, Portmeirion, Halen Mon, The Royal Mint Experience, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Nantgarw China Works and Museum, A Welsh Coal Mining Experience and Llancaiach Fawr Manor. The growth of inbound (international) business, which typically involves longer stays and attracts a higher spend than domestic tourism business, is aided by inclusion in tour operator programmes. During the trip the operators will meet 30 Wales suppliers, some of whom attended BIM under the Visit Wales umbrella, to explore business opportunities. All this comes at a time when Visit Wales consumer marketing activity is programmed to keep Wales in front of potential visitors who are starting to think about their 2024 breaks. The Awydd Antur campaign – meaning “Let’s get out there” – was launched on Boxing Day. I hope you have had an opportunity to see the new advert, whether on television, social media or at key London locations'. Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Tourism (30th January 2024) This is a somewhat austere Welsh budget. It is the final year in the three-year spending review period and it is apparent that there is a lot less funding available to meet all statutory commitments, let alone the Welsh Government's ambitious Programme. It starts by stating that following the UK Autumn Statement, the Wales budget is now worth £1.3bn less in real terms than when it was set in 2021. Yet again we see the emergence of the word 'Radical' and the finger of blame being pointed, whether rightly or wrongly, toward Westminster. (Suffice to say the voting public does not care who is at fault be it Cardiff, Westminster or indeed the global economy, there are deep worrying fiscal problems and they need solving jointly).
The Welsh Government points out that they 'we will continue to spend more than half a billion pounds to help households and businesses pay their council and Non-Domestic Rates bills' the level of which is though reducing and is undoubtably an indication as to future direction. How this will play out in the tourism industry or indeed the high street is a difficult call, but it is unlikely to have a positive effect in the long term. Also disappointingly, arts and culture spending (including a 20% cut in Cadw funding) has been sliced from the draft budget. Hospitality and tourism businesses face a hike in business rates, as above and the rural affairs budget is also facing significant cuts in an attempt to fill the hole in health and social care spending. As the budget narrative states 'This is a difficult budget in extraordinary times. But ultimately it is a budget which targets investment towards the public services we all value the most'. The full documentation can be found here: Draft Budget 2024 to 2025 narrative (gov.wales) The Welsh Government are consulting on proposals to amend the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved Taxes (Wales) Act 2017.
The amendments will extend the current LTT 3-year refund and exception periods for taxpayers where the sale of a former main residence was prevented owing to emergency restrictions, and/or where the sale of a former main residence was impeded due to issues related to fire safety defects. Unless requested the WTA will not be formally responding to this consultation. Full documentation if Members wish to respond in their own right can be found here: Land Transaction Tax Higher Residential Rates: proposals to amend the refund and exception rules | GOV.WALES The consultation closes: 17th March 2024 The House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee is holding an inquiry into EES and ETIAS and the implications for the UK. It has been reported that the EU’s Entry Exit System will be implemented from 6 October 2024 across all EU countries where it will apply (excludes Ireland and Cyprus) without a soft launch. The European Commission have said that the “main advantage of the EES is saving time” because passports will not need to be stamped. There are border concerns about the impact, especially at initial registration where full biometrics will need to be taken. At subsequent crossings a photograph will normally suffice.
Their call for evidence closes on Friday 12th January. Suzy Davies, Chair of the WTA attended the recent Visitor Economy Forum on the13th December 2023.
Dawn Bowden (DB), MS, the Deputy Minister (DB) opened the meeting with a warning that they were facing a £1.3bn (real term) cut next year in the Wales Budget. DB flagged up that difficult decisions lay ahead. The Deputy Minister also acknowledged that all sectors of tourism were already finding it hard. The Deputy Minister encouraged all to respond to Jeremy Miles MS consultation on the Reform of the school year. A written statement on statutory licensing is to be issued shortly, we expect it to be along the lines that it will be a registration scheme with modest information requirements. The issue of the 182 days threshold was raised at length. No answer was given to the question as to whether the policy was actually creating any affordable homes? The WTA, along with PASC UK continue to request that there be a full immediate review of the 182 Day threshold and its impact on the self-catering sector plus its secondary impacts on the wider industry. We await the full meeting minutes. The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee is issuing a call for written evidence for its inquiry into the Development Bank of Wales. The Committee is seeking views on any or all of the issues covered in the terms of reference below:
There are no designated forms for submissions. To share your views electronically, please send to SeneddEconomy@Senedd.Wales, or by post to Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, Welsh Parliament, Cardiff, CF99 1SNP. Contact details: Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee Welsh Parliament Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1SN Email: SeneddEconomy@senedd.wales Telephone: 0300 200 6565 |