P-04-599 Impact of Domestic Rating on Self Catering Accommodation – Correspondence from the Petitioner to the Clerking Team, 05.07.15

Dear Kayleigh/Bill Powell

 That is encouraging that the Welsh Assembly are looking at this issue this summer, but the IRRV Report came out in Sept 2013, nearly 2 years ago. The Welsh Assembly have already put their hands up and agreed that this policy is wrong. This does not help us though now and other businesses. As the Welsh Assembly agree that this policy is wrong this should be looked at retrospectively, as I run an honest and well run business. The year we are looking at in our business is the first year and most businesses take upto 3 years to get off their feet'. Other issues taken into account should be adverse weather and Welsh Tourism Marketing. I can tell you now that when this ruling came in dring April 2010 I am sure very few people new of this ruling. I have spoken to people over the last year to year and a half and very few people in the tourist industry new about this ruling within this time.

I have been to a VOA hearing where they said to me that I had an extremely good case but they were not in the position to say yes or no with regards to the policy.

My summary of this is that it should be looked at now which is great, but it should be looked at retrospectively to 2010, bearing in mind I paid Business tax from April - Oct 2010. Its only since Nov 2013 that there has been this demand of Council tax from us and we have not used our Self-Catering Business as a domestic property at all.

Best Regards

Chris Harris