February 2022 - Page 2 of 4

First Minister’s Covid-19 Update – 22nd February 2022

Posted on February 22, 2022February 22, 2022 by Fiona Campbell

The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon set out the Scottish Government’s new update to its Strategic Framework for dealing with Covid-19 and outlined some policy announcements which would flow from this approach.

Key Points

Scotland’s Strategic Framework

In her update to the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon set out the Scottish Government’s updated Covid Strategy.[1]
This would entail fewer “legally imposed protective measures” and instead “rely predominantly on vaccines, treatments, and sensible public health behaviours and adaptations”.
In terms of future developments, the new framework provides three broad levels of future potential threat – low, medium and high. These levels would be guided by data and evidence

Policy Announcements

The First Minister also announced the indicative timetable for the remaining legal protections to be removed:

Scotland’s Covid certification scheme would end on 28^th February but that it would remain available to any business who wished to use it on a voluntary basis.
Face coverings would cease to be mandatory from 21^st March but would still be recommended on a voluntary basis through guidance.
The collection of customer details for contact tracing purposes, and for businesses, service providers and places of worship to have regard to guidance on Covid and to take reasonably practicable measures set out in the guidance, are also expected to be lifted on 21^st March.
The Scottish Government would continue to provide people in Scotland with continued access to PCR and lateral flow testing free of charge, ahead of a detailed transition plan being published on the future of Scotland’s test and protect programme in March. The First Minister expressed frustration at the approach taken by the UK Government on testing and the lack of clarity provided on testing infrastructure and funding.
Unlike the approach in England, guidance on self-isolation would remain.

[1] See: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-scotlands-strategic-framework-update-february-2022/

Non-Domestic Rates Rates Revaluation 2023

Posted on February 18, 2022May 14, 2024 by Fiona Campbell

“Assessors’ offices across Scotland are currently preparing for the non-domestic revaluation which comes into effect on 1 April 2023.

A key part of a revaluation is the ingathering and analysis of information in order that rateable values are set as accurately as possible.

Accordingly, Assessors are issuing information requests, known as Assessors Information Notices (AINs), across the country. It is imperative that AINs are responded to, regardless of whether the property is receiving rates relief or not.

Where recipients have difficulty in responding, they should contact their local Assessor’s office without delay, particularly given that non responders are subject to a civil penalty, the amount of which can rise to very significant levels.”

Gary Bennet, President, Scottish Assessors Association

Do not worry if you have not received a form as yet – Assessors are not sending them to every subject. If one arrives, it is important that you return it with the most accurate data you can provide. If you don’t receive on, don’t worry.

The Council Tax (Dwellings and Part Residential Subjects) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)

These regulations relate to the requirement that, to be classed as self-catering holiday accommodation, premises must be let for a period of at least 70 days in the financial year (in addition to the existing requirement that the premises be available for letting for 140 days or more).

Find out more, including Frequently Asked Questions.

More information can be found at www.saa.gov.uk.

Edinburgh Council Set to Approve Citywide Short-Term Let Control Area

Posted on February 17, 2022February 17, 2022 by Fiona Campbell

ALL short-term let properties in Edinburgh not being used as a home are set to be required to obtain planning permission after city officials recommended “to designate the entire council area as a short-term let control area.”.

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers Chief Executive, Fiona Campbell, said:

“Including the whole of Edinburgh in this restrictive and anti-business scheme will have a hugely detrimental impact on the many small businesses who work tirelessly to ensure that the capital has one of the world’s best tourism offerings.

“The real problem Edinburgh has is a lack of house building, but our local authority has chosen to pick on an easy scapegoat rather than address the real and difficult issue.

“Despite the misrepresentation that we have had to deal with, the ASSC will continue to promote self-catering in Edinburgh and across Scotland and remains committed to finding a policy solution that works for all.”

Read the ASSC response to the Planning Control Zone Consultation: ECC response to Planning Control Zone Legislation

According to the Planning Committee Report, alternatives to Short-Term Lets include:

Multiple hotel developments in the city and hosts who let a room in their property add to [tourism accommodation] supply. Regulating the entire property lets should not prevent visitors from coming to the city.
Tourist population should be naturally regulated by the number of available hotel and B&B spaces.
Demand should be met via development of the dedicated aparthotel sector rather than the removal of residential properties from the long term rental / home ownership market.
Better to promote the trend for affordable hotel accommodation to provide safe accommodation.
Homeowners letting out rooms and entire properties if they reside in the property the majority of the time will allow for an increase in short term lets for the festival periods.
STLs take business away from established guest houses and hotels with inferior facilities risking reputational damage.
Places pressure and unfair competition on existing hotel accommodation and similar other businesses, particularly as there is no regulation of short term lets.
Declining use of office accommodation means that there are other ways to think about catering for visitors’ accommodation needs.
Hotel businesses employ large numbers of people within the city and the uncontrolled growth of the short term let accommodation has affected that employment rate, to the disbenefit of the local economy.

https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s42696/7.1%20-%20Short-term%20Let%20Area%20of%20Control%20Designation.pdf

https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19932235.edinburgh-council-set-approve-citywide-airbnb-short-term-let-control-area/