Wembley gig-goers could see tourism and ticket tax

Brent Council has written to the UK government about the possibility of introducing tourist and ticket taxes

Wembley gigs could get pricier as the council seeks to introduce ticket and visitor taxes.

At a meeting earlier in July, Brent Council passed a motion to introduce a tax on visitors staying overnight to fund improvements in the area.

The north-west London authority wants to use the growing events scene - acts like Coldplay and Oasis are at Wembley stadium this summer - to generate funds to benefit residents.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council leader Muhammed Butt has written to the UK government to explore the possibility of adding a levy to support grassroots music and cultural institutions.

It was announced last year a £1.25 per night tourism tax could start in Wales from 2027.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, Mr Butt urged the government to give the council legal powers to add a "fair and modest" charge to hotel and short-stay accommodation.

He is also asking for it to explore the possibility of adding a fee to ticket prices.

Mr Butt hopes such a fee would "create the next generation of acts to fill our stadiums".

Brent Council wants "further devolution of fiscal powers" so it is able to invest locally raised revenue back into the community.

In the letter, the council claims residents report they "do not see a proportionate share of the benefits from Wembley's success" and there is a "critical funding gap" to meet the costs of hosting events while maintaining residents' quality of life.

This could mean tickets will get pricier for fans going to shows

The stadium's non-sporting events each boost the local economy by about £4.3m

The council suggests while the rising number of events is "cause for celebration", it puts pressure on services, such as waste management and environmental enforcement.

The letter adds: "Brent Council believes that a locally collected, ring-fenced visitor levy - as successfully implemented across much of Europe – is a fair and progressive way to ensure tourism and high-footfall events contribute sustainably to the communities that host them."

In England, local councils currently do not have the power to introduce a tourist tax. Legislation would be needed to allow it - although an Accommodation Business Improvement District, like those in Manchester and Liverpool, could be created as a legal workaround.