Brent Council has voted to pursue visitor levy powers, aiming to generate funds to support local communities and enhance services. The council will need government approval to implement the levy.
At a council meeting on Monday, Councillor Mary Mitchell introduced a motion to empower Brent with visitor levy powers, highlighting the potential for a new revenue stream to address local needs. The motion was ultimately carried by the council.
Councillor Mitchell noted the success of Wembley as a cultural and economic hub, attracting 2.9 million visitors last year. While this brings economic benefits, it also creates challenges like noise, congestion and waste. A visitor levy, she argued, could provide sustainable funding for improvements such as making Brent greener through investment in street trees and green infrastructure, enhanced street cleaning, and additional waste enforcement officers.
We need a sustainable way to fund improvements that benefit residents while preserving our status as a world-class destination,
said Councillor Mitchell. She pointed to examples in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh, where visitor levies have successfully generated funds for local services.
Councillor Promise Knight voiced strong support for the motion, emphasising the potential to enhance the local economy and celebrate Brent's cultural heritage. She referenced the Greater London Authority's efforts to support grassroots music venues through a stadium and area levy, suggesting a similar approach could benefit Brent.
A modest visitor levy could help us fund further initiatives that strengthen our cultural identity,
Councillor Knight stated.
Councillor Clinton, while supporting the motion, stressed the importance of financial prudence and due diligence. He suggested investigating a music venue levy specifically for Wembley Stadium, noting the venue could voluntarily implement such a levy.
To ensure the visitor levy does not negatively impact tourism or local businesses, Councillor Kansagra proposed an amendment requiring consultation with both residents and local businesses, along with an independent impact assessment, before introducing a local tourist tax to fund improvements. This suggests a consideration of the potential negative impacts on tourism and local businesses.
Councillor Nerva highlighted that the benefits of a visitor levy would extend beyond Wembley, addressing issues related to short-term lets across Brent. He also pointed out that many cities outside the UK already have mandatory visitor levies.
Councillor Teo Benea echoed the support for the motion, stating that a visitor levy is a practical, fair and progressive measure to ensure those who benefit from Wembley's global appeal also help invest back into local neighbourhoods.
The council will now write to the Secretary of State, calling for London boroughs, including Brent, to be granted the powers to introduce a discretionary visitor levy on overnight stays, and to the Mayor of London to support the London Assembly call for a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund grassroots cultural opportunities. The council will also continue to work with partners to ensure that the benefits of Wembley's success are shared fairly, and that residents' voices shape the work to establish a visitor levy in Brent, and work with London Councils, the GLA, and the LGA to build cross-party support for an amendment to the English Devolution Bill to grant the powers necessary to all local authorities to introduce visitor levies where supported.
The motion was part of a full council meeting on Monday, July 7th, 2025, where other topics discussed included twinning with Nablus, saving East Lane Theatre, and street cleanliness.
