A PARLIAMENTARY discussion over the sustainability of local government finance may seem a strange place to talk about tents at the Glastonbury Festival.
However, that was exactly what happened during a session of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee to hear evidence from councils.
Among those taking part in London was Somerset Council leader, Bill Revans.
As the session drew to a close, council representatives were asked about any suggestions for reform of the system to enable councils to raise money.
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After suggestions were made about potential ‘tourist taxes’ in areas with high visitor footfall, Cllr Revans jokingly remarked on how he wasn’t sure it would work in Somerset, but asked “whether we could apply that to tents at Glastonbury Festival, which is where I’d particularly be interested in exploring it”.
When an MP on the committee suggesting taxing “the posh ones”, Cllr Revans quipped, “Maybe we’ll have a banding system, I don’t know”.
He added: “What we charge Glastonbury in their licensing fees doesn’t anything like – anything like – cover the costs.”
“Somerset Council has a good working relationship with the festival organisers and all of the partners involved in the running of the event, which is what helps to make it one of the best music festivals in the world,” it adds.
Glastonbury Festival has been contacted for comment.
Council leader, Bill Revans, during the Commons hearing. Picture: Parliament TV
How about the council actually make cuts to services they can’t afford to run instead of continuously, year after year with no guarantee when it will end, persecuting those it’s meant to be serving.
Throwing money at a sinking ship has already proven to be bad policy, Stop punishing people who can’t afford to be punished.