Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:15 pm on 6 July 2022.
I think that the issue that Mabon ap Gwynfor referred to in his contribution, about striking that balance between those in the more casual end of the sector and those that are established businesses, is important and that work on registration will be important in doing that, so that we can move people towards the more established businesses and support them to have those properties let for a larger number of nights of the year. But I'll come to some further points on that, because, as we've said, self-catering operators above the thresholds will be making their contributions to the community through the higher economic activity that they support, and those below the threshold will make their contribution through council tax in the same way as those who do not meet the current thresholds. And this, in turn, is part of our three-pronged approach to addressing the impact that large numbers of second homes and holiday lets can have on communities. And that, as you know, is the work being undertaken in partnership through the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru. And I do recognise the strength of feeling amongst operators, and I've heard those representations from individuals and from industry representatives.
In the context of the wider policy priority, to support those sustainable communities and affordable housing, there's a limit to the evidence available in relation to the impact of any option, that's true, but that also includes doing nothing. The evidence that is available has been considered and it's published for all Members to see in the regulatory impact assessment that accompanies the Order. And I do recognise that the stronger criteria might be challenging for some operators, but it's important to recognise that there is evidence that average occupancy of self-catering properties exceeded 50 per cent over the three years prior to the pandemic. So, many operators in all parts of Wales are already meeting the new criteria. And I think it is reasonable to expect businesses to adopt an operating model that maximises the use of their property and the benefit that it brings to local communities. [Interruption.] I'm happy to take an intervention, Llywydd.