The leader of the area’s opposition group has criticised the questions used in the consultation, and claimed that the authority should wait and see how other councils introduce their own levy.
Others have spoken more in favour of going out to consultation, which will take place in the New Year, before a final decision is made.
The possible ‘tourist tax’ has been the subject of a series of sub-committee meetings of councillors, while opposition has included a petition of more than 1,500 signatures.
The discussion, and decision by roll call vote to go out to consultation, took place at a specially-convened full council meeting on Friday, December 20.
Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) said: “We need to serious look at the strategy and the questions that we will ask. Part of the opposition to raising tax is to show the other side of raising it. What are you going to spend it on?
“We need to have a bit more clarity on what we will spend it [the visitor levy] on. Edinburgh City Council has come up with a scheme that delineates that they will spend X on this and X on that.
“There is also a need to see how it embeds elsewhere. Highland Council are looking at it and there is an opportunity to see how they get on in terms of delivering it.
“Business is critically important, I worked in business for 30 years, and you have got the whole bureaucracy about short-term letting that was not here three or four years ago. I am afraid I cannot support it [the consultation].”
Councillor Andrew Kain (Independent, Oban South and the Isles) said: “I have a great deal of sympathy with what Councillor Mulvaney has said, but I will not support the angle.
“I run a bed and breakfast and I am aware of the challenges on an island and all the issues, but the way this is presented, it is a tourist tax. It is not a levy.
“In principle I am against a levy, but I will be voting for the motion because we need to get the very strongly expressed views down on paper.”
Councillor Alastair Redman (Independent, Kintyre and the Islands) said: “I have heard from not only my own constituents, but from other council wards, from businesses and private residents. They are angry and they have every right to be angry.
“I have heard councillors criticise the process, the levy and the consultation, but then turn round and say they will vote for the consultation.
“I am an independent councillor, and a servant to the public who pay and elect me. That is the way I have approached every vote.
“We as councillors either listen to our constituents and be honest and say we are supporting the people, or we say we are not.”
Councillor Kieron Green (Independent, Oban North and Lorn) then said: “I am a little perplexed by some of the views expressed here today.
“As a council, we agreed a timetable for progressing the visitor levy back in August. This is something which members have been working on since then.
“I have had significant numbers of representations from accommodation providers in the industry, some of whom are outright against and some of whom suggested changes.
“But I do feel businesses and communities deserve the opportunity to firmly comment on the proposals, and we could let this be a case of who shouts loudest.
“A number of people have expressed to me their support. This might not be on the front page of the local press, it might be somebody pulling me aside at the end of a meeting.”
Councillor Mark Irvine (Independent, Lomond North) added: “What is missing from my inbox is feedback from residents. The proof of the pudding will be in the post-consultation period.
“I want to examine all the data before I consider any levy in the future. It may be at the end of the process that we decide a levy is not appropriate for Argyll and Bute, but it would be remiss not to go out to consultation.”
