Ross Greer MSP writes about the potential benefits of the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow in a more slim form in his new column.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games brought almost 700,000 people to Glasgow and the surrounding areas. With Glasgow set to host the Games again in 2026, albeit on a smaller scale, we need to ensure a far better legacy for local communities than was the case a decade ago.

Almost all Games visitors will be staying in the Greater Glasgow area, including West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Loch Lomond. This gives the councils an opportunity to raise some much-needed funds for local services by using a new power secured by the Scottish Greens.

A new law passed by the Scottish Parliament earlier this year gives councils the power to introduce a small levy on hotels and overnight accommodation, similar to schemes already in place in dozens of other countries including Germany, France, Italy and the USA. It is known as the Visitor Levy.

Unfortunately, other parties united to weaken the levy by requiring an eighteen-month delay before a council can introduce it. For most councils, this means the very earliest their scheme could come into effect would be November 2026, months after the Games.

I want West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Loch Lomond to get maximum benefit from Scotland hosting what could well be the last Commonwealth Games. That's why the Scottish Greens are now calling for a change in the law to allow for councils in Greater Glasgow to introduce a temporary levy in time for the Games.

Big events like this often need their own new laws. That was the case for the 2014 Games and for the 2020 UEFA Championships, the latter of which I was involved in myself. If that’s the case again for the 2026 Games, this new law gives us the opportunity to temporarily set aside the 18-month delay. That will allow councils to take full advantage of all these new visitors.

Tourism brings in plenty of investment to local economies, but it comes with a cost for councils, one ultimately borne by local taxpayers. Expecting visitors to make a small contribution when they stay isn’t just reasonable, it’s totally normal in other countries.

Councils provide everything from bin collections to public toilets to roads and pavements, all of which are used by visitors as well as local residents, but it's only the latter currently paying to maintain all of those services.

The 2014 Games were a huge success, but there wasn’t much of a legacy for local communities. Getting a Visitor Levy in time is an obvious way to raise money which could provide a lasting benefit. That could mean more discounted or free swimming lessons, improving local parks, building safe cycle lanes or any of dozens of other different options. We need to act now though to ensure that legacy is possible.