Councillors have been quizzing Scarborough and Whitby's MP around the budget and how it affects local businesses.
Phil Trumper represents Whitby West Division.
He's worried about how the town will be affected by changes in the recent budget:
"Whitby has benefited from that extra footfall over many years and being able to employ people over the quieter periods when traditionally businesses would close in September. But with the measures in the previous budget, and I think the measures in this recent budget, some of those businesses in Ireland are closed because of the extra cost on them, which is disappointing really, because obviously they can't afford to stay open.
"That is in basically making people unemployed again for this. For the winter period. So is there anything the government can do to reverse that?"
Labour's Alison Hume said the government had to make some tough decisions, but had lowered business rates and now provide funding for small and medium businesses to take on apprentices.
The UK is introducing major changes for Airbnb and short-term lets in England, focusing on a new national registration scheme, a new planning C5 Use Class for dedicated lets, and stricter safety rules to balance tourism with housing needs, meaning hosts renting their main home up to 90 nights are exempt, but others need permission and must meet fire/gas safety standards to combat housing shortages in popular areas.
Janet Jefferson is one of three representatives in Scarborough Town Council's Castle Ward.
She says more restrictions on Airbnbs is sensible:
"I welcome with regard to the Airbnbs, because they cause an awful lot of unrest because of the fact of not paying any rates in the first place. I was really sad to hear from the president of hospitality that, due to increased regulations, that a lot of the small guesthouses are probably going to close.
"Because of the VAT threshold, it is affecting an awful lot of these small businesses and they control the towelling. It's not easy. The other thing, which is also worried to me is, and you also be aware of it, Alison, is the, I think it's 140 day letting rule, which people with second homes use in order to get a living out of it."
Ms Hume said she will take on board comments on the VAT threshold and admits she's concerned about anti-social behaviour around air b and b s- particularly in coastal communities.
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