At Monday’s Discussion Group, Paul Howarth provided a comprehensive overview of the Chancellor’s budget, drawing on the viewpoints of the IFS, Resolution Foundation and Policy in Practice. The discussion was lively with views on how it would affect revenues and benefit departments. There is much for councils need to consider, especially how childcare provision will…
Month: March 2023
2023 Budget at Glance
The UK is not expected to enter a technical recession this year, and inflation is predicted to reduce to 2.9% by the end of 2023, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Other key points of the 2023 budget include the introduction of 15 hours of free childcare for parents working 16 hours a…
Revenues and Benefits Discussion Group 13/3/2023
Good day to you In Monday’s Discussion Group, we talked about two things. The turmoil in the banking system highlights the risk of small tech start-ups. Small suppliers often provide satellite support to the main revenues and benefits back-office systems. Doing all kind of additional functions often relating to data collection and automation. Silicon Valley…
Integrated and Subsidised Transport
Integrated and subsidised transport can be a powerful tool in reducing poverty levels in communities. Poverty is often linked to limited access to opportunities, and one of the most significant barriers to accessing services and opportunities is a lack of reliable and affordable transportation. Integrated transport systems bring together different modes of transportation, such as…
R&B Discussion Group 06/03/2023
Good morning to you At Monday’s Discussion Group we discussed HB recovery and how rail fare increases affect those on low pay and those seeking work. In the slide pack I have included some statistics on HB overpayment recovery and write-offs. The rail fare increases relate to integrated transport policies and subsidised travel. Something that…
What the Telegraph and the Mail get wrong about immigration
Migrants come to the UK for a variety of reasons, and while economic reasons are undoubtedly a factor, they are not the primary motivation for most migrants. Economic migration is defined as the movement of people from one country to another in search of better job opportunities, higher wages, and a better standard of living….
Revenues and Benefits Discussion Group 27/02/2023
Monday 27 February’s Discussion Group looked at two hot topics. Universal Free School Meals and Performance Related Bonus Payments. For those of you who are interested in the former, the trigger for the debate was the new London scheme and the forthcoming Welsh scheme. In the pack there is a slide on FSM schemes in…