At the latest Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group, held on 14 April 2025, a broad panel of local authority leaders came together to discuss the realities of delivering frontline services in an era of deepening financial constraint. The conversation, chaired by Malcolm Gardner, focused on departmental budget reductions, the role of automation and AI,…
Month: April 2025
31/03/25 Spring Statement Sparks Concerns over Welfare Cuts and Public Service Viability
Spring Statement Sparks Concerns over Welfare Cuts and Public Service Viability The UK government’s recent Spring Statement, delivered amid warnings of economic uncertainty, has prompted serious concern among local government leaders and policy experts. As outlined during the Independent R&B Discussion Group on 31 March 2025, the policy direction—particularly in relation to welfare reform and…
Labour Government Reintroduces Stocks for Benefit Fraudsters and Tax Evaders — With a Modern Twist
As seen intoday’s press In a bold and controversial move, the Labour Government has announced the return of the public stocks — revamped for the digital age — as an alternative punishment for low-level offences such as benefit fraud and tax evasion. Dubbed the “Modern Stocks Scheme,” the initiative will see offenders placed inside secure…