We are pleased to announce the successful resumption of our Monday Discussion Group, where we recently engaged in a lively and comprehensive debate on the critical topics of recruitment and retention. Our discussion spanned a variety of subjects, including the nuances of working from home, the importance of employee training, and the challenges posed by…
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Monday 4/9/23 Discussion Group – Segmentation, CTR & Budget Constraints
I am pleased to announce that following a brief hiatus in August, the Monday Discussion Group reconvened on September 4th. Our session featured two principal topics that naturally coalesced into a unified discussion. We initially explored the topic of cost-of-living segmentation, drawing on research published by Which? Magazine. Our conversation evolved into an inquiry into…
The Escalating Crisis of Homeless Relocations: Why Councils Need to Rethink Their Strategies
A Crisis Bigger Than We Thought Recent data unearthed by a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, backed by research from Nottingham University and The Guardian, has set off alarm bells across England. The issue at hand is the concerning rate at which councils are relocating homeless families—often hundreds of miles away from their original homes….
The UK Housing Market: Resilience Amid Challenges, but at What Cost?
A Look into the Pressure Points of the UK Housing Sector Subdued Prices and Market Resilience The UK housing market has displayed resilience amid economic challenges. According to Kim Kinnaird, Director of Halifax Mortgages, the market saw a modest dip of 0.3% in July, which is the fourth consecutive monthly decrease. Despite these drops, house…
Local Councils on the Brink: Unveiling the Crisis in UK Local Government Funding
Summary A BBC investigation has sounded the alarm about the escalating budget crisis in local councils across the UK. With increasing deficits and diminishing funds for essential services, there is growing concern that local governments will be unable to meet the basic needs of their communities. Undermining the Tax Base Local authorities primarily depend on…
From Post-Communist Recession to Economic Stagnation: Britain’s Struggle to Thrive
When the post-communist recession struck Poland in 1991, the country was faced with dire economic circumstances. In fact, Poles were even poorer than the people of Suriname and Gabon. In the last thirty years, Poland has experienced a remarkable economic transformation that has lasted for decades. By the end of the decade, it has the…
Monday Discussion Group: DHP & Second Homes
As we wrap up the last discussion group before our summer hiatus, we want to reflect on the key topics that captured our attention: Second Home Ownership and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). A focus of our dialogue was the nuanced matter of second home ownership. It might seem like a dormant issue at a national…
Discussion group: OBR State of the Nation
The Office of Budgetary Responsibilities (OBR) report on the financial state of the nation, sparked a truly engaging discussion last Monday (17/7) led by Paul Howarth. We delved into the concerns raised by the report regarding the prevalence of long-term sickness and worklessness in the job market, and the profound implications it has on welfare…
Restructuring Long-Term Sickness: Economic Implications and the Imperative for Policy Intervention
Introduction: The latest report from the Office of Budgetary Responsibilities (OBR) provides a comprehensive overview of the nation’s economic health. While the report encompasses various concerns, this article focuses on the surge in long-term sickness and its impact on council tax administration, council tax reduction, and local welfare. We examine the historical context, challenges faced…
Navigating the Inflation Landscape: A Study in Caution, and Risk
June 2023 has proven to be a month of notable shifts in the inflation landscape as observed in the recent Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH) and Consumer Prices Index (CPI) data. However, amid these economic fluctuations, a clear emphasis must be placed on understanding the associated risks, and importantly, the role…