The latest meeting of the Independent R&B Discussion Group, chaired by Malcolm Gardner, convened to discuss the recent Spending Review and its implications across government departments, local authorities, and welfare provision. The session included detailed contributions from a range of experts: Paul Howarth, Gareth Morgan, Alex Clegg, Rachael Walker, Sean O’Sullivan, Robert Fox, and Bob…
Category: Administration
Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group: Council Tax Reduction Review Highlights
The latest session of the Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group, held on 9 June 2025, offered an invaluable insight into the current state of Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes across the country. This week, we were fortunate to be joined by Karen Holmes from entitledto, who delivered an excellent and highly informative presentation on…
Reform UK’s “Department of National Efficiency”: A High-Stakes Gamble in Local Government Reform
Malcolm Gardner June 2025 Reform UK’s newly launched “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) is pitched as a radical instrument to root out waste, overhaul council finances, and deploy tech-led solutions to chronic inefficiencies. Inspired by the controversial U.S. DOGE initiative under Elon Musk, the UK version aims to deliver rapid savings through forensic audits, AI…
Tackling Child Poverty: A Policy Tipping Point?
Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group – 2 June 2025 The latest session of the Independent R&B Discussion Group brought together leading professionals across the UK to reflect on the continued delays in the UK Government’s long-awaited child poverty strategy, the contentious two-child benefit cap, and the real-world impacts facing councils and communities. Hosted by…
Council Tax Support in Crisis: Local Discretion or Structural Inequity?
Summary of Independent R&B Discussion Group – 19 May 2025 The Independent Revenues and Benefits Discussion Group convened on 19 May to review recent trends in Council Tax Reduction (CTR) schemes, using a new report from Policy in Practice—authored by Izabel Bahia and Rachael Walker—as a starting point for discussion. The report charts changes in…
24/03/25 Assessing Welfare Reform: Insights from the Independent R&B Discussion Group
On 24 March 2025, a diverse panel of experts and practitioners convened for a robust discussion on the latest developments in the United Kingdom’s welfare system. With topics ranging from the migration to Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants to the broader implications of pathways to work reforms, the session provided a…
Pathways to a More Empowering Welfare State: Winners, Losers, and the Cost of Inaction
The recent “Pathways to Work” green paper lays bare the escalating cost and inherent dysfunctionality of a binary welfare state—one that categorises individuals simply as either capable or incapable of work. This approach, particularly when applied to supporting those with genuine disabilities, is proving both economically unsustainable and socially regressive. As argued in Abundance by…
VN Monday Discussion Group 4/11/24 The Autumn Budget
On 4 November 2024, the Independent R&B Discussion Group met to examine the latest budget and its implications for local services, public spending, and policies affecting welfare and business rates. Led by Malcolm Gardner, the session provided detailed insights from experts in local government finance and welfare, with a focus on emerging policies and the…
14/10/24 VN: Monday Discussion Group What Keeps Tom Clark at Enfield Awake at Nights
The discussion group on 21st October 2024, focused on a range of important topics, including council tax collection, welfare assistance, and issues with community interest companies (CICs) managing supported accommodation. Below is a summary of key points and contributions: The recording can be found at https://bit.ly/VNR241014.Files and reports to be downloaded:
14/10/24 VN: Monday Discussion Group Minimum Income Floor, Six Month Warnings & Pension Credit Take-up
The Independent R&B Discussion Group held on 14 October 2024, covered a range of topics related to government reports, pension credit uptake, and Universal Credit issues. Below is a summary of the key points from the discussion, with comments attributed to various speakers. Overview of the Government Reports Malcolm Gardner initiated the conversation by noting…