Insights archive
Malcolm Gardner, Visionary Network Ltd The local election results were not simply a bad night for some parties and a good night for others. They were a warning about the fragility of local government…
Read articleWe reconvened for the first session of 2026 with Malcolm Gardner in the chair, supported by Nicki Duckworth, and a familiar cast of local government finance, revenues and welfare experts, including Naomi Armstrong, Paul…
Read articleIndependent R&B Monday Discussion Group – 20 October 2025 The latest Independent R&B discussion opened with Malcolm Gardner wryly noting that the week’s agenda looked like “a bit of a hodgepodge”—ranging from procurement headaches…
Read articleWhen Reform UK swept to power in several county councils earlier this year, Nigel Farage hailed their victories as a “tectonic shift in British politics.” Kent, in particular, became the test bed for what…
Read articleThe Independent Revenues & Benefits Monday Discussion Group was back on 8 September, with Malcolm Gardner welcoming everyone after the summer break. Smiles all round, though the mood paused for a moment as Malcolm…
Read articleThere is no session this week as the summer break continues on the meantime here is a summary of what has been happening over the last two weeks. The group will return on Monday…
Read articleThe Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group met on 21 July 2025 to reflect on two significant developments: the proposed council tax exemption for terminally ill residents and the government’s investment in local service…
Read articleThe 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…
Read articleMalcolm 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…
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