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…
Category: Budget
The Impending End of the Household Support Fund: A Crisis for Families on Low Incomes and Local Economies
As the UK grapples with the economic aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and a turbulent global economy, the impending end of the Household Support Fund (HSF) presents a looming crisis for families on low incomes and local economies across the country. The £820 million hardship scheme, administered by local councils, has been a…
Monday Discussion Group 11/3/24: Budget 2024 Key Elements for Revenues and Benefits– Visionary Network
Last Monday, we discussed key elements from the 2024 budget announcement and how they may impact Local Authorities, specifically the Revenues and Benefits departments. Paul Howarth provided an excellent summary, which you can find in the recording, and there is additional information in the slide pack, plus links to key documents on our website. My…
5/2/25 Monday Discussion Group: Councils Financial Crisis and the Knock On Effects
In our Monday chat, we dove into how the financial troubles facing local councils are also troubling for organizations like charities that depend on council funds. We talked about how this situation might lead more people who usually get help from these charities to seek help directly from the council. We also touched on the…
Monday Discussion Group 8/1/24 — Money, money, money
We returned this week with a great discussion where we looked at the recent Resolution Foundation briefing note for the Health Foundation that looks at pressures on family pay, prices, and properties and the corresponding burdens on it brings to local authority budgets. There is a cyclic pressure of more hard-pressed families turning to equally…
Jan 1 2024 Revenues and Benefits Update Pack
Happy New Year. I wanted to drop you a quick message during our holiday break. I’ve prepared a pack with the latest updates on revenues and benefits, covering what’s been happening with council finances and recent developments from the last couple of weeks. There’s some positive news about the funding settlement, although it still doesn’t…
Impact of Council Tax Rises Creates a Multifaceted Post-Code Lottery
The predicted council tax rises in the UK are projected to have a greater impact on households with lower incomes residing in the northern regions compared to those in the southern regions. This inequality stems from a combination of various factors: 1. Nature of Council Tax System: The Criteria for Determining Council Tax Bands: The…
Monday Discussion Group 26/11/23 Autumn Statement, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In our last meeting of 2023, we’ll be back on January 8, 2024, we covered the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and its effects on the Revenues and Benefits department, along with its impact on citizens and stakeholders. We went through various topics, including changes in business rates, unexpected effects on council tax reduction schemes, and how…
Autumn Statement In a nutshell
Regarding benefits, there is a 6.7 percent increase, aligning with September’s inflation figures. This translates to an average enhancement of £470 for approximately 5.5 million households. Originally, ministers contemplated utilizing October’s inflation figure of 4.6 percent, potentially saving £3 billion but adversely impacting nine million households amidst the escalating cost of living. In addition, LHA…
Monday Discussion Group 20th November 2023 Veterans, Inflation and Rent CVs
In our Monday meeting, we had an insightful discussion about the Veteran’s Support Scheme, initiated by Robert Fox. It was interesting to note that this topic hadn’t been addressed previously. Our conversation revealed an overlooked demographic in our data analysis. We identified several existing veteran support initiatives, notably at the county level, yet observed a…