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 at a time when councils are already under severe pressure. The results showed a sharp fragmentation of local politics. Reform UK…
Category: Section 114
Independent R&B Monday Discussion Group: Spring Statement review: what revenues and benefits practitioners heard beneath the headlines
The latest Independent Revenues and Benefits Monday Discussion Group took the Chancellor’s Spring Statement as its starting point and asked a simple question: what does it really mean when viewed from the frontline of local government? The answer from practitioners was clear enough. However upbeat the national presentation may have sounded, the local picture still…
Independent R&B Monday Discussion Group: CTR judicial reviews, transitional protection, and scheme governance
Meeting note for 9 February 2026 The slide pack is too large to send by email this week. Please download it from is page, alongside the recording and other related reports. The pack is large because it contains significant slides on CTR case law and the Gunning principles. Malcolm Gardner opened with tributes to John…
Monday Discussion Group Returns: From Reshuffles to Rents and AI
The 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 paid tribute to Leigh Barber from NEC, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. Leigh’s determination and his…
Local Government’s Breaking Point: Financial Fragility, Workforce Decline, and the Failure to Focus on Outcomes
Summary of the Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group – 14 July 2025 At the most recent Independent Revenues & Benefits (R&B) Discussion Group, chaired by Malcolm Gardner, local government professionals gave a sobering assessment of the sector’s current state. With escalating financial deficits, an ageing and shrinking workforce, and new pressures from political reforms,…
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…
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…