Policy articles and commentary
Analysis, discussion summaries and practical commentary from people working close to policy and delivery.
We 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 articleHappy new year to you all, and I hope 2026 is a fantastic and exciting year. Ah yes, LGR, local elections, and a fresh dose of Donald Trump inspired international chaos. Come back 2025,…
Read articleSeason’s greetings from everyone at Visionary Network and the Revenues and Benefits Discussion Group. As we wrap up for Christmas, we wanted to share a quick look back at the themes we have covered…
Read articleThe latest Independent R&B Monday Discussion Group opened with Malcolm Gardner welcoming regulars and new faces and acknowledging that, while few people were genuinely excited by the Budget, it was bound to dominate the…
Read article1. Council tax administration High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) The main direct council tax change is the new High Value Council Tax Surcharge: Administrative implications for councils: There are no direct changes to…
Read articleSummary of participant views – 24 November 2025 This week’s Monday Discussion Group opened with a sense of déjà vu. With the Budget only days away, Malcolm Gardner remarked that most of its contents…
Read articleThis week’s Independent R&B Monday Discussion Group gathered to explore the newly released English Indices of Deprivation, with a lively and often sobering conversation ranging from coastal poverty to housing costs, data-sharing barriers and…
Read articleIndependent Revenues & Benefits Monday Discussion Group10 November 2025 The latest Monday Discussion Group, chaired by Malcolm Gardner, explored pension credit take-up, changes to notional pension income rules, and the real impact of the…
Read article27 October 2025 The Independent Revenues and Benefits (R&B) Discussion Group gathered for another lively Monday session chaired by Malcolm Gardner, who began on a light note from “sunny Yorkshire” before steering conversation into…
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…
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