Policy articles and commentary
Analysis, discussion summaries and practical commentary from people working close to policy and delivery.
The 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 articleSummary 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…
Read articleRevenues and Benefits Discussion Group 7 July 2024 At the latest meeting of the Independent Revenues & Benefits (R&B) Group, members grappled with a familiar but still unresolved dilemma: how to reconcile the administrative…
Read articleReport from the Independent R&B Discussion Group – 30 June 2025 The Independent Revenues & Benefits Discussion Group, chaired by Malcolm Gardner, convened on 30 June 2025 for a wide-ranging discussion on Council Tax…
Read articleBy Paul Howarth Councils across England face an increasingly complex set of challenges as they seek to manage their council tax reduction (CTR) schemes. Alongside financial pressures and the final stages of Universal Credit…
Read articleThe 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…
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…
Read articleIndependent 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…
Read articleSummary 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…
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