Tax
1984 and all that
Forty years from the passing of the Rates Act, how relevant are the provisions designed to give central government control over the governance of local taxation and expenditure, asks Jonathan Werran.
Thanet DC drops tourism tax plan
Thanet DC has decided to drop plans for a tourism tax because the Government has ‘no intention’ of giving the council the powers to implement one.
Lib Dems pledge to scrap business rates
The Lib Dems would deliver tax reforms to ‘revive struggling high streets,’ leader Sir Ed Davey has announced.
Tacking the scourge of waste crime
Government should introduce an intermediate tax band to bridge the gap between standard and lower rates of landfill tax, reducing the incentive for misclassification of waste, says Jonathan Werran.
What the Budget will mean for councils
David Phillips says a focus on tax cuts in the upcoming Budget does not mean councils will go completely unmentioned – but what happens in the next Spending Review will be more important.
Budget: Expect plenty of smoke and mirrors politics
The sector should expect more tax cutting smoke and mirror solutions at this year’s Budget, says Zoë Billingham. She warns: ‘There’ll be no hiding from the fact that taxes will be rising very clearly locally.’
A huge year – but will local government’s voice be heard?
'While politicians are holding the line – that councils have plenty of cash and financial failure equals poor management – there are indications that they know it’s not so clear cut', says Heather Jameson.
Autumn’s big Statement
Sir Bob Neill welcomes the Autumn Statement’s response to councils’ calls for action on the Local Housing Allowance but is concerned by what little there was on adult social care and looked-after children.
Sunak vows to keep public spending down
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has kicked off election year with a promise to keep public spending down and cut taxes.
Future Forum North: Higher taxes bring little cheer for public services
The future for funding public services looks bleak despite record levels of taxation, the MJ’s Future Forum has heard.
Autumn Statement: not what it says on the tin
Kate Ogden says it seems likely either taxes will have to rise further, borrowing will have to rise, or the range and quality of public services provided will have to fall.
Britain faces 'highest tax raising parliament in history', CCN told
Britain currently has the ‘highest tax raising parliament in history’, a leading economist has pointed out.
Land value tax could redistribute billions
A plan to reform business rates could lead to billions of pounds being redistributed from high land value areas to other parts of the country.
Taxing tourists
Should councils be given powers to impose a tourist tax?
Centralisation is not a cosy cocoon
When Detroit went bust it seemed to prove the riskiness of local self-government, says Jessica Studdert. But Birmingham going into effective bankruptcy 'should end any naive assumptions the Whitehall model provides anything like a safety net'.
London council calls for power to impose overnight levy
Westminster City Council has called on the Government to enable local authorities to tax tourists.
Beware the allure of fiscal freedoms
Without boosting local government, plans for financial devolution at a time of such national economic fragility need to be viewed with caution, says Charlotte Alldritt.
Government heads off business rates review
A bid to secure a review of business rates in the House of Lords has failed.
UK debt breaks 100% ceiling
Total UK debt has broken the 100% ceiling as a share of the economy for the first time in 62 years after borrowing doubled.
If the reading of opinion is faulty, nothing gets done
Public preference and tolerance is commonly underestimated and misunderstood, and we need more leaders who understand when to ignore opinion polls, says chief executive of Ipsos Ben Page.
