Mark Sandford
@marksandford.bsky.social
Local and regional government, funding issues, national and regional identity; mostly writing for the House of Commons Library but elsewhere too. Occasional attempts at folk music, cycling, making food
Mark Sandford is a Canadian international lawn bowler.
Source: Wikipedia
Political science
54%
Economics
19%
I would like to put on record my thanks to the late Professor John Stewart, who encouraged me to write something in this space several years ago. Only just found the time and the excuse: the English Devolution Bill is making some changes to these matters commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Supermajorities in UK government
Certain decisions in combined authorities, and in the devolved parliaments, require supermajorities (a higher threshold than a simple majority.)
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
When do UK councils and parliaments need a two-thirds majority, or another proportion that isn't a 'simple' majority, to do something? New House of Commons Library publication on supermajorities commonslibrary.parliament.uk/supermajorit... #devolution #mayors
4) Add a government share of council tax. I've assumed above that a rise in revenue would go to councils, but some authorities (counties, police, mayors) already take a share (a 'precept'). If the money is needed for Government priorities could they take a precept too?
3) A separate mansion tax. Likely not a runner. Anticipate long delays due to legal challenges over valuation, second homes, etc. Should values be based on 1991, like council tax, or on a more recent date? If the latter, why not revalue everywhere? Etc.
This can be done very quickly, by an Order in Parliament. The Scottish Government has done this twice in the last decade, raising the band ratios for bands E, F, G and H.
The effects would - time permitting - feed through to the review of council funding that is due to take effect in April.
The effects would - time permitting - feed through to the review of council funding that is due to take effect in April.
2) Adjust the band ratios. Currently, in any given council, the council tax bills in different bands are in fixed ratios. So a band H bill is always double a band D bill, for instance.
However, this could be changed so that, for instance, a band H bill is 3x a band D bill
However, this could be changed so that, for instance, a band H bill is 3x a band D bill
That points towards doing a full revaluation. That would take a long time, thus increasing the time for argument over what new bands should look like, and also creating more delay before councils actually see any extra funding from this source
1) Add extra bands - I, J, K etc - and charge them higher rates.
BUT to put properties in those higher bands you really need to check all properties. You can't assume that properties that belong in higher bands - however defined - are all currently in (say) bands G and H
BUT to put properties in those higher bands you really need to check all properties. You can't assume that properties that belong in higher bands - however defined - are all currently in (say) bands G and H
So how exactly do you go about changing #counciltax in order to obtain more money from valuable properties?
This won’t be the big thing everyone’s talking about today, but shows how little ministers believe in empowering English local government. Ministers decide where funding goes and MPs want a say in how it’s spent. Local government as delivery agents rather than instruments of local democracy.
Labour to stop Reform councils taking credit for deprivation cash
The Pride in Place fund offers up to £20 million to be allocated by respected local figures — but Labour MPs fear Nigel Farage’s influence and want a greater role
www.thetimes.com
It's also very bizarre constitutionally to permit MPs any form of say over local spending decisions, although it might sound intuitive. MPs have never had decision-making rights of this sort. The only precedent is the predecessors of this funding programme under the Johnson/Sunak administrations.
Reposted by Mark Sandford
Labour to stop Reform councils taking credit for deprivation cash
The Pride in Place fund offers up to £20 million to be allocated by respected local figures — but Labour MPs fear Nigel Farage’s influence and want a greater role
www.thetimes.com
This won’t be the big thing everyone’s talking about today, but shows how little ministers believe in empowering English local government. Ministers decide where funding goes and MPs want a say in how it’s spent. Local government as delivery agents rather than instruments of local democracy.
Rachel Reeves plans Budget tax raid on expensive homes
UK chancellor predicted to plump for ‘least worst option’ of creating higher council tax bands in England
www.ft.com
Council tax raid? www.ft.com/content/8fce... Is it possible to raise taxes on 'expensive homes' through the council tax system without a revaluation? Many 'expensive homes' will have been below bands G and H 35 years ago...
Neglected Solutions to Our Biggest Problems
Dani Rodrik argues that we already have the tools we need to address the world's biggest economic challenges.
www.project-syndicate.org
www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/c...
There are - very initial - signs that sub-national government in England is on this track: collaboration, integrated funding, local innovation. Can these lead to real change in governance practices?
There are - very initial - signs that sub-national government in England is on this track: collaboration, integrated funding, local innovation. Can these lead to real change in governance practices?
Reposted by Dani Rodrik
Sub-national experimentation hailed by Dani Rodrik:
"in advanced and developing economies alike, there are many subnational experiments in which partnerships between government agencies and the private sector or civic groups are delivering meaningful economic transformations."
"in advanced and developing economies alike, there are many subnational experiments in which partnerships between government agencies and the private sector or civic groups are delivering meaningful economic transformations."
Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
questions-statements.parliament.uk
Woking to have £500m of debt repaid as part of reorganisation questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat... That is a lot bigger commitment than I expected, raises prospect of moral hazard, but likely unavoidable in the circumstances
This is why I wouldn’t put too much stock in current MRP results showing reform majority - voters can and do tactically co-ordinate as we saw last July with anti-Con tactical voting. Indeed, strong MRP results for Reform may help inform and encourage anti-Farage tactical voting.
It's easy to look at stuff like this and assume the next general election is going to a mess. But there are 650 individual contests — in which voters are pretty adept at working out which lever they need to pull to get the result they want.
Exactly this. One could also look at the 50% turnout - up from 43% *at the last all-out Assembly election* - and conclude that greater party competitiveness is revitalising political participation!
Reposted by Tim Bale, Mark Sandford
It's easy to look at stuff like this and assume the next general election is going to a mess. But there are 650 individual contests — in which voters are pretty adept at working out which lever they need to pull to get the result they want.
This is why I wouldn’t put too much stock in current MRP results showing reform majority - voters can and do tactically co-ordinate as we saw last July with anti-Con tactical voting. Indeed, strong MRP results for Reform may help inform and encourage anti-Farage tactical voting.
Secretary of State’s Annual Report on English Devolution 2024-25
www.gov.uk
The Government has published the 2024-25 Devolution Annual Report earlier this week: www.gov.uk/government/p...
This is much speedier than usual: normally the annual report appears about 11-12 months after the financial year in question!
This is much speedier than usual: normally the annual report appears about 11-12 months after the financial year in question!
Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Mark Sandford
These words from a Tory activist in Kruger's seat deserve some attention.
4) Data, data, data. But also analysis, and narrative. This is important as the foundation for relationships with central govt and localities, but also for building some level of trust with the electorate. If they don't know what mayors do, tell them, then tell them again.
3) Convening isn't a substitute for hard power. Mayors need to bring something to the table: powers, funding, managing upward (of govt depts).
2) Shared understandings of priorities are important. Government guidance, conditions for mayors' funding, central regulatory priorities need to be telling the same story. The current Bill, and adjacent work, clearly appreciates this but we have yet to see coherent partnership develop.
1) Leadership, vision, strategic planning, convening, whatever you want to call it: it's real and it makes a difference to local actors in the public, private and third sectors. It's not everything but it is something.
How democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times
This article explores how democratically elected mayors can achieve mission-oriented policies in turbulent times. Drawing on 132 interviews with decision-makers in England, it uses the case of heal...
www.tandfonline.com
What do English mayors do, and how do they get things done? Looked into this with colleagues from University of Bristol and the result is here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Tl:dr;
Tl:dr;
Chris Dillow | Substack
My personal Substack. Click to read Chris Dillow, a Substack publication. Launched 6 days ago.
chrisdillow.substack.com
I'm not big on returning multiple times to specific Substacks and blogs and so on but I have always found 'Stumbling and Mumbling' very thought-provoking and erudite - and most importantly, not predictable in its outlook. So will definitely be checking this one out chrisdillow.substack.com
This is vile. Local guy speaks to Sky News about the impact of asylum seekers protests. Watch what happens and share widely
Mark Sandford
@marksandford.bsky.social
· Aug 20
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-25
A briefing on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2024-25
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
English devolution will be moving onwards via the English Devolution Bill, in the House of Commons on 2 September. Find out more in the House of Commons Library briefing at commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Mark Sandford
@marksandford.bsky.social
· Aug 16
My one quibble with @jpspencer.bsky.social is him saying that this doesn't necessarily mean taxes won't have to go up. I basically don't see how fiscal devolution can even work in a country where every part of England bar London is a net recipient if you are not having some v hefty increases:
Building the future
To build the future, we must learn from history
futurenorth.substack.com
Not sure this is a deal breaker. In Sweden, every region bar Stockholm is a net recipient. Local taxes and redistribution still co-exist (relatively) peacefully, as they do in Germany, Italy, Denmark etcetera
Reposted by Mark Sandford
Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social
· Aug 15
Building the future
To build the future, we must learn from history
futurenorth.substack.com
My one quibble with @jpspencer.bsky.social is him saying that this doesn't necessarily mean taxes won't have to go up. I basically don't see how fiscal devolution can even work in a country where every part of England bar London is a net recipient if you are not having some v hefty increases:
Reposted by Will Jennings, Mark Sandford
There is v little evidence of appetite for any national wave of protests, despite efforts online + in media to promote it
Rather there are larger local protests (Epping, Newcastle, Nuneaton) related to specific local incidents, with patchy, mostly floundering efforts to generate a wave of protest
Rather there are larger local protests (Epping, Newcastle, Nuneaton) related to specific local incidents, with patchy, mostly floundering efforts to generate a wave of protest