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Lack of Home Office funding puts more pressure on local Council Tax payers
Matthew Barber Matthew Barber

Lack of Home Office funding puts more pressure on local Council Tax payers

Yesterday I wrote to the Home Secretary regarding the announcement of Government funding for policing made just before Christmas.

The figures published to Parliament in December will leave Thames Valley Police £9m worse off than we expected when preparing the budget! Thos estimates were not based on optimism, but on the Government's own Comprehensive Spending Review carried out last summer.

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Is the government calling time on local pubs?
Local Government, Policy, Westminster Matthew Barber Local Government, Policy, Westminster Matthew Barber

Is the government calling time on local pubs?

Following the Chancellor’s budget in late November, which put an even greater tax burden on millions of people across the country, there was even worse news for our struggling hospitality industry.

New analysis from UKHospitality shows that the average pub’s business rates, even with the reduced multiplier and transitional relief, will increase 15% next year.

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