Tom Wilkinson

Lots of excitement today in the planning world with the publication of revised NPPF and other proposed changes. I will read these over the next week as today my focus has been on preparing annual accounts information in advance of sending to my accountant. What fun! #smallbusiness

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** Purchase your copy of the newly-updated Budget Toolkit today ** With local authority early years funding rates for 2025/26 now published, there has never been a better time to prepare for the new financial year with the Alliance's comprehensive Budget Toolkit. *** NEW FEATURES *** Following recent changes to employer National Insurance contributions, the Toolkit now also allows you to: - confirm whether or not your setting is eligible for Employment Allowance (automatically adjusting your staffing costs accordingly if it is) - manually change the employer National Insurance contributions to future-proof against any potential future changes to this policy. Purchase your copy today here: bit.ly/4gsfmsl

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🗣️ Jonny Haseldine, Policy Manager: "Getting a planning system that works for business is crucial to driving investment and economic growth. We welcome the proposed NPPF changes, and ministers should move quickly to implement them." Read more on our submission to the Government's planning reform consultation 👇 https://lnkd.in/eFVSg_VG

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Leeds City Council Deputy Leader Highlights Significant Financial Challenges in Updated Five-Year Strategy. Leeds City Council recently updated its five-year medium-term financial strategy, highlighting the daunting task of achieving balanced budgets amidst ongoing substantial cost-saving requirements. At the executive board meeting, the council outlined the need to find an additional £273.7 million in savings over the next five fiscal years. This need arises as councils nationwide grapple with escalating costs and increased demands for services, particularly for vulnerable demographics. Significant challenges include the support for looked-after children, particularly those with high needs requiring expensive external placements, and adult social care, where there is a rising demand for services for older people, adults with learning disabilities, and individuals requiring mental health support. This financial strain continues as the council has already been compelled to implement savings of £794.1 million from 2010 through the end of the 2024/25 financial year, underscoring the severe fiscal pressures facing local authorities https://lnkd.in/gGGGSeXk #LeedsNews #LeedsStar #LeedsStarNewspaper #LeedsCityCouncil #VisitLeeds #Leeds

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A higher rate of CGT applies to gains on the disposal of residential property (apart from a principal private residence). In the Spring Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a reduction in the higher rate that exists for residential property to 24% (from 28%) from 6 April 2024. These rates apply to higher rate taxpayers as well as to trustees and personal representatives. The lower rate that applies to basic rate taxpayers remain unchanged at 18% in the current 2024-25 tax year. #CGT #CGTProperty

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The £1.3bn additional funding provided to the LG sector in the Autumn Statement, whilst welcome, is clearly insufficient with an estimated £2.3bn budget gap for councils in 2025/26. A large proportion of this £1.3bn is for social care leaving the remainder to address current and future pressures in local government such as the increase in both employers’ NI contributions and the NLW, which will not be insignificant. However, other funding towards the extension in the Household Support Fund and funding for social housing and EPR will have a positive impact on districts. It’s a decent start but we need Spring’s spending review to start delivering sustainable reform in the sector not just provide a sticking plaster to a broken system.

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The BBC recently published an exaggerated article about MVDC's financial position. Like all councils we face the need to make significant savings to balance our budget in the medium term but the Council has a transformation programme in place to do just that. If the savings outlined are made, reserves will stay at sustainable levels. More information can be found below. https://lnkd.in/efP9Yxnv.molevalley.gov.uk%2F2024%2F11%2F15%2Ffinancial-position-mole-valley-district-council%2F&utm_campaign=aga&utm_source=agsadl1%2Csh%2Fx%2Fgs%2Fm2%2F4

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Post Election, there is even more focus on the state of public sector finances and the need to deliver efficiencies. Our recent project experience shows that the Microsoft Intelligent Automation technology stack is a great way to use AI and RPA to deliver affordable, quick-win Intelligent Automation projects that provide a great ROI. Our team have just released the latest Ceox InView which covers 5 ways to deliver Public Sector efficiencies and savings with Intelligent Automation. The article covers Use Cases and projects where we have seen organisations deliver real benefits including improved service delivery, cost savings and productivity improvements. Ways to Deliver Public Sector Efficiencies & savings with IA. https://lnkd.in/eFfHQscj #UKPublicSector #CentralGovernment #Government #GovTech #DigitalGovernment #Microsoft #MicrosoftPowerPlatform #MicrosoftAI #PowerPlatform #IA #IntelligentAutomation #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #RPA

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A higher rate of CGT applies to gains on the disposal of residential property (apart from a principal private residence). In the Spring Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced a reduction in the higher rate that exists for residential property to 24% (from 28%) from 6 April 2024. These rates apply to higher rate taxpayers as well as to trustees and personal representatives. The lower rate that applies to basic rate taxpayers remain unchanged at 18% in the current 2024-25 tax year. #CGT #CGTProperty

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📢 Public satisfaction in public services is at an all-time low, yet at the same time tax revenues are higher ⬆ than ever. Reform of our public services must be high 📈 on the agenda of any new government, to improve outcomes for the population and provide value for money for the public purse.  As we go to the polls, we have a right to demand that ethics and governance go hand in hand with sound financial management so we get the public services we deserve. #elections https://lnkd.in/eQMThkhQ

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Who do you call when you have a quick finance question? Part of the role I fill for many agencies, is to provide ad hoc help when they need financial assistance. Some of the tasks I have completed over the past couple of weeks: • Pulling relevant information from the budget • Modelling the April 2025 Employers NI changes • Reviewing a set of year end accounts • Liaising with my client's accountants on their behalf • Sense checking spreadsheet calculations • Confirming new expenses wouldn't be unreasonable Sometimes you just need someone to run things by. Someone who knows your business. Someone available & responsive. Fractional finance support - bringing the expertise you need, when you need it.

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Key updates from the 2025-2026 local government finance settlement The UK Government’s provisional local government finance settlement introduces significant changes that will shape local authority funding and planning. From increased social care funding of £3.7 billion to updates on Council Tax, Business Rates Retention, and New Homes Bonus allocations, the settlement provides opportunities and challenges for councils. Read our full blog for key updates and their implications for local authorities: https://hubs.la/Q0309GkX0 #LocalGovernment #FinanceSettlement #PublicSectorPlanning

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The first thought as with many things recently is ‘How?’….given the sector focus, change in regulatory standards and reporting requirements…..this should have been on risk registers (as a minimum linked to other wider risk areas), assurance maps, board and management agendas and without any doubt included on internal audit plans. Maybe it was, but scrutiny and challenge was ineffective. #governance #socialhousing #localauthority

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It was great to be able to contribute to this iNews article and learn how some high-earning individuals are changing their plans ahead of the October Budget in anticipation of higher CGT rates https://lnkd.in/eT6e2iwJ

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In our 2024 Autumn Budget Submission, we urge Government to address the immediate financial pressures faced by councils. Government should: - Provide councils with a significant and sustained increase in overall funding that reflects current and future demands for services. - Provide councils with multi-year and timely finance settlements. - Provide general rather than ring-fenced grant funding, reduce the fragmentation of government funding and end the use of competitive bidding to allocate grant funding. Find a full summary of proposals in our submission document: https://orlo.uk/Y9J64 #LGA #LocalGov #AutumnBudget #SpendingReview #Budget24

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Updated thoughts on the NMW announcement. looking forward to tomorrow and an end to all the speculation…. #ukbudget #NMW #ukeconomy #wales #welshbusiness #welshecononmy #budget2024 #SME #accountants

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The #localgov funding system is broken. Council finances in London and across the country are in crisis. Without sufficient funding, it is simply a matter of time before more councils can no longer meet their obligations and call on the government’s resources to stay afloat. Our analysis shows boroughs in the capital face a £700m funding gap next year. This has major implications for the future of Londoners' local services. As our chair, Cllr Claire Holland, told BBC London News "we have the most dire situation for local government finances that I think we’ve ever faced." #Budget2024 is a crucial chance for the government to restore much-needed stability to borough finances and the local services they provide. https://lnkd.in/ekzYgMFC

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