Mark Sandford | Lightnews

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 4d

How could business rates be improved so as to provide solid funding and encourage growth? Some ideas from me and @muldoonsmith.bsky.social url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/J-b9CVA3BF...

New development: How could incentive-based sources of finance fund English local government effectively?

The UK government’s Fair Funding Review will introduce major changes to the allocation of local government funding from 2026. Government policy statements indicate that scope still remains for adju...

url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 4d

With the government reportedly about to provide additional support for pubs on business rates - what would this mean and how would it work? See commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri... for what we know at the time of writing

What is happening to business rates on pubs?

Some pubs may have to pay significantly higher business rates from April 2026. This follows business rates revaluation and the removal of covid-era relief.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 6d

Interesting that "Northern mayors" get name-checked in this article. How significant is their existence, and involvement, in this reported decision?

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 6d

All this would have been much easier with a genuinely empowered tier of sub-national government which could plan and deliver infrastructure like this without having to constantly seek permission from Whitehall.

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · 6d

All this would have been much easier with a genuinely empowered tier of sub-national government which could plan and deliver infrastructure like this without having to constantly seek permission from Whitehall.

Jennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 7d

Excl

Birmingham to Manchester is back on

as.ft.com/r/771bb6e6-4...

Ministers to announce new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester

[FREE TO READ] Government will reveal much-delayed plans for major new and upgraded rail links in north of England

as.ft.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks JP for this, I had no idea that these were all run from a single source. It is indeed a very positive development

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · 12d

Overall a key lesson from this story is the power of new organisations to make positive change – Mill Media is to be commended for pushing the boundaries of new media and local democracy.

Thanks to @djstimms.bsky.social for the chat.

Read more here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/is-this-th...

6/6

Is this the future of local news?

The Manchester Mill model goes nationwide

futurenorth.substack.com

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · 12d

Overall a key lesson from this story is the power of new organisations to make positive change – Mill Media is to be commended for pushing the boundaries of new media and local democracy.

Thanks to @djstimms.bsky.social for the chat.

Read more here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/is-this-th...

6/6

Is this the future of local news?

The Manchester Mill model goes nationwide

futurenorth.substack.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 18

No legal power to send in the NAO

But this would not have precluded a best value review in conjunction with the auditors, for instance

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 15

Yes the plural is doing a lot of heavy lifting there

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Dec 15

FAO business case nerds: government are finally getting round to publishing business cases.

This has been a long time coming - I remember working on ideas around this over three years ago.

So well done to the government for actually getting on with it.

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Business case publications: collection

This is a collection page for major project and programme business cases.

www.gov.uk

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Dec 15

FAO business case nerds: government are finally getting round to publishing business cases.

This has been a long time coming - I remember working on ideas around this over three years ago.

So well done to the government for actually getting on with it.

www.gov.uk/government/c...

Business case publications: collection

This is a collection page for major project and programme business cases.

www.gov.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Dec 1

Legend has it that that song was actually about Dylan. “I’ve lost my harmonica, Albert…”

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Nov 30

🎶I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left handed🎶

Reaching back into my collection for an album from 59 years ago. A favourite of the lunchtime music club at school. We had no idea who Ayn Rand was but Dylan style word play was all the rage at the time

David Higham @oldtrotter.bsky.social · Nov 30

🎶I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded
Communist, 'cause I'm left handed🎶

Reaching back into my collection for an album from 59 years ago. A favourite of the lunchtime music club at school. We had no idea who Ayn Rand was but Dylan style word play was all the rage at the time

Alan Renwick @alanrenwick.bsky.social · Nov 28

We're recruiting!

Please do spread the news far and wide. We're excited by the prospect of being joined by another great new colleague!

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Nov 28

Join and help to lead the Constitution Unit!

@uclspp.bsky.social is looking for a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics who will also join our senior team and contribute to our research and impact activities.

Applicants must have, or be near to finishing, a PhD.

Apply 👇

Job opportunity: Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics

The UCL Department of Political Science and Constitution Unit are seeking to appoint a Lecturer in British and Comparative Politics. The successful candidate will join the senior team at the Unit.

www.ucl.ac.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 25

What's a 'tourist tax' or 'visitor levy', how does it work, what are the options for England? See some background here commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Tourist taxes: policy and debates

A briefing about transient visitor levies or 'tourist taxes', including information on plans for the introduction of tourist taxes in Scotland and Wales.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · Nov 25

This edition includes contributions from Dave Busfield-Birch, Tom Fleming, Jim Gallagher, Robert Hazell, @rowaninlondon.bsky.social, @lisajames.bsky.social, @hannahkelly.bsky.social, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, Meg Russell, @marksandford.bsky.social, @paulsilk.bsky.social and @alanwhysall.bsky.social.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 20

This is really interesting, JP. Any thoughts as to why Rotherham's productivity started climbing in 2021 specifically? I know that's around the time that the mayoralty got full powers but I'd be loath to claim a direct association...

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Nov 20

Read more about the rise of Rotherham and South Yorkshire’s economy in the new post below.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...

6/6

What lies behind the rise of Rotherham?

Understanding the economy of South Yorkshire - and what the future might hold

futurenorth.substack.com

JP Spencer @jpspencer.bsky.social · Nov 20

Read more about the rise of Rotherham and South Yorkshire’s economy in the new post below.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...

6/6

What lies behind the rise of Rotherham?

Understanding the economy of South Yorkshire - and what the future might hold

futurenorth.substack.com

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 19

Delighted to discover that Dick Advocaat is the coach of Curacao's men's football team. Nominative determinism lives!

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 17

What does a tourist tax look like? For information about what has been done in Scotland and Wales, see commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Tourist taxes: policy and debates

A briefing about transient visitor levies or 'tourist taxes', including information on plans for the introduction of tourist taxes in Scotland and Wales.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 17

Tourist tax may be introduced via English Devolution Bill, says The Times: www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Rachel Reeves may allow tourism tax, increasing the price of staycation

The chancellor is expected to announce in the budget that mayors will be given sweeping powers to raise taxes by charging visitors a levy on an overnight stay

www.thetimes.com

Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · Nov 16

I was tagged and asked to take a look at this claim - cos, well just look at it!🙄

Does it seem plausible that THE Trocadero is going to be turned into a Mosque?

It was pretty easy to debunk but I decided to do a deep dive into the reality AND the appalling press coverage

🧵
1/26

Danny Shaw @dannyshaw.bsky.social · Nov 13

BREAKING Home Office is about to announce that police and crime commissioners are to be scrapped..
Established in 2012 by Theresa May, Labour has never been a fan of the PCC system…they’ll be replaced in 2028 by policing mayors & local policing boards ..

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 5

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...

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 5

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

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

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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?

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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.

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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

Mark Sandford @marksandford.bsky.social · Nov 4

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

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