Lument’s Post

If you're in business here on the Sunshine Coast, I'd be interested to know why you think business confidence is experiencing its longest trough in 30 years. QLD is simultaneously experiencing the highest growth rate in more than 15 years, with more than 120,000 people moving to Queensland in the year to Sept 2023, an increase of 170% since 2019. With a larger consumer market for businesses servicing the general population, and a larger potential workforce, what do you think is the main reason for the low business confidence?

Industry has 'no confidence' in Rt Hon Rachel Reeves as chancellor. More than half (61%) of industry professionals said they have “no confidence” in chancellor Rachel Reeves, highlighting deep scepticism about her ability to navigate the UK’s economic landscape, according to last week’s PA Asks poll. Check out Sahar Nazir's latest article 👇 https://incm.pub/42qXCJt #financialadviser #investment #investmentmanagement #finance

It's likely to be the single biggest change to the structure of Local Government in 50 years. What are your thoughts? #localgovernment #interimmanagement #executivesearch #reorganisation #devolution

One way for Victoria to support business activity and growth is to increase state property tax rates on residential investment properties.  The Airbnb Tax (which applies commercial property tax levels to Airbnb properties) could be extended to cover all rental investment properties in Australia.  This is one step.  It could replace the repeal of negative gearing.

Our latest #InstinctifTalks episode is an insightful – and timely – conversation with Chris Bose, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Nationwide Building Society! The timing couldn't be more perfect - just as Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces the new Mutual and Co-operative Business Council, with Nationwide as a founding member, we dive deep into Labour's vision for financial services. Key takeaways from our discussion: 💫 Labour's bold plan to double the mutual sector 🏠 Innovative approaches to housing & first-time buyers 📈 Strategic growth plans for financial services 📋 Evolution of financial regulation An essential listen for anyone keen to understand how UK financial services might transform under a Labour government and how to navigate change through comms. #FinancialInclusion #CreditUnions #BuildingSocieties #FinancialServices #Labour #Banking #Mutuals #UKPolitics #PolicyMaking #NavigatingChange

🎙️ New #InstinctifTalks Episode: Labour's Financial Vision We're thrilled to share part 2 of our conversation with Chris Bose, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Nationwide Building Society, exploring Labour's vision for financial services and what it means for the sector. This episode was very topical when we recorded it, and it's become even more so after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new industry-led Mutual and Co-operative Business Council in her Mansion House speech last Thursday, with Nationwide among its founder members. 💡 Key insights: - Labour's commitment to double the mutual sector - Fresh thinking on housing and first-time buyers - Growth ambitions for financial services - The future of financial regulation Essential listening for anyone interested in the future direction of UK financial services under a Labour government. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gAxmGzQX #FinancialInclusion #CreditUnions #BuildingSocieties #FinancialServices #Labour #Banking #Mutuals #UKPolitics #PolicyMaking

🏛️ Balancing Reorganisation: Can we align diverse views on Local Government Reorganisation? Local government reorganisation continues to generate a wide range of views and opinions, with councils, policymakers, and stakeholders bringing different perspectives on structure, scale, and governance. While these positions often diverge, one common thread remains—the shared commitment to delivering high-quality services that meet the needs of local communities 🏡. This week’s parliamentary discussions, particularly the Housing, Communities, and Local Government Committee session on January 28th, highlighted both the complexities and opportunities of reform 🏛️📢. Difficult to narrow down takeaways but a few of my key points from the session are: 🤝 Diverse Perspectives: Testimonies from local government leaders and experts underscored the varying views on optimal governance structures, reinforcing the need for locally tailored solutions. ⚖️ Accountability and Identity: Concerns were raised about ensuring democratic accountability and preserving local identities amid structural changes. 💰 Fiscal Devolution: Discussions explored the potential benefits and challenges of granting greater financial powers to local authorities to enhance resilience and service delivery. As the debate continues, it’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work ❌. The focus must remain on designing governance models that support efficiency, local priorities, and long-term sustainability and there is sufficient time and resource to deliver successful change. Now is the time for constructive engagement to ensure reorganisation strengthens, rather than disrupts, the delivery of vital local services 🏗️. #LocalGovernment #Reorganisation #PublicPolicy #GovernanceReform #LGR

Looking forward to coming together to discuss the potential policy shifts and how they may impact our landscape.  

Local government reform is at the forefront of public discourse, promising to reshape councils’ financial, administrative, and strategic frameworks. However, the success of these reforms hinges on central government’s willingness to provide clear timelines, sustainable funding, and a collaborative approach to policy execution. The reforms’ emphasis on devolution and reorganisation represents a necessary evolution for local governance. Streamlining decision-making processes and empowering regional authorities is a laudable goal. The critical question we must consider is : what will the cost be? But and a big ‘BUT’ is that these reforms cannot succeed without sufficient financial backing. It takes immense funds to establish unitary councils. Many councils today lack the reserves to manage such transitions, raising urgent questions about how central government intends to fund these reforms. At Oxendon Partners we've been having some really interesting convesations and are keen to continue to have more, to help us build up a better picture of what individual stakeholders’ opinions are on LGR. Does it remain ambiguous? Keen to see how this all plays out in the future. If you fancy a conversation, reached out to us: kane.pfeiffer@oxendonpartners.co.uk Enquiries@oxendonpartners.co.uk #LGR #Localgovernment #publicsector

On TBS Economy- reflections on the economic management in the last four months. A chellenging context to start with, some encouraging developments, and things that needed different approach /greater attention.