Tax me

Whilst still pushing the idea of partially funding the BBC from a broadband charge, I'm still firmly convinced there's a case for taking the money from either a) council tax, or b) general taxation. 

The case for council tax would require syncrhonisation with a much-needed revaluation. Bands are still based on figures from 1991. 

The case for taking it from general taxation might give a sensible kickstart to some easy partnerships. For example, in black and white days, the BBC was not averse to the odd public service information film. The NHS is coy about how much it spends on advertising; a recent promotion of pharmacy services cost £2.5m alone. BBC Bitesize continues to be pivotal to any small improvements there may be in GCSE results. I could stomach a few promotions for online energy monitoring or insulation as a price for keeping the BBC going.  Many of the Government's national emergency strategies rely on the BBC, in terms of communicating online, via tv and radio. Put a price on that lot, and sit harder on the advertising budgets of a whole range of Government departments.   

Evasion disappears once the BBC's funding comes from taxation; so the annual costs of collection (c£166m last year) 'come back' to Auntie; and, presuming the new funding algorithm is based on numbers of households, up to £1bn 'comes back' suppressing the growing evasion rate, currently somewhere around 12.5%.  

In the old days, the licence fee was tied in with broadcasting spectrum; in the digital world, it would not be unreasonable to say the Government makes big decisions about frequency availability, and, as we now have 97% of households with 'superfast broadband', and costs, in real terms, dropping since 2019, a wee surchage would not difficult to contemplate. 

Controls ?  We currently have at least 8 independent pay review bodies. Build on that mechanism to set a PSB income strategy every five years in advance. At least a bit better than being at the whim of whoever sits in No 11 Downing Street.