Overview

• Samir Shah has called for scrapping the £174.50 flat licence fee in favour of a progressive model linked to property values or council tax bands
• Under the proposal, wealthier households would pay more while those in lower bands could see fees fall below the current rate
• Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has indicated she is open to overhauling the fee structure ahead of the BBC’s 2027 Royal Charter renewal
• Collecting the licence fee with council tax would remove the need to pursue criminal charges against non-payers, Shah says
• Regions without council tax systems, including Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, would require bespoke collection arrangements