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Key Issues from London Councils
Your weekly update of London local government issues
29 January 2020

Call for a transformation of GP and primary care premises

Borough leaders are concerned by the deteriorating condition of much of the capital’s primary care infrastructure.


Research suggests 51 per cent of London GP surgeries are in need of some refurbishment, while 13 per cent were poor, very poor, or terrible and should be rebuilt. A third of practices were found to be inaccessible for people in wheelchairs.


Cllr Ray Puddifoot MBE, London Councils’ Executive Member for Health & Care, said: "Boroughs want to work with NHS colleagues to deliver a new generation of primary care premises. We know that some areas of the capital are poorly served by the current distribution of services, leaving too many Londoners struggling to access a local GP."

London’s micro businesses “punching above their weight”

A new report commissioned by London Councils from the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) shows London’s micro businesses have grown 50 per cent between 2010 and 2018.


Even London’s finance and insurance industries, traditionally seen as dominated by large companies, have significant micro business communities - 58 per cent of the capital's workplaces in these industries employ fewer than 10 people.


Cllr Clare Coghill, London Councils’ Executive Member for Business, Europe & Good Growth, said: “London boroughs are committed to working with our local micro businesses so we can better support them - especially ones that are looking to scale up and play their role in building an economy that works for all Londoners."

Build on Local Government Finance Settlement

London Councils is calling on MHCLG and the Treasury to build on the most positive Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade by tackling long-term funding issues that are holding London boroughs back.


Responding to a consultation on the provisional 2020/21 Local Government Finance Settlement, London Councils welcomed the much-needed increase in funding to the sector, but highlighted that despite this London boroughs will still face a £200 million funding shortfall next year.


Cllr Peter John OBE, Chair of London Councils, said: “We look forward to working with MHCLG and Treasury on the Fair Funding Review, Business Rates Retention and Spending Review 2020 to ensure London boroughs have the resources, powers and freedoms they need to deal with the growing demand for local services in the capital.”

Brent by election

Anton Georgiou (Lib Dem), Sonia Shah (Lab) , Gaynor Lloyd (Lab) and Mansoor Akram (Lab) were elected to Brent Council after winning seats in the by-election held in Alperton, Barnhill and Wembley Central wards last week.


You can find the full breakdown of the results in each of the wards on LB Brent’s website here



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