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Your weekly update of London local government issues

5 Apr 23

Right to Buy rules changes a ‘shot in the arm’ for council housing

London Councils has welcomed the new relaxation of restrictions on how local authorities use the money raised through Right to Buy sales.

The government has told councils they can retain 100% of Right to Buy receipts for 2022/23 and 2023/24. This marks a change from the previous rules on how local authorities could use the sales receipts, which saw much of the money returned to the Treasury rather than being available for building or buying replacement homes for homeless people in the community. The government has also declared a two-year freeze on capping the number of existing homes councils can purchase using Right to Buy receipts.

( [link removed] )London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: “These new flexibilities will provide a shot in the arm for boroughs’ housing ambitions.  We’ve long called for an end to all restrictions on how boroughs can use Right to Buy sales receipts. It is crucial that every penny raised from council house sales is available locally for replacing those homes.

“In the face of London’s worsening homelessness crisis, boroughs urgently need more resources for securing the affordable housing our communities are crying out for. The capital’s housing pressures are the most severe in the country. This intervention is welcome, but we will continue to work with ministers to ensure boroughs get the long-term policy and funding support required for ending the homelessness crisis altogether."

Local government vital to unlocking investment and achieving net zero 

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero last week published ( [link removed] )Powering Up Britain ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), setting out the government's policy plans to enhance energy security and deliver on our net zero commitments.

Responding to the plans, ( [link removed] )London Councils Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment Mayor Philip Glanville ( [link removed] ), ( [link removed] ) said: “While it is positive to see that the ‘Powering Up Britain’ strategy recognises the key role that local government is already playing in the national shared mission to reach net zero, including our ability to unlock private investment, it is crucial local government is recognised as a vital strategic partner to allow us to do more.

“London boroughs have long been calling for simplification of the net zero funding landscape, a key recommendation in ( [link removed] )Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) We welcome the desire to address this barrier in today’s response and stand ready to work with government to collaborate on an effective way to fund local net zero action at a fast pace. Local authorities also need a step change in the certainty and amount of funding that is available to speed up local net zero action.

“Climate change is happening now and ( [link removed] )the impact is being felt by Londoners ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ). Action to tackle it must be accelerated if we want to achieve our net zero goals, not just for some, but for all of London’s diverse communities.”

Ministerial meeting explores tech and digital solutions for London

London Councils' Digital Champion Mayor Philip Glanville and London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) Director Eddie Copeland met with Minister for Tech and Digital Economy, and Minister for London, Paul Scully MP ( [link removed] ) last week to discuss how boroughs are using innovation, data and technology for the benefit of their communities.

The meeting was an opportunity to explore with government how we can use data and tech to improve London's public services and tackle some of London's most pressing challenges. ( [link removed] )You can read more about LOTI and its current projects here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

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New councillor reception

More than 150 councillors of all parties who were elected in the May 2022 borough elections gathered at the Guildhall Art Gallery last week to meet each other and London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould, Vice Chair Chris Hayward and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

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By election result

There was a by election in the Heath ward, Barking & Dagenham, last week (30 March). The by election was won by Harriet Spoor (Labour). ( [link removed] )You can read the result in full here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

London Councils welcome Right to Buy rules change as ‘shot in the arm’
( [link removed] )OnLondon ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Councils set to retain 100% of right to buy receipts for two years
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London boroughs launch training academy to build ‘next generation’ of council housing
( [link removed] )Housing Digital ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Councils stretched despite fund boost
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Quarter of households with children face food insecurity
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Councils’ housing revenue heading into the red
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

ULEZ: Fewer electric car street charging points outside zone
( [link removed] )BBC London ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Plug it in: £100m boost for electric car charging in South-East
( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Austerity undermined local response to COVID-19, study finds
LocalGov ( [link removed] )

London Councils, in partnership with, LB Havering and Work Rights Centre, and with officials from The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, last week ( [link removed] )ran a drop-in session ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), for London MPs to brief them on the current situation for Ukrainian refugees in London.

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London Councils is the collective of local government in London, the 32 boroughs and the City of London.We also run pan-London services like Freedom Pass and Taxicard. 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL | [email protected] ( [email protected] )

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