The London Housing Directors' Group, with the support of London Councils, has led a new shared vision for delivering high-quality landlord services to council tenants in the capital.

Published last week, their report: Delivering for Tenants: The Foundations of an Effective Local Authority Landlord Service, sets out best practice principles on how boroughs can go beyond their statutory and regulatory responsibilities to deliver the highest possible housing standards.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “Boroughs are proud social landlords. Social housing is a vital part of London’s infrastructure that provides affordable homes for hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

“However, the social housing sector is under massive pressure. Too often we have seen examples of tenants living in poor-quality housing and receiving a substandard service. Our tenants deserve better. Everyone should have a home that they can be proud of. This report will help us make that ambition a reality and I am grateful to everyone – especially tenants – who contributed to putting it together.

“When it comes to deciding the future of social housing in London, national policy and investment decisions remain fundamental factors. Boroughs will continue to work with ministers on this important agenda and push for the funding required to support our shared goals.”

98 per cent of children due to start primary school in London this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools, figures published by the Pan London Admissions Board this week have revealed.

The Pan London Admissions Board has overall responsibility for the school application co-ordination scheme in the capital. Membership includes representatives of the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services, the London Inter Authority Admissions Group and the London Grid for Learning.

London primary schools received 87,277 applications in total this year, a 2.67 per cent decrease compared to last year.

London Councils Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Ian Edwards, said: “It is positive that once again the overwhelming majority of children have an offer from one of their preferred schools. Boroughs have worked diligently with schools to ensure there are the places needed to meet demand across the capital.

“London boroughs are continuing to work with schools experiencing decreasing demand for school places to achieve good outcomes for young Londoners. London still has the best performing schools in the country and it is essential we protect them in this difficult climate.

“We remain keen to work with government to respond to pressures surrounding primary school places and to support the growing demand for development of specialist SEND provision at a local level, ensuring that that all London pupils have the best start in life.”

London Funders– the cross-sector membership network for funders and investors in London’s civil society – will be hosting its annual Festival of Learning from 10 to 24 May.

This year;s programme will feature a number of in-person networking events, kicking off with  ‘Let’s get the learning started’ on 10 May (3-5pm, St Luke's Community Centre, EC1) and concluding with The Festival Finale on 24 May (2-5pm, The Phoenix Garden, WC2)

The complete festival programme and booking links are available on the London Funders website here.

There will be a national test of the UK’s new Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 23 April at 15:00.

The test alert will be sent to most mobile phones across the UK. Devices will make a distinct, siren-like sound for up to 10 seconds, including on phones switched to silent mode. Phones will also vibrate and display a message about the test. The test message will say:

"This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

"In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe."

You can hear an example of what the test will look and sound like in the government's short explainer video here.