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Your weekly update of London local government issues

5 July 23

London’s housing pressures going from ‘bad to disastrous’

New research published by London Councils today ( [link removed] ) shows a 41 per cent reduction in the number of London properties available for private rent since the Covid-19 pandemic, amid warnings that turbulence and supply constraints in the private rental market is worsening near-record levels of homelessness across the capital.

The analysis – which represents the most comprehensive study yet published of London’s private rental market and its relationship to homelessness pressures – was undertaken jointly by the LSE and Savills and commissioned by a partnership led by the cross-party group London Councils.

London Councils and the report’s co-funders – Trust for London, Capital Letters, and the London Housing Directors’ Group – say the research is the latest evidence of London’s broken housing market and the need for urgent government action to address rising homelessness. 

With boroughs in the capital collectively spending more than £52 million each month on temporary accommodation and suitable accommodation for homeless households increasingly scarce, London Councils has branded the situation “unmanageable”.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “A bad situation is now becoming disastrous. We’re seeing fast-rising private rents and reduced availability of rental properties against a backdrop of continuing cost-of-living pressures and London’s longstanding shortage of affordable housing. Homelessness is a national emergency, but with London accounting for two-thirds of England’s temporary accommodation, placements we are at the epicentre of this crisis. Urgent action is needed from the government to help households avoid homelessness and to reduce the number in temporary accommodation.”

Contracts for next phase of 
e-scooter trial awarded by TfL

Transport for London has awarded contracts to Dott, Lime and Voi, following a competitive procurement process for operators to run the next phase of London’s rental e-scooter trial.

Last year, ( [link removed] )TfL and London Councils announced they were extending the capital’s trial of rental e-scooters ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) in response to Department for Transport (DfT) guidance that allows local authority trials to continue until 31 May 2024.

The next trial phase will build on what has been learnt from the current trial, as well as providing operators with opportunities to test new onboard technologies, including pavement detection, tandem riding detection and acoustic vehicle alerts. This will ensure that London can continue to learn about e-scooters and the role that they can play in London’s transport network. TfL also expects to see the network of parking locations expanded across the trial.

Net Zero investors event

London Councils, the GLA and the Cities Commission for Climate Investment (3ci) last week held an event for regional investors, bringing together stakeholders to accelerate financial flows into London’s local net zero projects. The event showcased net zero projects at various stages of maturity and an open dialogue about how early-stage schemes can be shaped into compelling investment opportunities.

( [link removed] )You can read more about the 3ci partnership on their website here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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By-election results

Two by-elections took place in London boroughs last week.

In Haringey, the by-election in the Hermitage and Gardens ward was won by Anna Lawton (Labour). ( [link removed] )You can read the result in full here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

In Southwark, the by-election in the Newington ward was won by Youcef Hassaine (Labour). ( [link removed] )You can read the result in full here. ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

Charles Wright: Government knows value of transport infrastructure investment in London, but withholds it anyway OnLondon ( [link removed] )

Net Zero Neighbourhoods: an opportunity to sweeten the deal for investors
( [link removed] )Local Authority Building & Maintenance ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Less than 0.01% of London e-scooter trial trips resulted in serious injury, TfL data shows
( [link removed] )Microbility Biz ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Devolution map: Where are deals progressing?
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

£500m Green Finance Fund opens to London local authorities
( [link removed] )Room 151 ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Councils face £3bn funding gap, LGA warns
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Useful resources

Help with cost of living ( [link removed] )

Disasters Emergency Committee ( [link removed] )

Freedom Pass ( [link removed] )

Taxicard ( [link removed] )

Parking Services ( [link removed] )

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( [link removed] )You can now also follow London Councils  ( [link removed] )
on Instagram  ( [link removed] )

Comments or queries? Email the editor ( [email protected]?subject=Key%20Issues%3A )

visit londoncouncils.gov.uk ( [link removed] )

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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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