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Your weekly update of London local government issues

30 Aug 23

Homelessness situation requires urgent action at national level

London Councils has responded to ( [link removed] )new research from the charity Crisis ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), revealing that nearly a quarter of a million households across England are experiencing homelessness.

This aligns with London Councils' own research released earlier this month ( [link removed] ) which showed that one in 50 Londoners are now homeless.

London Councils' Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell said: ( [link removed] ) "The homelessness situation is fast-becoming disastrous and requires urgent action from the government at a national level."

"There are at least 143,000 potential new homes we could begin building immediately in London if the government addressed the barriers to delivery, including by providing additional infrastructure and affordable housing grant funding."

"We cannot afford to delay - this is an emergency situation needing an emergency response."

Stay in touch with progress on London's Climate Programme

London Councils is publishing a series of blogs that spotlight some of the work going on across London's boroughs to deliver London Councils' Climate Programme.

The climate programme covers every area London needs to achieve net zero, which includes:

Retrofitting our buildings to make them cheaper to heat and reduce their impact on the environment;Increasing the number of Londoners employed in the green economy;Ramping up local renewable power;Ensuring that all new developments have a minimal carbon footprint;Advancing low carbon transport;Working with residents and businesses to reduce their consumption-based emissions;Developing the resilience London needs to cope with the extreme weather events that come more frequently and severely with climate change.

The most recent blog, posted by Hounslow Council's Head of Net Zero Neighbourhoods and Green Economy, Steven Wilding, explains how 'Heston in the Loop' is helping to provide a range of circular services for the neighbourhood, including free food growing and composting sessions, repair cafes and workshops, eco-refill stations, and apps that support a zero-waste sharing economy. ( [link removed] )You can read Steven's blog here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London in Brief events

Councillors are invited to register for an upcoming London In Brief event.

On Wednesday 13 September, Cllr Claire Holland, London Councils’ Executive Member for Communities (Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion), will host an event that will explore the Borough of Sanctuary movement, part of a national initiative to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK that are proud to be places of safety and inclusion for people seeking sanctuary. Speakers will include Helena McGinty, LB Lambeth, Operations Manager, and Head of Asylum Support and Maggie Filipova-Rivers from City of Sanctuary. ( [link removed] )Members can register to attend the online event here. ( [link removed] )

Our London in Brief online events are designed exclusively for councillors and feature a broad range of London issues. You can find more about the London in Brief events at www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/events ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

Emergency situation’ as over four fifths of councils see homelessness rise
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Homelessness is ‘an emergency situation needing an emergency response’ – London Councils responds to Crisis report
( [link removed] )London Post ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Fresh calls to raise local housing allowance as councils battle homelessness

The MJ ( [link removed] )

Investment in home improvements could create £10bn boost
LocalGov ( [link removed] )

Rising numbers seek help for energy bill debts, warns Citizens Advice
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

An August surge, two new variants and a Barbenheimer spike: is London facing a Covid autumn?
( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

We are reviewing the London Parking & Traffic Enforcement Penalty Charges and we want you to have your say. The consultation can be found here ( [link removed] ), along with additional information to support you in responding to it

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] )

About London Councils ( [link removed] )

( [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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