Yesterday, London Councils hosted its final fringe event of the 2023 party conference season at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Discussing the 'Retrofit revolution: Making our homes greener, warmer and more affordable', our panellists engaged in a lively discussion, exploring some of the unique challenges facing London.

The event was chaired by London Councils' Acting Chair and Leader of Lambeth Council, Cllr Claire Holland, with panellists: Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development; Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, and Gillian Cooper, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice.

The event was covered on our social media channels, with live updates from the venue.

London Innovation and Improvement Alliance (LIIA) have worked with Transport for London (TfL), the Mayor of London and care experienced young people at Partnership for Young London to announce that care leavers aged between 18 and 25, who live in London, will receive half price bus and tram travel from Spring 2024.

Jacqui McShannon, Strategic Director Children's Services and ALDCS Strategic Lead for Care Leaving, Hammersmith & Fulham, said: "London's Directors of Children's Services share the strong commitment to an enhanced and consistent offer to support all care experienced young people across London".

Islington Council has appointed Victoria Lawson as its new Chief Executive, confirmed at Full Council on 28 September.

Victoria is currently Executive Director of Environment, Culture and Customer Services at the London Borough of Hounslow, where she has held senior leadership positions for the last seven years. She is also Chair of
the London Environment Directors Network.

Stephen Biggs will continue as Acting Head of Paid Service of Islington Council until the new Chief Executive begins in post.

There are just a few weeks left to have your say in London Councils' Parking and Traffic Penalty Charges consultation, closing on 23 October 2023. 

Parking charges have not been reviewed since 2010 and rates of parking offences have increased by 50 per cent over the last 12 years. 

More details and how to respond can be found on the London Councils' website here.

By-elections took place in South Tottenham and White Hart Lane wards (Haringey) last week. South Tottenham ward was won by Mark Grosskopf (Lab) and in White Hart Lane Ward, Liam Christopher Sean Carroll (Lab) has been elected councillor. You can read the results in full here.

A by-election also took place in Vauxhall ward (Lambeth) last week. Tom Simon Swaine-Jameson (Lab) has been elected councillor. You can read the results in full here.