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Your weekly update of London local government issues

18 Oct 23

Borough budgets on 'knife edge'

London Councils has released new analysis warning that boroughs need to make over £500m of savings next year to balance their budgets.

Nine in ten London boroughs expect to overspend on their budgets this year - estimated at over £400m in total across the capital.

Cllr Claire Holland, Acting Chair of London Councils, said: ( [link removed] ) "Borough finances are on a knife edge - with grim implications for the future of local services in the capital."

"The combination of higher costs due to spiralling inflation, skyrocketing demand for services, and insufficient levels of government funding leaves boroughs in an extremely precarious position."

Ahead of the government's Autumn Statement in November, London Councils has ( [link removed] )launched its key priorities ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ). These include an overall funding increase of at least 9 per cent, investment to reduce homelessness, and reforms to the broken local government finance system.

London Device Bank 

London Office of Technology and Innovation ( [link removed] ) (LOTI) has been supporting the London Device Bank ( [link removed] ), a project which has prevented over 2.5 million kg of CO2 emissions in its first year of service.

The London Device Bank is part of ( [link removed] )Get Online London ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), a digital inclusion service by Good Things Foundation ( [link removed] ), offering free refurbished devices to digitally excluded people.

Eddie Copeland, Director at LOTI, said: ( [link removed] ) "We're delighted to see these remarkable achievements by Get Online London in its first year of service, further cementing its place as London's sustainable solution to digital exclusion.

"Tackling London's digital divide is a key element in building a fairer and more prosperous city. Current rates of digital exclusion are unsustainable and make other forms of inequality worse."

Circular Economy Week 

One World Living, one of seven themes in London Councils' pan-London Climate Programme ( [link removed] ), is hosting its annual conference this Wednesday (18 October) as part of ReLondon's ( [link removed] )Circular Economy Week ( [link removed] ).

Hosted online, the conference is open to local authorities and their partners, providing the latest update on the theme, showcasing its work through live case studies and explaining how boroughs can get involved.

Sign up to attend via Eventbrite ( [link removed] ).

You can find the latest updates from the London Councils Climate Programme on our blog ( [link removed] ) and social media ( [link removed] ).

Parking and traffic consultation

The deadline to complete the ( [link removed] )London Councils' Parking and Traffic Penalty Charges consultation ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) is next Monday, 23 October.

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 ( [link removed] )London Councils' website here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

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Media round-up...

London Councils warns borough budgets are 'on knife edge'
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London Councils eyes apprenticeship levy devolution

LocalGov ( [link removed] )

Ministers alter pitch to drivers after overstating London penalty appeals
Financial Times ( [link removed] )

Political heat is rising

The MJ ( [link removed] )

Feeding the family has been a struggle, say one in four London parents
( [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. Please note: This consultation will close on 23 October 2023.

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] )

( [link removed] )

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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