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Your weekly update of London local government issues

15 Nov 23

Tens of thousands more Londoners face homelessness unless LHA level is raised, new research reveals

Almost 60,000 Londoners living in the private rented sector are likely to become homeless over the next six years if the government maintains the freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA), ( [link removed] )according to new analysis for London Councils. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

LHA rates are used to calculate Housing Benefit for tenants renting from private landlords.  In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the government lifted LHA rates in April 2020 to cover the 30th percentile of local market rents. However, since this point LHA rates have once again been frozen – despite a dramatic rise in rents over the same period.One in seven London private renters are reliant on LHA to meet their housing costs.

( [link removed] )Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) said: "Raising Local Housing Allowance is vital for getting a grip on the homelessness crisis.

“London is the epicentre of the national homelessness crisis. The situation is increasingly unmanageable and requires urgent government action. We cannot continue in this disastrous direction.

“Just as the government boosted LHA during the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent a wave of mass homelessness, we need a similar emergency response to the situation today. An increase in LHA will help low-income households pay their rents and avoid homelessness, which can be so devastating to families and bring massive costs to local services.”

APPGs discuss apprenticeships

The APPG for London ( [link removed] ) and the ( [link removed] )APPG on Apprenticeships ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) hosted a joint event in Parliament on Monday to explore with apprentices and businesses in London what can be done to ensure apprenticeships continue to be a way to boost social mobility.

Representing London Councils, our Executive Member for Skills and Employment Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE highlighted that the decreasing number of young people starting apprenticeships since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and the pandemic was particularly alarming in an age of disruption, where existing jobs are changing fast, or won't exist in the future.

London Councils is working to promote apprenticeship opportunities across the capital. You can find out more about the opportunities in your borough by ( [link removed] )using our interactive map here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London Councils hosts the annual London Borough Apprenticeship Awards that recognise the exceptional impact of apprentices working across London local government in a range of sectors including finance, housing, regeneration, and waste and recycling. ( [link removed] )You can read more about this years’ winners here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

New Mayor of Hackney

Labour candidate Caroline Woodley (left) has been elected as the new Executive Mayor of Hackney. The election took place on Thursday 9 November. 

You can read the result in full on Hackney's website here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

Ministerial appointments

Simon Hoare has been appointed Local Government Minister at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities as part of the Prime Minister’s reshuffle,on Monday, which also saw Lee Rowley appointed Housing Minister and Greg Hands appointed Minister for London.

You can find a comprehensive list of all the Ministerial appointments in Monday's reshuffle here. ( [link removed] )

By-election result

Dawn Atkinson (Labour) was elected ward councillor for Lewisham's Deptford ward in a by-election last week (9 November).

( [link removed] )You can read the result in full on Lewisham's website here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

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Media round-up...

London rough sleeper numbers at highest seen in count
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London boroughs call for homelessness prevention support
( [link removed] )PSE ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Call for 'urgent action on deepening housing crisis'
The MJ ( [link removed] )

Chris Naylor: s114 reports don’t deliver sustainable councils, they just make matters worse
( [link removed] )Room 151 ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Local government finances are reaching a tipping point
( [link removed] )Today in Parliament, BBC Radio 4 ( [link removed] )

‘Broken’ and ‘dodgy’ markets to blame for financial pressure
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Grenfell Tower fire: Memorial construction could start in 2026
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [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] )

About London Councils ( [link removed] )

Do It London has this week relaunched its ( [link removed] )#besureknowthefour ( [link removed] ) 
campaign to remind everyone that combination prevention is still the most effective strategy to prevent HIV.

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