London Councils has released new research revealing the growing number of refugees and asylum seekers becoming homeless after leaving Home Office accommodation in London.

Between September and October this year, there was a 39 per cent increase in refugees and asylum seekers making homeless presentations. 

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils' Executive Member for Communities, said: “Boroughs are deeply concerned by the situation, which will only get more dangerous as winter sets in. Those granted asylum need adequate support for settling in the UK, yet too often are forced into sleeping rough on the streets.

“At a time when London already faces enormous and unsustainable homelessness pressures, the government urgently needs to prevent this happening. A longer move-on period for those leaving Home Office accommodation is crucial, as well as funding for the councils whose local services provide vital support and sanctuary for those in need."

This coincided with London Councils hailing the launch of a London Charter to End Rough Sleeping last week. The Charter was created by a pan-London coalition working to end rough sleeping, and enshrines principles and actions needed to tackle the issue. London Councils has been a key partner from the start, driving the project forward alongside homelessness charities, the GLA, and Bloomberg Associates.   

The results of the seventh annual London Councils and London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Business 1000 survey were released last week.

Surveying more than 1,200 London businesses, the findings show that businesses think the next UK government should prioritise tackling climate change and increasing affordable housing (joint at 29%), followed by improving public transport (27%) and easing international trade restrictions (26%).

The survey also found that businesses strongly support greater devolution of powers to local councils, including more control over skills, housing and infrastructure investment.

Mayor Jason Perry, London Councils' Executive Member for London's Future, said: "Businesses have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years and now the increasing cost of doing business, driven by high housing costs and inflation, is putting them under further strain.

“There is a clear need for further devolution to strengthen businesses across the capital, London government currently controls around 7% of the tax raised locally compared with New York’s 50%."

Read more about the findings of the 2023 survey.

London Councils has highlighted that skills shortages are preventing the green economy from achieving climate goals.

The Green Skills report released this week mapped London government skills activity to help cut carbon emissions and achieve net zero. It sought to identify gaps, duplication and areas that need better co-ordination, as well as setting out some of the main skills challenges and opportunities in the green economy.

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, London Councils' Executive Member for Skills and Employment, said: "London boroughs are committed to achieving net zero and doubling the size of the green economy by 2030.

"The Green Skills report shows why we need a real focus and long term funding for green skills. We also need clear strategic direction from national government so the whole country is pulling together on developing the green economy, as well as greater devolution to councils so we can have the powers and autonomy to get things done."

This week marked the opening of Brent Cross West, the first major new mainline station in London in over a decade.

The Thameslink station will serve the new £8 billion Brent Cross Town development, which includes 6,500 new homes and a new university campus for Sheffield Hallam University. It also has one of the largest air source heat pump installations in Europe and will be net zero by 2030.

Mayor Sadiq Khan joined Barnet residents and rail enthusiasts for the opening earlier this week. 

See more about the project here.

A by-election took place in Hayes and Coney Hall Ward, Bromley last week (Thursday 7th December), won by the Local Conservatives candidate, Josh Coldspring-White.

Read the full results on the Bromley website.

On 29th November, there was a City of London by-election in Farringdon Without Ward. Suzanne Ornsby KC won for Temple and Farringdon Together.

See City of London elections on their website.