The date of the Spring Budget has been confirmed and will take place on 6 March. The deadline for submitting a representation is 5pm on 24 January 2024. 

As with previous major fiscal events, London Councils will making a representation on behalf of London local government.

The London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) will be hosting a lunchtime session exploring the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour) model for implementing behaviour change in organisations.

COM-B is a well established model for behaviour change and has previously mostly been used in public health settings.

The session, on Monday 29 January (12-1pm), will explore the necessary conditions for successful behaviour change, with real world examples and how you can apply them. You can find out more and join the guest list here.

In the latest in our ongoing series of blogs highlighting London boroughs' net zero work, RB Kingston upon Thames' Green Economy Lead, Ioanna Rossi and Green Economy Assistant, Ananya Tewari explain how the council are looking for ways to tackle the barriers to retrofitting and make it more appealing to residents, including the borough’s first ever Efficient Homes Show.

‘Retrofitting’ is the process of making changes to a building that lowers its energy use, improves its energy efficiency and cuts the emissions associated with heating and powering it. It can also bring a range of other benefits. For example, homes which are retrofitted tend to be cheaper to run, more comfortable and healthy to live in, and often increase in value.

You can read the blog post in full here.

The blog is a space for London borough officers and London Councils’ climate programmes to share their work on net zero and adaptation. If you wish to contribute by writing a post or have any questions, please get in touch with London Councils' Climate Communications Officer Katrin Vangelova.

#BeTheSolution

A number of leading figures across London local government and beyond were recognised for their service in the New Year's Honours.

Among those awarded an OBE were Kensington and Chelsea Councillor Ian Henderson, for services to the community; and former Greenwich Councillor Spencer Drury, for political and public service.

MBEs awarded included: LB Camden lead for adult safeguarding, Shabnam Ahmed Butt, for services to social care; LB Enfield strategic lead for children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health, Susan Francis, for services to children with special educational needs; LB Camden independent family group conference co-ordinator Azara Issifu, for services to children and families; and LB Sutton operations assistant, Marco Antonio Valencia, for services to local government.

Micham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), for parliamentary and political service.

Mayor of Bristol, and chair of Core Cities, Marvin Rees was awarded an OBE for services to local government.

Deputy Chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) Abigial Brown was appointed OBE for services to local government; and LGA director of policy Ian Hughes was awarded an MBE for services to local government.

To ensure Key Issues continues to provide the most relevant updates into your inbox each week, we are carrying out a short survey of our readers.

Please complete the 2-minute survey to let us know your thoughts on the content you find most useful.