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Your weekly update of London local government issues

24 Jan 24

Provisional 2024/25 Local Government Finance Settlement

Last week London Councils formally responded to the government's consultation on the Provisional 2024/25 Local Government Finance Settlement.

As our response makes clear, despite the planned 4.6% increase in core spending power, London boroughs’ overall resources will remain 15% lower in real terms than in 2010.

Boroughs in the capital still face a funding shortfall of at least £500 million in 2024/25, driven by enormous pressures on services, especially adult social care, children’s services, and homelessness support.

The local government finance system is broken and needs comprehensive reform. Without significant investment and funding changes, further Section 114 notices are likely.

( [link removed] )You can read our consultation response in full here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London Councils will also be making a representation to government ahead of the Spring Budget, due to take place on 6 March. 

Refugee integration

As ( [link removed] )Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, OBE outlined in a House of Lords debate on refugee integration last week ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), boroughs are providing vital support to new refugees to help them rebuild their lives in London.

We're calling on the government to fund this vital work to help refugees avoid homelessness and contribute to our country. (Click image below to watch video).

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Counter terrorism training 

The Counter Terrorism Alliance -  a joint partnership that brings together the knowledge of policing, the private and public sectors to counter terrorism – provides a free, online training platform, educating businesses and the public on how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour and understand what to do in the event of a major incident. 

( [link removed] )If are intreseted in finding out more, you can register to attend ACT Awareness e-learning here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

By-election results

Four by-elections took place in London boroughs last week (all took place on Thursday 18 January).

In the London Borough of Hackney, the by-election for Cazenove Ward was won by Conservative candidate Ian Sharer. You can read the result in full on the LB Hackney website here. ( [link removed] )

Two by-elections took place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The Teddington ward was won by Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Baker, while the by-election in Hampton North was won by Liberal Democrat candidate Carey Bishop. ( [link removed] )You can read both results in full on the LB Richmond website here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

In the London Borough of Wandsworth, a by-election in the Tooting Broadway ward was won by Labour candidate Sean Lawless. You can read the result in full on the LB Wandsworth website here. ( [link removed] )

Yesterday also marked 100 days until Londoners go to the polls, on Thursday 2 May, to elect a Mayor of London and 25 London Assembly Members. Following the passing of the Elections Act, London Elects is reminding Londoners of some important changes to the way we vote, including the need to show photo ID at polling stations and a change from supplementary voting (indicating a first and second preference) to 'first past the post' in Mayoral elections. You can read more on the London Elects website here. ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

More than 40 Tory MPs call for extra council funding
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

MPs demand action on 'catastrophic' impact of poor housing on health
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

LOTI receives thumbs up from evaluation report
UK Authority ( [link removed] )

New ombudsman confirmed
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Data collection to begin on ‘underappreciated’ libraries
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Marvin Rees OBE: The lack of a national strategy for cities is a national failing
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [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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