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Your weekly update of London local government issues

31 Jan 24

Spring Budget: London local government priorities

London Councils has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, ahead of the Spring Budget, due to be announced on 6 March, to set out London local government's most pressing priorities, with recommendations aimed at stabilising local public services, protecting the most vulnerable from the cost of living crisis and stimulating economic growth.

These include: Extending  the Household Support Fund to support our most vulnerable residents; Removing the January 2011 cap on Local Housing Allowance payable for Temporary Accommodation in Housing Benefit subsidy; Providing new funding for delivering wraparound support for newly recognised refugees. Providing additional funding for council Housing Revenue Accounts to support an improvement in standards throughout 2024/25 and address the critical challenge of damp and mould; Increasing Adult Social Care market sustainability funding to reflect inflationary pressures and increase discharge funding to ensure patients receive reablement support to become physically fit, regain their independence and return to their ordinary residence; Delivering a fully devolved single employment and skills fund to reduce London’s huge skills shortages, with three-quarters of firms having open vacancies and two-thirds struggling to fill them;  Reintroducing the VAT Retail Export Scheme for foreign visitors to make London and other UK destinations more competitive for overseas shoppers; Establishing a partnership with local government through the Cities Commission on Climate Investment (3Ci) to catalyse private investment into local net zero programmes and pilot neighbourhood level approaches to decarbonisation; Commit to offering deeper devolution to London government.

( [link removed] )You can read our letter to the Chancellor in full here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

New report: Managing Falling School Rolls in London

A new report from London Councils highlights that London boroughs are forecasting a drop in demand of 7,904 places across reception and Year 7 between 23/24 and 27/28.

The reduction in school places will have a significant impact on the amount of funding a school receives, meaning London schools will have to make further difficult decisions to balance their budgets. This could mean narrowing the curriculum, offering fewer after school clubs or reducing the number of teaching and support staff. In some cases, school leaders and local authority leaders will have to make difficult decisions to merge or close schools.

Responding to the report’s findings Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils Executive Member for Children and Young People ( [link removed] ), said: “London boroughs are seeing a significant reduction in the number of pupils beginning primary and secondary education, which has major implications for the future of schools across the capital.

“This report comes at a time when unfortunately some of our schools and local authorities are negotiating a complex balancing act. The drop in demand for places means schools face extremely difficult decisions over how to balance their budgets.

“London has some of the best schools in the country, with over 90% of all our schools being rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. We are working diligently to ensure that this level of high-quality education is accessible for all children entering schools in the coming years and allow our schools to thrive despite this difficult climate.

“London Councils will work closely with key education partners in London, including government, to mitigate the impact of this drop in demand for school places on school budgets and children’s achievement."

( [link removed] )You can read the report in full here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

How can councils find the space for the innovation they need?

After more than a decade of budget cuts, combined with new social pressures (Covid-19, cost of living crisis, etc) that have vastly increased demand for services, local government has no choice but to innovate. The dilemma is that these self-same pressures can make it almost impossible for local government to innovate as radically as it needs to.

In his latest blog post, London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) Director Eddie Copeland explores the barriers to innovation in local government, what the sector can do to overcome them and how LOTI can help. ( [link removed] )Read the blog here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

APPG for London

Ahead of regulatory changes for the social housing sector from April 2024, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London hosted a private roundtable event with the Housing Ombudsman on Monday. 

The event, which was well attended by MPs, was an opportunity for London MPs and the sector, including boroughs and registered social landlords, to share their views and for an open and honest discussion around the challenges facing housing providers in the capital.

The APPG for London is a forum for MPs and Peers to work together on a cross-party basis to strengthen the capital's voice in Parliament. The group’s purpose is to promote the capital in the interests of all Londoners. London Councils provides the secretariat to the group on behalf of London government, including the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. ( [link removed] )You can read more about the APPG for London and their work here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

Falling School Rolls - Cllr Ian Edwards discusses the drop in demand for school places and the challenges this presents to London’s schools (from 4 mins, 40 secs)
( [link removed] )BBC London News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Falling School Rolls - Cllr Ian Edwards on ( [link removed] )BBC Radio London Breakfast Show ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )
(from 2hrs 07 mins)

London schools may be mothballed as student numbers fall
( [link removed] )The Guardian ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London schools at risk of closure as families flee the capital, report warns
( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Government's last-minute £600m council cash injection slammed as 'too little, too late'
( [link removed] )MyLondon ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Government faces legal action over air pollution death
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

More than a fifth of people struggling to keep roof over head, Shelter warns
Inside Housing ( [link removed] )

Fears funding boost will ‘not meet needs'
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London councils develop plan for capital's first secure children’s home
( [link removed] )Children & Young People Now ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Security costs exemption for election spend limits
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Productivity plan demand shows ‘mistrust between Westminster and the localities’
( [link removed] )LGC ( [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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