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Your weekly update of London local government issues

14 Feb 24

Local Government Settlement still leaves a large shortfall in London

The ( [link removed] )Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024/25 ( [link removed] ), confirmed by the Government last week, will leave a funding shortfall of at least £400 million in the capital, London Councils has warned.

London Councils' analysis highlights that, despite a 5.5% real-terms increase in their core spending power in the settlement, boroughs will continue to grapple with an “enormous” funding gap due to service pressures and costs - as outlined in London Councils' ( [link removed] )consultation response to the Local Government Finance Settlement here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )Deputy Chair of London Councils, Cllr Claire Holland, ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) said: “Boroughs will continue to face a bleak financial outlook for the foreseeable future.

“Massive pressures on local services, skyrocketing costs, and years of inadequate funding have left town hall finances teetering on a cliff edge.

“It is in no one’s interests for a council to find itself in a Section 114 situation. Londoners want stability for their local services. We will continue to urge ministers to increase funding support and to work with us in making the local government finance system fairer and more sustainable.” 

London Councils is calling for the Spring Budget on 6 March to address the financial pressures facing boroughs, including: the continuation of the Household Support Fund (currently due to end in March); housing and homelessness funding; and reforming the broken local government finance system, so funding better reflects local need, boroughs have greater certainty through longer-term funding settlements, and more devolved funding to reduce reliance on council tax.

Boroughs respond to government planning proposals

London Councils has responded to the government’s ( [link removed] )proposed changes to planning rules ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), including a ‘brownfield presumption’.

London Councils’ Executive Member for
Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwel ( [link removed] )l, said: “Boroughs are strongly pro-housing growth and doing everything they can to turbocharge building the new homes Londoners desperately need.

“Although the planning system certainly needs to support building as much as possible, the system itself is not the core problem. London has a pipeline of 289,000 potential new homes that have received planning permission but have not yet been built due to other reasons.

“There are several key factors holding back housebuilding in London, including insufficient capital funding and infrastructure investment, as well as construction skills shortages.

“We remain as committed as ever to working in partnership with all levels of government on increasing housebuilding in the capital."

Black Health Inequalities Summit

The ( [link removed] )London Inspire Programme ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) wil host a summit on 25 March exploring collaboration to improving the health of Black Londoners. Speakers will include: Health Adviser to the Mayor of London, Professor Kevin Fenton CBE; Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England, Professor Bola Owa; and NHS Race and Health Observatory Professor Habib Naqvi. 

The Summit will take place at the Royal Society of Medicine and registrations are open now. ( inspireblackhealth.london )

The London Inspire Programme is a  co-designed programme developed from public consultation following the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on the Black people. The programme seeks to raise awareness and promote targeted health interventions aimed at health inequalities faced by Black people in London.

Freedom Pass 

Some Freedom Pass holders whose passes are due to expire on 31 March will have received a letter asking them to renew their pass. If you or someone you know has received a letter, they can renew now online here. ( [link removed] )

Anyone else whose pass expires on 31 March, but has not received a letter, will have their pass automatically renewed, so don’t need to do anything.

You can find more information on the Freedom Pass, including how to apply for a pass, eligibility, and what to do if your pass is lost or stolen, on London Councils' website here. ( [link removed] )

Repair survey

People with broken electronics or electricals (mobile phone, computer, ear buds, toaster etc) are invited to take part in a short survey to share their experiences.

The survey is being conducted by Imperial College London, as part of a project being run by the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) in conjunction with LB Barnet Re:London, to find out more about how Londoners use or consider using repair services for electrical goods.

The survey is anonymous and will take around 8 minutes to complete. Please note that you need to be 18+ years-old to take part. Once you have completed the survey, you will be invited to enter a raffle to win one of four £25 IKEA vouchers. ( [link removed] )Full details here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

London’s councils warn over £400m funding shortfall amid ‘skyrocketing’ costs
( [link removed] )Inside Housing ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Finance settlement 'a continuation of the begging bowl culture'
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Councils need millions to prevent bankruptcy due to rising cost of homelessness: ‘It’s a national crisis’
( [link removed] )The Big Issue ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

‘No good options’ in government capitalisation proposals
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London's new 'super sewer' to begin tests in summer
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )
Find out more about the upcoming London Mayoral election and changes to how we vote ( [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] )

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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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