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Your weekly update of London local government issues

06 Mar 24

Spring Budget

Later today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt will deliver the government's Spring Budget.

With boroughs facing a £400 million funding shortfall in the coming year, London Councils' policy priorities include reiterating the plea for an extension to the Household Support Fund, which is due to end this month.

Ahead of the Budget, we have also been highlighting housing and homelessness pressures, with our analysis released last week ( [link removed] ) revealing that boroughs' spending on temporary accommodation for homeless Londoners has risen to £90 million per month. 

( [link removed] )Cllr Claire Holland, Deputy Chair of London Councils ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: "We’re looking to the Budget to boost support and stability for hard-pressed Londoners and the local services they rely on.

“Extending the Household Support Fund is a top priority. The life-changing impact of the fund is clear – but if the government brings this to an end there is no alternative funding stream.

“Boroughs are grappling with immense financial pressures. On current government funding plans, London boroughs face a massive £400m shortfall in the coming year. The Chancellor should go further in ensuring councils have the resources they need to sustain local services and deliver the best possible results for London’s communities.”

APPG for London

On Monday, London Councils' Chief Executive Ali Griffin presented at the AGM of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London, discussing the capital's devolution story.

London MPs and Peers spoke on what further devolution to the capital could look like, exploring what benefits a new growth deal for London could bring. Sir Bob Neill MP, Florence Eshalomi MP, Catherine West MP, and Munira Wilson MP will serve as officers for the APPG until the General Election.

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] )

National Secondary Offer Day in London

Data published by the Pan London Admissions Board last week has revealed that 94% of children due to start secondary school in London this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools. 

The total number of applications for secondary school places in London has decreased by 2.48% since last year. This is in line with a report released by London Councils earlier this year which predicted a drop in demand of 4.3% over the next four years, roughly equivalent to 134 Year 7 classes.

Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils' Executive Member for Children and Young People ( [link removed] ), said: "It is positive that once again the overwhelming majority of London’s children have an offer from one of their preferred schools. London is the best performing region at GCSE level with 90% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, which means local families can be confident that their child will receive an excellent education.

"Boroughs have worked diligently with schools to ensure there are sufficient places to meet the demand for school places across the capital, particularly in the context of falling school rolls and the impact this is having on some schools."

( [link removed] )See how the story was covered on the BBC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

Pan London Care Leavers Compact Launch

Yesterday evening, the Pan London Care Leavers Compact was launched at an event at the Guildhall, attended by Johnny Mercer MP and Cllr Grace Williams.

The Compact aims to increase the consistency and quality of support offered to London's care leavers, with London boroughs, NHS London region and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), the Mayor of London and Transport for London coming together to support young people and providing funding concessions.

The Compact includes free prescriptions, half price bus and tram travel, housing support and access to training and employment opportunities in healthcare.

Cllr Ian Edwards, London Councils' Executive Member for Children and Young People ( [link removed] ), said: "It has been fantastic to see London boroughs working together to listen to care-experienced young people and develop better support for them.

"It has been equally great to see how supportive of this worthwhile mission local NHS ICBs, the Mayor and TfL have been. We hope that other organisations join us in the months ahead.”

Repair or replace? 

If you have recently had any electronic or electrical device (toaster, TV, phone, headphones etc) break down, did you decide to try and get it repaired or replaced?

Whether or not you decided to repair your device, we are looking for participants 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 Innovation and Technology (LOTI) in conjunction with London Borough of Barnet and Re:London. It aims to find out more about how Londoners use or consider using repair services for electrical goods and what can be done to improve repair options in London.

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] )You can complete the survey here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Media round-up...

( [link removed] )
Councils on the brink

( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London schools: Around 70% Year 6 pupils get first choice - report

( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Rough sleeping in London up by a third as capital faces 'homelessness emergency'
Evening Standard ( [link removed] )

London devolution call after employment programme success

Public Sector Executive ( [link removed] )

London Councils: increased homelessness support critical in Budget

( [link removed] )Public Finance ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Why Britain is becoming a nation of childless cities

The Daily Telegraph ( [link removed] )

These nine London mega-projects could transform the face of the capital

City A.M. ( [link removed] )

Funding fears amid decreasing demand for school places in London

( [link removed] )CYP Now ( [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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