A new report from the cross-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has called on the government to invest in the social housing sector to ensure 90,000 new social rent homes a year can be built per year in England and to re-examine how much funding is allocated to social rent homes.

With London grappling with the most severe homelessness crisis in the country, and with more than 320,000 London households already on social housing waiting lists, London Councils has welcomed the MPs' findings and warned that, without more government investment, it is hard to see anything but a "bleak future for social housing".

Following the publication of the LUHC select committee report last week, a London Councils spokesperson said: “Our analysis shows London boroughs face a black hole of £700m in their social housing budgets over the next four years, despite the desperate need to improve housing conditions and build new homes in the capital. With resources massively squeezed, it feels like we’ve been left with mission impossible.

“Social housing is crucial to tackling London’s homelessness crisis. It’s a vital component of the capital’s social and economic success, and we should all want the sector to thrive. Boroughs are as keen as ever to work with ministers in ensuring more resources are secured for boosting social housing in London and across the country.”

On Monday, London Councils launched a new report exploring ways London boroughs can break the barriers to addressing youth unemployment in London.

The report was launched at a special event hosted at the High Trees Community Development Trust, established by local residents from St. Martins’ Housing estate who campaigned to bring a former public library into community ownership to deliver impactful services focusing on the needs of the local community.

London government has committed to providing good work for the most vulnerable Londoners and to address inequalities through the London Economic Framework and Building a Fairer City. However, the fragmented nature of employment services poses significant challenges to meeting the variety of challenges young Londoners face in finding good jobs. The report explores ways to better coordinate provision in London, alongside ambitious proposals to bring about the more fundamental changes required.

The event was chaired by London Councils Executive Member for Skills and Employment Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, with a panel including Kingston Deputy Leader Cllr Alison Holt and young people who shared their thoughts on employment services and what could be done to help more young people into productive employment to unlock good growth in the capital.

You can read the report: Breaking Barriers: Addressing Youth Unemployment in London here.

London Councils is inviting people and organisations across the capital to respond to a new consultation on the future of the next phase of its Grants Programme.

London boroughs and the City of London Corporation jointly fund the London Councils Grants Programme and decide its priorities. The pan-London scheme enables boroughs to work together and with the voluntary and community sector to fund crucial services.

The consultation is seeking views on a potential 2026-2030 phase of the Grants Programme. It will run until June 4th, after which responses will be reviewed by the members of the Grants Committee and incorporated into their decision-making process.

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Chair of London Councils' Grants Committee said: “The Grants Programme is a source of pride for London’s local Leaders, funding vital services for people who need specialist support and tackling some of the most pressing issues across London. The current programme is already making a difference for people who are homeless or those at risk from or who have been subjected to sexual and domestic abuse.

“The potential next cycle of the pan-London Grants Programme is due to start in April 2026 and we are keen to ensure that our planning takes proper account of the current and emerging needs of London’s residents, as well as the context local government is working in.

“This consultation will be vital in learning from and developing our relationship with partners in the voluntary and community sector. We look forward to working collaboratively and listening to feedback to ensure the Grants Programme adds value where Londoners need it most.”

The consultation survey and further details can be found on London Councils' website here.

The UK Real Estate and Infrastructure showcase UKREiiF will take place in Leeds next week. London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould be will attending to highlight the investment opportunities in London and discuss how we can ensure London attracts the investment needed to ensure good growth in the capital that meets the needs of our communities.

Cllr Gould will be speaking at events exploring Responsible Leadership – Tackling Resistance to Net Zero and Beyond; and How Local Authorities, Investors and Developers can work together to increase the delivery of mixed tenure homes and deliver thriving communities.

Opportunity London -  a  partnership between the City of London, London Councils, the Mayor of London and a consortium of public and private sector industry partners - will also once again partner with Manchester at UKREiiF, jointly taking over the venue space ‘The Canary,’ by the main Armouries Centre. Boroughs are welcome to use the first floor of this venue for networking and meetings.

A number of boroughs and subregional partnership will be hosting events at UKREiiF, including:

The West London Alliance boroughs of Brent, Barnet, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow, and representatives from the Old Oak and Park Royal Development, have a series of 'meet the borough' events at their stall in the conference centre.

Central London Forward  - the sub-regional partnership covering the local authorities of Camden, the City of London, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster - will be hosting an event as part of the ‘Back the Bakerloo’ campaign. Directly Elected Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres and Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, Southwark Council will both be speaking at the event.

Full details for the above and other events taking place at UKREiiF can be found here.