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Your weekly London local government update

14 Aug  24

London Councils chief welcomes 
government review 

London Councils chief executive Alison Griffin has welcomed the announcement by local government minister Jim McMahon of a review to identify government reforms that could better support councils, to be led by London Councils former chair, Georgia Gould.

Writing in the MJ, she says: "Twenty councils nationally are reliant on external funding support and others have said they are at risk of issuing a section 114. London boroughs face an estimated £700m funding gap in 2026-26, with temporary accommodation pressures, in particular, escalating at an alarming rate.

"In specific areas, such as retrofit and skills, greater funding flexibilities and trusting local leaders with devolved responsibilities would result in economic wins, contributing to the Government's growth mission

"It is also time to undertake a fair funding review, ensuring the distribution of core funding is linked to current drivers of need, using accurate measures of population and deprivation.

"The Government has signalled an end to a bidding pot funding culture as part of a more mature reset of the central-local government relationship. London is keen to build on this by exploring what could be achieved through further devolution to London and greater collaboration between the boroughs and the GLA.

"In specific areas, such as retrofit and skills, greater funding flexibilities and trusting local leaders with devolved responsibilities would result in economic wins, contributing to the Government's growth mission.

"Opening a dialogue with local government via this review is a meaningful step. I hope to see it improve mutual understanding and deliver better outcomes for the people and places we serve. The early signs are good."

Workforce awards shortlist

Congratulations to colleagues and their teams across London local government who have been shortlisted for the 2024 LGC workforce awards ( [link removed] ). They include (category in brackets): Rubie Charalmabous, LB Brent and Kalbinder Benning, LB Redbridge (Back office hero); LB Harrow, The Waste Development Team; LB Tower Hamlets, Business Support Team, Corporate Strategy & Transformation Team and Design and Marketing Team (Back office heroes);  LB Tower Hamlets Workforce to Reflect the Community (Best equality, diversity and inclusion employer); LB Hackney, More than a library - retaining a skilled and motivated workforce (Best innovation in recruitment); LB Hackney, Library service, More than a library - retaining a skilled and motivated workforce and Parking enforcement, Hackney Parking Enforcement Insourcing and Staff Retention (Best Innovation in retention); LB Waltham Forest (Best wellbeing innovation): Rubie Charalmabous, LB Brent; Faaria Ahmad and Anna Finch-Smith, LB Tower Hamlets; Safia Khokhar, Westminster City Council (Equality, diversity and inclusion champion); Shona Galt, LB Redbridge; Alexander Virtue, LB Sutton and Sameehah Ahmed, LB Tower Hamlets (Graduate of the year): Kevin Keady, LB Hackney; Emma Pattison, LB Redbridge and Tom Harding, Westminster City Council (Head of Service of the year): LB Hackney, OpenMarkets.London; LB Newham, ILSS Trusted Assessors; Westminster City Council with Veolia, Westminster City Council and Veolia’s EAV bike fleet (Smart working); Carol Baxter, LB Barnet; Dan O'Sullivan and Michael Wiktorko, LB Hackney (Workforce innovator).

Enfield appoints interim Leader 

The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, has resigned from her post as Leader.

Cllr Caliskan’s resignation follows her election as MP for Barking in the General Election. She will remain as a councillor in Jubilee ward.

Cllr Caliskan was first elected as a councillor to Enfield Council in 2015 and has led the council since 2018.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, is the new interim Leader.

An announcement on the new Leader will be made at a full council meeting on Wednesday 18 September.

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In the news this week...

Alison Griffin: Opening a dialogue with councils is a meaningful step
The MJ ( [link removed] )

What good will the London Growth Plan do?

OnLondon ( [link removed] )

Is reaching net zero ‘doomed’ for local authorities?
Room 151 ( [link removed] )

Rallying call for ‘swift and decisive action’ as homelessness rises
LGC ( [link removed] )

Call for Reeves to remove barriers to pension investment
LGC ( [link removed] )

Council leaders call for a voice on Cobra
LocalGov ( [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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