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Your weekly London local government update

28 Aug 24

Homelessness in London requires 
urgent action 

Based on our regular surveys of homelessness in the capital, London Councils estimates that more than 175,000 Londoners (around one in 50 of all Londoners) are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including at least one child in every London classroom. Homelessness is not inevitable. London Councils’ policy priorities for addressing homelessness include:

Boost Homelessness Prevention Grant Funding. Local authorities play a vital role in supporting struggling households to avoid homelessness. Councils require an emergency funding increase to ensure local services have the resources needed in the face of rising levels of demand for support.

Enable councils to buy more accommodation sold by private landlords. Providing increased capital investment for housing acquisitions could help councils address the shortage of temporary accommodation, particularly through acquiring homes being sold by private landlords as they exit the market.

Bring forward a cross-departmental strategy to reduce homelessness. Tackling homelessness must become a major priority at a national level with government departments working together – in addition to key partners such as local authorities – as effectively as possible. Boroughs welcome the government’s commitment to working in this way and are keen to play an active part.

Party conference events

London Councils is pleased to announce the speakers who will be joining London Councils' Vice Chair Cllr Gareth Roberts on the panel at our upcoming event at the Liberal Democrat party conference on 16 September, exploring the topic: YIMBYs or NIMBYs: Where do the Liberal Democrats stand on growth in London? Panellists will include:

Cllr Gareth Roberts, Vice Chair of London Councils and Leader LB Richmond upon Thames (Chair)
Cllr Luke Taylor, MP for Sutton and Cheam
Hina Bokhari AM, London Assembly Member
Muniya Barua, Deputy Chief Executive, BusinessLDN
Antonia Jenning, Chief Executive, Centre for London

Look out in Key Issues for more details on this event and our events at the Labour and Conservtaive party conferences nearer the date for each event.

LFB statement on flat fire

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has issued a statement giving details of the operation to tackle a fire that broke out at a block of flats Freshwater Road in Dagenham. You can read his update in full here. ( [link removed] )

We'd love to know what you think about our new website

In May this year, London Councils launched a new website. ( [link removed] )

We are preparing to decommission our old website and are keen to hear your feedback on what works well, what doesn’t work well and suggestions for improvements. Please take a moment to let us know via our website feedback survey. ( [link removed] )

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In the news this week...

GCSE results 2024: London students get best grades in country as top marks fall nationwide
Evening Standard ( [link removed] )

Active travel to get ‘unprecedented levels of funding’ says Haigh
TransportXtra ( [link removed] )

Squaring the housing need circle
The MJ ( [link removed] )

Call for cross-government taskforce to avoid ‘crisis of care’
LocalGov ( [link removed] )

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London Local Government 
Directory

You can find contact details for every councillor in London in our London Government Directory here ( [link removed] )

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Comments or queries? Email the editor ( [email protected]?subject=Key%20Issues%3A )

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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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