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Your weekly London local government update

18 Sep 24

London Councils sets out boroughs' priorities for upcoming Budget

London boroughs are determined to work with the government to address the urgent challenges facing our city and country.

Councils in the capital and across the UK have a pivotal role to play in contributing to a new mission-driven approach.

However, objectively well-run councils are in dire financial positions. London Councils forecasts that boroughs collectively face a funding gap of at least £700m in 2025/26.

Without sufficient funding or powers to self-remedy, it is simply a matter of time before more councils can no longer meet their obligations and call on government’s time and resources to stay afloat.

In advance of the Budget on 30 October 2024, London Councils is highlighting priorities to stabilise local authorities’ finances and position them to support the government’s missions.

You can read more about London Councils' key priorities here ( [link removed] ) and our Budget representation on behalf of London local government here ( [link removed] ).

Renters' Rights Bill welcome

London boroughs have welcomed the government introducing its Renters’ Rights Bill to the House of Commons.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing &
Regeneration, Cllr Grace Williams ( [link removed] ), said: “Three million Londoners live in private rented sector homes and undoubtedly deserve stronger protection.

“Boroughs support a ban on no-fault evictions. Too often we’ve seen Londoners turfed out of their homes for no good reason and made homeless, turning their lives upside down. With London’s homelessness pressures at record levels, banning these evictions is a crucial step forward.

“Boroughs will work both with the government and with landlords to ensure these reforms are as successful as possible. Part of that means ensuring boroughs are provided with the powers and resources we need to enforce the new rules. We will also work alongside minsters in tackling the other deep-seated issues driving London’s housing pressures and rapidly escalating homelessness crisis – especially the chronic shortage of affordable housing.”

Conference events 

On Monday, London Councils hosted a very well attended event at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference ( [link removed] ) in Brighton exploring the topic: YIMBYs or NIMBYs: Where do the Liberal Democrats stand on growth in London?

Chaired by Cllr Roberts, Vice Chair at London Councils, our speakers: Luke Taylor MP; London Assembly Member Hina Bokhari,; BusinessLDN Deputy Chief Executive Muniya Barua; and Centre for London Chief Executive Antonia Jennings, discussed the London Growth Plan, London's role in driving national economic growth, the barriers to delivering housing and infrastructure in the capital, as well as highlighting examples of success from across our communities, such as the London Cancer Hub in Sutton and pan-London projects such as the Thames Tideway Tunnel and the Elizabeth Line.

Our next event will take place at the Labour Party Conference ( [link removed] ) in Liverpool, when our panel (below) will be discussing: How a new devolution deal for the capital could drive growth in London and across the UK.

Cllr Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils (Chair) 
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth 
Rachel Blake MP for Cities of London and Westminster
Dan Tomlinson MP for Chipping Barnet
Jack Shaw Senior Advisor, Labour Together
Piali Das Gupta Strategy Director – London’s Future, London Councils

The Conservative Party Conference ( [link removed] ) will take place in Birmingham, from 29 September – 2 October. We will bring you details of our Conservative Party conference event next week.

By-election results

Two by-elections took place in the London Borough of Hackney last week (12 September). The by-election in the borough's London Fields ward was won by George Gooch (Lab). The by-election in the Stoke Newington ward was won by Liam Davis (Green). You can read the results in full on Hackney's website here. ( [link removed] )

Our new address

London Councils has moved. From this week we begin working from our new address: Fourth Floor, 12 Arthur Street, London EC4R 9AB. 

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In the news this week...

One in 85 London homes listed on holiday let websites as MP warns of capital being 'hollowed out'
The Standard ( [link removed] )

London primary school numbers to drop by 52,000
BBC News ( [link removed] )

Councils made £24.5bn in service cuts since 2010-11
LGC ( [link removed] )

Grenfell Tower Inquiry report: key recommendations for social housing providers
Inside Housing ( [link removed] )

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What topics are you interested in? Click here to let us know ( [link removed] )

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The London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) is hosting a Lunch & Learn for colleagues to learn more about how data storytelling can make a powerful impact across  sectors.  The session will be presented by Joe Sharpe, co-founder of Applied Works, who explore how effective data design can inspire and move people. If you would llike to attend, you can register here. ( [link removed] )

London borough colleagues are invited to attend the One World Living (OWL) climate programme’s 3rd Annual Borough Conference in celebration of Circular Economy Week on Wednesday 2 October 2024. The conference will showcase the programme’s work and invite London boroughs to learn more about Circular Economy projects in London and how they can get involved.The event will be held online via Teams and sign up is required. To join the event please register via EventBrite here and you will receive all the details ( [link removed] )

More than 120 colleagues across London local government joined our Climate Team for the launch of our Green Finance Guide last week, a key resource developed under the Green Economy theme of London Councils' Climate Programme. If you'd like to find out more, you can find the guide here ( [link removed] ) and watch the launch event here ( [link removed] ).

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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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. 
London Councils, 4th Floor, 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB

| [email protected] ( [email protected] )

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