London Councils sets out boroughs' priorities for upcoming Budget
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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 and our Budget representation on behalf of London local government here. |
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Renters' Rights Bill welcome
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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, 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.” |
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On Monday, London Councils hosted a very well attended event at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference 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. |
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 | Our next event will take place at the Labour Party Conference 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 will take place in Birmingham, from 29 September – 2 October. We will bring you details of our Conservative Party conference event next week. |
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.
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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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One in 85 London homes listed on holiday let websites as MP
warns of capital being 'hollowed out' The Standard
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London primary school numbers to drop by 52,000 BBC News
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Councils made £24.5bn in service cuts since 2010-11 LGC
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Grenfell Tower Inquiry report: key recommendations for
social housing providers Inside Housing
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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. |
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 |
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
and watch the launch event here. |
London Local Government Directory |
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