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Your weekly London local government update

16 Apr 25

Waiting lists for social housing now exceed 100 years in many areas

New data, published by the National Housing Federation, Crisis and Shelter, has found that acute shortages of social housing suitable for families mean it would now take more than 100 years to clear waiting lists in some places, with London home to 15 of the top 20 most affected areas in the country.

London’s Boroughs are pro-housing growth and committed to working with the government to boost housebuilding. More than 300,000 potential new homes have received planning permission from London boroughs and are waiting to be built.

However, boroughs are also struggling with enormous resource constraints and immense challenges to housing delivery in the capital. Increased and sustained long-term investment in affordable housing is key to building the homes London's communities are crying out for.

The chronic and longstanding shortage of affordable housing is the key factor driving London’s homelessness emergency that requires London boroughs to spend £4m a day on providing temporary housing for the 183,000 Londoners who are currently homeless.

Regional Employers' Office website

The London Regional Employers’ Organisation, which supports London local authority human resources and organisation development teams to collaborate and share learning and best practice, has launched a new website. ( [link removed] )

The London Regional Employers’ Organisation provides support to national and regional employers and provides advice to London authorities on local pay and employment practices (the London Agreement). It also promotes good practice which supports improvement and efficiency in public service delivery in London; facilities a number of key HR networks; and provides an HR Metrics benchmarking service to London and regions around the country.

Freedom Pass renewals 

Around 500,000 Freedom Passes expired on 31 March. More than 90% of these passes have now been renewed and users have received their new pass.

Customers who have not yet renewed their expired pass can continue using their existing pass until 1 May as we have arrangements with TfL to accept 2025 expiry passes upon visual inspection.

If you, or someone you know, have moved but not told us, or have not used the pass in the past two years, please ask them to check their email inbox and junk mail as we may have tried to contact them with instructions about how to renew their Freedom Pass using our online portal ( [link removed] ), which will remain open until 30 May.

If you have not received an email or letter, please contact [email protected] ( [email protected]?subject=Freedom%20Pass%20renewal%20(31%20March%20expiry) ) to discuss your next steps.

By-election results

Two by-elections took place in London boroughs last week (10 April).

The by-election in Haringey’s St Anne’s Ward was won by Ruairidh Paton (Green Party). You can read the result in full here. ( [link removed] )

The by-election in Sutton’s Sutton Central ward was won by Richard Choi (Liberal Democrat Party). You can read the result in full here. ( [link removed] )

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In the news this week...

Going further on warmer homes for Londoners: Cllr Kieron Williams and Deputy Mayor Mete Coban
Inside Housing ( [link removed] )

Waiting list for family-sized social homes would take century to clear in some London boroughs
The Standard ( [link removed] )

London Councils Pan-London Grants Programme 
2026-2030

London Councils is inviting proposals for the 2026-2030 Pan-London Grants Programme. The programme aims to tackle homelessness and domestic and sexual abuse, ensuring London’s most vulnerable residents receive the support they need.

London Councils is offering workshops and grant application drop-in sessions to support applicants throughout the process on the following dates (click on link to register):

Wednesday 23 April 2025 ( [link removed]- )
Wednesday 30 April 2025 ( [link removed] )

You can read more about the Grants Programme and application process here. ( [link removed] )

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

You can find contact details for every councillor across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London in our London Government Directory ( [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.
London Councils, 4th Floor, 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB

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