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Your weekly London local government update

21 May 25

First London Surface Water Strategy leads the way in making London resilient to flooding

Partners across London have joined forces to take action in making the capital more resilient to flooding from surface water, publishing the first London Surface Water Strategy on Wednesday.

The London Surface Water Strategy is published by the Flood Ready London partnership, made up of Environment Agency, London Councils, London Fire Brigade, Mayor of London, Thames Water, and Transport for London.

Flood Ready London is also working to find the best, most practical and cost-effective ways to help Londoners be prepared for flooding. Developed through a series of consultations with boroughs, environmental organisations, and community groups, the solutions proposed rely on collective, pan-London working.

Cllr Kieron Williams, London Councils' Executive Member for Transport and Environment ( [link removed] ), said: "Boroughs play a vital role in protecting our city from the very real threat of flooding. We know the devastating, long-lasting impact it can have on people's homes, businesses and livelihoods, disproportionately affecting our most vulnerable communities.

"Through Flood Ready London, we will work with partners to take a coordinated and collaborative approach to surface water management that helps protect our city and better prepare our communities for when flooding does occur. This will build on the extensive work boroughs already do to prevent flooding across the capital - from installing rain gardens and other sustainable drainage solutions, to working with local communities to raise awareness of flood risk."

You can read London's Surface Water Strategy here ( [link removed] ).

Council housing 'crunch point' as London boroughs warn of £264m budget squeeze

Boroughs in the capital must reduce their spending on council housing by £264m to avoid busting their budgets over the next three years, a new report from London Councils reveals.

Boroughs fear the collapse of their council housing finances unless the government takes action to stabilise the social housing sector.

Ahead of the government confirming future social rent levels, London Councils’ analysis shows boroughs’ costs of managing their council housing have spiralled while income has failed to keep pace, after many years of national policy limiting social rent increases below inflation.

The report – Crunch point for London council housing finances ( [link removed] ) – warns that boroughs are “not in a position to maintain spending in real terms” on their council housing stock, despite the “urgent need for investment” in priorities such as improving housing conditions and building new homes.

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Regeneration, said ( [link removed] ): “We have reached crunch point for London’s council housing finances.

“Boroughs play an essential role in modernising older properties and building the new affordable homes Londoners are crying out for. A better future for London’s council housing is possible but it requires national policy decisions that give us secure and sustainable finances. We remain committed to working with the government on our shared ambitions for council housing.”

Whetstone Ward by-election results

On Thursday 15 May, Ezra Cohen (LAB) was elected as Councillor for the Whetstone Ward of the London Borough of Barnet.

Read the full results ( [link removed] ).

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In the news this week...

'Dire realities' of London's temporary accommodation crisis exposed
The Standard ( [link removed] )

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London mayor announces £17m plan to tackle rough sleeping
Inside Housing ( [link removed] )

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London food banks expect to see surge in demand
BBC News ( [link removed] )
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Freedom Pass reminder

Freedom Pass users with passes that expired on 31 March are reminded that they will not be able to use their existing pass beyond 1 May.

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 ( hthttps://your.londoncouncils.gov.uk/c/AQisyAMQ2fiTBxjEgu-kByDRreelAdGycg1lvsZJJtBqlMTqAbCnrXEhMZRnJNuoca-NpPH9 ), which will remain open until 30 May.

If you have not received an email or letter, please contact [email protected] ( [email protected] ) to discuss your next steps. ( [link removed] )

London Councils Pan-London Grants Programme 2026-2030

London Councils is inviting proposals for the 2026-2030 Pan-London Grants Programme.

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