New energy minister visits Hammersmith & Fulham to see retrofit progress
The new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, was welcomed to the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham last week by Cllr Stephen Cowan, Chair of London Councils, to see first-hand how retrofit is helping deliver healthier and more energy-efficient homes across London.
Joined by Mete Coban, the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy and Co-Chair of Warmer Homes London (WHL), the Secretary of State visited Banim Street Estate to hear from residents about how Social Housing Fund Wave 3 upgrades, including insulation and solar panels, have improved comfort and will begin to lower energy costs.
Hammersmith & Fulham is a member of WHL's Social Housing Fund Strategic Partnership, which brings boroughs and housing associations together to improve retrofit delivery across London through shared tools and best practice.
The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with representatives from London Councils, the Greater London Authority, and WHL to discuss the next phase of London's retrofit journey.
This included looking at how collaborating on a pan-London level can accelerate retrofit delivery at scale, maximise investment and improve outcomes for residents. Partners also explored the opportunities that greater devolved funding could unlock for local delivery programmes.
RBKC publishes Notting Hill Carnival information resources
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has published online guidance to help residents, visitors, and local businesses enjoy Notting Hill Carnival.
Every August Bank Holiday, Carnival attracts around two million visitors, transforming west London into Europe's largest street festival. While rooted in Kensington and Chelsea, it is a truly pan-London event, bringing together communities, businesses, public services, and local authorities from across the capital.
This year marks Carnival's 60th anniversary, celebrating six decades of culture, creativity, and community spirit. Today, Carnival is one of the world's leading celebrations of Caribbean culture, showcasing mass bands, steel pan music, sound systems, soca, calypso, and traditions that are a vital part of London's cultural identity.
Kensington and Chelsea Council has created a dedicated information page to keep you up to date with key event information, including road closures, parking restrictions, council services, travel, safety advice, and general event updates. It also contains advice for local businesses and traders, as well as helplines information. Click above or use the QR code to access the resources.
Richmond launches new business growth programme for start-ups and scale-ups
Richmond Council has launched a new year-long programme to help start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in the borough unlock their next stage of growth.
The Richmond Business Growth Partnership will support 40 local businesses over the course of a year, offering expert mentoring, practical advice, and tailored business support to help them to grow faster, build resilience, and realise their ambitions.
The programme forms part the Richmond Growth Plan, which identifies small businesses and enterprise as key drivers of the borough’s economy and aims to increase the number of businesses in the borough by 10% over the next decade.
The scheme is open to residents and businesses based in Richmond, including those that have taken part in previous business support programmes. Businesses will be asked to make a small contribution of £500 towards the year-long programme, reflecting its partnership approach and the commitment expected from participants.
Those interested in joining the programme can apply here.
Temporary pause to the Freedom Pass online portal
The Freedom Pass online portal will be unavailable from 5pm on 31 August to 9am on 15 September while London Councils upgrades the service. Residents who need to apply for a pass, request a replacement, or update their details are encouraged to do so before 31 August.
Existing Freedom Passes will continue to work as normal throughout the upgrade and eligibility for the scheme is unchanged.
The upgrade will make applications easier to complete online, improve progress tracking, and strengthen the reliability and security of the service. Customers moving from a 60+ Oyster card should note that they will now need to apply for an Older Person's Freedom Pass, as automatic transfer arrangements have ended.
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