Following the Health Secretary's announcement on Monday, Greater London has moved into tier 3 (very high alert) local restrictions as of today.

While recognising that this is going to be very tough for all Londoners, London Councils supports the Secretary of State’s decision as the only available option to stop the spread of the virus in London and protect the NHS and save lives.

To help London prevent the spread of the virus and rise to the challenge we are asking government to:

1. Increase support to people on low income who might have to self-isolate

2. An emergency support package for the hospitality industry and cultural sector

3. Support London local government by significantly increasing mass targeted testing in our communities.

As mass targeted testing is rolled out to Londoners, boroughs will initially have to draw staff away from some services, so residents will notice some services which have returned since lockdown closing or limiting their services again. We ask everyone to bear with us through this period and get tested when this is made available to them.

Londoners have come together throughout the last year to provide each other with support and we will continue to do so. The vaccine is being rolled out by the NHS and there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, we must all continue to support the NHS as it does this vital task by sticking to the rules, not making unnecessary journeys, shopping very safely this Christmas - and by getting ourselves tested and self-isolating, to protect ourselves, families, friends and communities.

With homelessness pressures in the capital approaching their “worst-ever levels”, London boroughs are urging a rethink of national policy if the government is to have any hope of meeting its homelessness reduction targets.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “It’s hugely distressing to see homelessness in London approaching its worst-ever levels.  

“With almost 90,000 children in the capital living in homeless households and set to spend Christmas in temporary accommodation, it’s obvious we can’t go on like this."

Among the measures needed to reduce record homelessness in the capital, London Councils is calling on the government to improve the welfare system’s ability to prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place; confirm long-term funding arrangements for sustainable local homelessness services; and boost councils’ resources for building social housing.

London Councils has provided a briefing to all London MPs ahead of today's Westminster Hall debate on support for the homeless during the winter months, moved by former Westminster Council Leader, Nickie Aiken MP.

In 2018, London Councils, along with the Mayor of London, Public Health England and NHS England, signed up to the Fast Track Cities initiative committed to working together to: end new HIV infections in the capital by 2030; put a stop to HIV-related stigma and discrimination; stop preventable deaths from HIV-related causes, and work to improve the health, quality of life and well-being of people living with HIV across the capital.

You can keep up-to-date with the work to eliminate HIV in the capital on the new Fast Track Cities London website launched week.

Cllr Damian White, London Councils’ Executive Member for Health & Care, said: "In recent years, London has made excellent progress in reducing HIV rates. We’re as determined as ever to maintain this momentum and to achieve our target of zero new diagnoses by 2030.”

Cllr Ian Edwards was elected the new Leader of Hillingdon Conservative Group at an extraordinary group meeting on Monday. Hillingdon Leader Sir Ray Puddifoot OBE announced in November his intention to stand down after more than 20 years at the helm of the west London council. Cllr Edwards is expected to be elected new Leader of the Council at the next full meeting of the council in January 2021.