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Your weekly update of London local government issues

25 September 2019

Inclusive schooling

A new report by London Councils published today shows that, although many schools and councils in the capital are using a range of innovative strategies to meet the needs of children with SEND, not every school is succeeding at being inclusive.

The government’s recent announcement of an extra £700 million for the High Needs block of funding shows that supporting children with SEND is high on the national agenda.

Cllr Nickie Aiken, London Councils’ executive member for schools and children’s Services, said: ( [link removed] ) “It’s inspiring that so many councils and schools in London are already positive about supporting children with SEND.

“However we cannot yet guarantee that all schools in London are inclusive. All too often children with SEND end up being excluded or off-rolled rather than being offered the support they need."

Labour conference event

London Councils hosted a well-attended breakfast event at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton on Monday.

Chaired by Cllr Peter John, chair of London Councils, the event focused on the boroughs’ Pledges to Londoners ( [link removed] ), civic radicalism, and the changes in government policy that would best support councils to empower local communities.

Speaking on the panel were Cllr Georgia Gould (leader of Camden), Helen Hayes MP (member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government select committee), Lord Kerslake (former head of the civil service), Cllr Nesil Caliskan (leader of Enfield), and Philip Glanville (mayor of Hackney).

Investment in Clean Air

London’s Environment and Public Health Directors have published a shared position statement on how to clean up London’s air, which includes calling for 2.5 per cent of the UK’s GDP to be spent on climate change and air quality.

Stephen Evans, Air Quality lead for the London Environment Directors Network, said: ( [link removed] ) “Across the country, there are some excellent examples of work being led by local councils.

“But councils could do more if they had the right powers and funding.  At the heart of our position is a call for the government to take the lead globally by allocating at least 2.5 per cent of UK annual GDP to properly fund the response to climate change and improve the air we breathe, with a significant increase in resources available to councils to tackle the issue.”

Shelter research highlights housing insecurity

London Councils has responded to new research from Shelter showing that 45 per cent of private renters in England could not afford to pay their rent for more than a month if they lost their job.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: ( [link removed] ) “This is the latest evidence of the massive pressures faced by renters in the private sector.

"We know the situation is particularly bad in London due to the capital's chronic shortage of affordable homes. That's why London boroughs are calling for more powers and resources to enable delivery of new council housing on a mass scale.

"The government must take action on these key policy issues and work with councils in tackling homelessness and housing insecurity."

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