The health and care white paper represents a key opportunity to deliver integrated services with a strengthened role for local authorities and better results for Londoners, according to London Councils.

Cllr Damian White, London Councils’ Executive Member for Health & Care, said: “We’re pleased to see the government unveiling these proposals, which set out a road map for increased coordination of health and care provision while focusing on tackling inequalities and improving results. Across London, boroughs and our NHS colleagues are already making great strides on collaboration. The white paper has the potential to help these partnerships go further and faster.

“Local government must be an equal partner in this journey of reform. London boroughs look forward to working alongside the government and the health service on the next steps of this agenda."

New learning materials are being distributed to schools across the capital to promote the Covid-19 vaccination programme and tackle vaccine scepticism.

Developed by Hackney teachers with input from their pupils and public health professionals, the materials are now distributed by London Councils to boroughs.

Research carried out by Hackney Council as part of the boroughs’ collaborative Keep London Safe campaign shows that young Londoners are significantly more uncertain about the Covid-19 vaccine compared to older age groups.

Cllr Georgia Gould, Chair of London Councils, said: “This initiative is a crucial part of our ongoing work to tackle misinformation and to help Londoners understand the importance of vaccination – which is key to keeping us all safe and eventually bringing this crisis to an end.

London Councils has described the housing secretary’s announcement of new funding to address the cladding crisis as “undoubtedly welcome”, although boroughs insist further government action on fire safety issues is still required.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: “The question of how to fund the removal of unsafe cladding has been a pressing concern for many years. We have always been clear that extra resources are needed for remedial work in social housing and that leaseholders should not bear the burden resulting from a failed regulatory system either.

“This additional investment is undoubtedly welcome – but it isn’t enough to bring the cladding crisis to an end."

London Councils Leaders' Committee has agreed that a new four-year pan-London Grants programme should be established from April 2022.  Members of the committee recently began a consultation (closing on 26 February 2021) seeking views and feedback on the services to consider, under the following themes:

• tackling homelessness
• combating sexual and domestic violence

You can find the full consultation here: Consultation – pan-London Grants Programme 2022-2026.  

Responses to the consultation will help London Councils shape recommendations for the new programme to the Grants Committee.