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Your weekly update of London local government issues

19 May 2021

London's highway maintenance backlog passes £1 billion

The cost of the capital’s road maintenance backlog has now reached more than £1 billion, ( [link removed] )the fourth annual “State of the City” report from the London Technical Advisers Group (LoTAG) shows. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London has 17,000 km of carriageways covering 111km², the equivalent size to Jersey. The capital also looks after 4,300 structures, 27,000 km of footways, and more than 720,000 street trees which produce over 80,000 tonnes of oxygen per year.

Outside London, all English authorities receive an annual government settlement to look after roads and the local street scene. In 2021/2022 they will receive £1.385 billion for highway maintenance. In contrast, London local authorities receive no funds from the government.

Boroughs are calling for more long-term support and investment to ensure Londoners and visitors alike can navigate the city’s roads in a safe, enjoyable and efficient way. Specifically, making national funding schemes available to London boroughs would help to address the capital’s massive maintenance backlog. For example, each year Londoners pay around £500 million a year in national Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) but this is spent in the rest of the country rather than being invested in London’s roads.

Rental e-scooter trials

Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils 
have announced that London’s rental e-scooter trial will begin on Monday 7 June.

A core group of London boroughs, Canary Wharf and the City of London will be participating in the trial fully by providing parking, with further boroughs acting as 'ride-through' areas, which users may travel through but not start or end e-scooter rides. Between 60 and 150 e-scooters will be available to rent in each fully participating borough initially, with riders able to move freely across these boroughs and ‘ride-through’ areas. 

Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “The rental e-scooter trial has the potential to support our city-wide response to the coronavirus pandemic and boost London’s green recovery.

“Running the trial safely for all road users is vital. Boroughs will work with TfL, London Councils and operators to uphold the highest safety standards and take into account London’s most vulnerable residents, such as people with visual impairments.

“That’s why we would urge Londoners to only use rented e-scooters, which will be launched soon, and avoid unregulated privately-owned e-scooters, which will remain illegal to use on public roads and have not been designed for safe use on the capital’s streets.”

Boroughs and areas participating from the 7 June

Ealing
Canary Wharf
The City of London
Hammersmith and Fulham
Kensington and Chelsea
Richmond upon Thames

Ride-through boroughs participating from the 7 June

Tower Hamlets

Boroughs seeking participation in the trial

Lambeth
Southwark

Planning overhaul risks 'disaster'

London boroughs have expressed dismay at the overhaul of planning reforms included in the Queen’s Speech last week.

Councils have repeatedly warned that the government’s proposed changes to planning law will make it harder for local authorities to meet affordable housing targets and to ensure housebuilding is high quality and sustainable.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell ( [link removed] ), said: “The government’s complete overhaul of the English planning system is a complete disaster in the making.

“Councils play a crucial role in the planning system, upholding quality standards and ensuring new development includes affordable housing for our communities. With around 50,000 planning applications granted by London boroughs each year, we’re doing our best to facilitate the new housing the capital needs.

“Our concern is that ripping up planning regulations will only lead to more slum housing built to maximise profits rather than address Londoners’ needs. There’s so much more the government should be doing to invest in affordable housing and to support local councils’ housebuilding ambitions.”

Ealing new leader elected

Cllr Peter Mason was elected as the new leader of Ealing Council at the ( [link removed] )borough's AGM last night ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ). Cllr Mason replaces Cllr Julian Bell who had led the west London borough since 2010.

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Cost of London’s road maintenance backlog has now reached £1 billion, says LoTAG’s State of the City report
Highway News ( [link removed] )

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Covid-19: 'Get the jab to protect your friends and family'
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Making ‘build, build, build’ a reality
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Prosperity Index shines light on London’s struggling local authorities
( [link removed] )City Matters ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

By the boroughs, for the community

A snapshot of some of the work boroughs are doing to support vulnerable people, improve lives and keep London going through the Covid-19 pandemic ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

By the leaders blogs

We've been publishing a series of blogs by London borough leaders as the capital responds to the challenges of Covid-19. ( [link removed] )read them all here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

Coronavirus (Covid-19) latest information and advice

Please check these websites for the most up-to-date and accurate infomation regarding coronavirus advice:

Covid-19: Guidance and support ( [link removed] )

Staying safe outside your home ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Guidance for employees, employers and businesses ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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London Councils fights for the best deal for our boroughs, develops policy and lobbies government on the issues
that matter for London. We also run pan-London services like Freedom Pass and Taxicard.
59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL | [email protected] ( [email protected] )

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