Responding to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, announcing that £20 million of additional funding would be targeted at tackling county lines drug gangs, Cllr Nickie Aiken, London Councils' Executive member for Schools and Children's Services, said:

“London is the epicentre of the county lines drug trade which extends, tentacle-like, across the country. The Home Secretary has rightly singled county lines out as a crime priority and the fresh funds for fighting this insidious form of organised crime are very welcome."

The London Councils’ grants programme supports work to combat homelessness by funding organisations including New Horizon Youth Centre.

They are responsible for the youth homelessness commission, leading the London Youth Gateway partnership, to support young people in London to prevent and solve homelessness. It also provides counselling and other mental health support services.

Thursday 10 October marks World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day. New Horizon Youth Centre will be supporting these, holding fundraising activities and awareness raising events, including 10 Days to Take On Youth Homelessness and the Massaoke event.

London Councils' leaders committee met yesterday, 8 October. Agenda items included: NHS collaboration, and Children’s Services - Finance Pressures and Tackling County Lines.

The Transport and Environment committee will meet on Thursday 10 October. Agenda items include: Climate Change update, and Electric Vehicle Coordination Function.