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Your weekly update of London local government issues

7 July 2021

UK Cities Launch Climate Investment Commission 

London Councils and the UK’s 11 Core Cities, along with the innovation body Connected Places Catapult, formally launched the UK Cities Climate Investment Commission on Thursday (1 July) as part London Climate Action Week ( [link removed] ). ( [link removed] )

The commission marked its launch by publishing research from environmental consultancy Eunomia that estimates that up to £330 billion of green investment is required to meet net zero in the UK’s core cities. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Mayor Philip Glanville ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: “London boroughs and the UK’s 11 Core Cities have a huge responsibility as economic and population centres to create solutions to reach net zero targets. Securing private finance is going to be critical in meeting our climate ambitions and today’s launch is a momentous step towards achieving this.

“Local government has a key role to play in reaching climate targets and achieving long term investment for tackling climate change in a way that leaves a positive legacy for our local communities. Only by working together and stressing the need for investment in net zero, from both government and private investors, can we begin to safeguard the environmental future of our cities and those who live, work and visit in them.”

Housing partnerships are key to boosting housing supply in London

A ( [link removed] )new report ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) from London First, in association with AECOM, Grant Thornton UK LLP and London Councils, has called on the public and private sector to collaborate more closely to create housing partnerships to help unlock land, investment, resources, and knowledge to address the capital’s housing shortage.

( [link removed] )London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) said: “With 165,000 Londoners currently living in temporary accommodation – more than the entire population of cities such as Norwich (143,000), Lancaster (146,000), or Oxford (152,400) – we urgently need to build more homes in the capital.

“Housing partnerships are one of the ways boroughs are working to tackle the housing crisis, at a time when council budgets are under continued pressure. We want every Londoner to have the security of somewhere to call home, but we can only do this with more investment to significantly increase housebuilding.”

( [link removed] )You can download the full report here ( [link removed] )

Business Recovery in London

London Councils Executive Member for Business, Economy and Culture Cllr Elizabeth Campbell ( [link removed] ), ( [link removed] ) LCCI chief executive Richard Burge and London First Director of Policy and Strategy Muniya Barua joined London MPs at an APPG for London ( [link removed] ) event on Monday to discuss business recovery in the capital. The event was chaired by Sir Bob Neill MP.

Cllr Campbell raised the need to build the green economy and narrow social and economic inequalities in London as “the shop front of the UK”, and raised issues around the government's funding methodology that needs to recognise the scale of the challenges the capital faces.

The APPG for London ( [link removed] ) is a forum for MPs and Peers to work together on a cross-party basis to strengthen the capital's voice in Parliament.

London Councils provides the secretariat to the group on behalf of London government including the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. You can follow the APPG for London on Twitter ( [link removed] )@APPGforLondon ( [link removed] ).

E-scooter trial expanded

Transport for London and London Councils have announced an expansion of the capital’s trial of rental e-scooters, with e-scooters available to rent from Monday 5 July in the City of London and northern parts of Lambeth, while people will now be able to ride them in Southwark. 

The expansion will mean that the number of vehicles will increase from around 600 to 1,200 across London and will now be available at more key inner and central London destinations.

By-election results

Two by-elections took place in London boroughs last week (1 July). In Enfield, Peter Fallart (Con) was elected to represent the Bush Hill Park ward. In Islington, Mick Gilgunn (Lab) was elected to represent the Tollington ward.

You can read the results in full here: ( [link removed] )Bush Hill Park ( [link removed] ); Tollington ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Instagram

London Councils has added an Instagram account to its social media. You can follow us ( [link removed] )@londoncouncils ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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In the news...

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London should be the go-to city for green finance as Britain takes on COP26
( [link removed] )CityA.M ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Net zero could generate £330bn investment into UK, commission finds
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Grenfell prompts creation of building safety regulator
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Social housing shortage blamed for rising bed and breakfast use
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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E-scooter trial expanded to three new boroughs in London
( [link removed] )The Independent ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Londoners continue to return to public transport but gradually and nervously
( [link removed] )OnLondon ( [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] )

Prime Minister's Statement on Roadmap (5 July) ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

and remember to follow us for all the breaking news...

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Comments or queries? Email the editor ( [email protected]?subject=Key%20Issues%3A )

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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.
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