London boroughs are determined to keep supporting local communities and businesses as official restrictions are eased. That was the message from London Councils following confirmation that England was moving to step 4 of the roadmap from Monday 19 July.

London Councils' Executive Member for Health and Care, Danny Thorpe said: “This is not the end of the road, but the next stage of our response to the virus. Case rates are increasing across the country and people are still at risk of getting Covid-19 and ending up in hospital.

“Many shop workers, doctors, nurses and other NHS staff, TfL and council workers have been working throughout the pandemic, facing high levels of exposure to Covid-19. We all owe it to them to continue to protect their safety by wearing masks on buses, the tube, and wherever we are asked to do so. This will also include council buildings and facilities, as well as health settings.

“Our message to London is simple: keep it on for now, and help us to protect our staff, our public sector workers and each other.

“Getting vaccinated is key to protecting London in the long term. It is amazing that more than 9 million vaccines have been delivered in London but there is still work to do. Boroughs will continue our efforts alongside the NHS and volunteers to ensure no one is left behind and all Londoners get their jabs.

“We are also supporting PHE London and government in promoting testing and helping Londoners who face barriers to self-isolation if they test positive.”

London Councils’ Grants Committee last week agreed to proceed with a call for proposals for a new four year pan-London grants programme, covering 2022 to 2026.

The current programme, which has invested £6 million a year since 2017 on combatting homelessness and tackling domestic and sexual abuse, is due to end in March next year.

London Councils is calling for proposals for a new four-year programme that aims to continue supporting London boroughs in their work to reduce homelessness, and domestic and sexual abuse.

You can find out more (including how to apply) on our Grants webpages here.

A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has highlighted the vital role that England's local authorities will have to play if the government is to achieve its ambitions to deliver 'net zero' carbon emissions by 2050.

The NAO report calls on government to clarify the role of local authorities in contributing to the UK’s statutory net zero target; and to ensure local authorities have the right resources and skills to achieve it.

The NAO's findings reflect "the frank reality that local government needs clear, consistent, supportive policies in order to take meaningful action to reach Net Zero targets", said Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Mayor Philip Glanville.

“London boroughs are already championing and delivering green programmes from active travel to 100 per cent renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions", he added. "It is vital that government recognises that local authorities are an indispensable partner in achieving our national climate goals and this must be reflected in the government’s forthcoming Net Zero Strategy.”

Following the Prime Minister's speech on levelling up last week, where he outlined the government's aim to "build back better across the whole of the UK", London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould said  “London is a dynamic global city which has a big role to play in the UK's economic recovery. But we also face huge challenges.  

"There are thousands of communities living in poverty in London, who face serious barriers to finding work such as lack of digital skills or difficulty accessing the labour market. The economic impact of Covid-19 has hit London hard - our unemployment rate is the highest of any UK region at 6.5 per cent.

“London boroughs look forward to working with Government on the ‘levelling up’ agenda, working with key business sectors to support inclusive growth and making sure we build a recovery for all Londoners.

“With our local knowledge, leadership and established relationships, councils are a valuable partner in making levelling up a reality for our residents and businesses."

In a boost to ambitions to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2024, London Councils has announced the appointment of a Rough Sleeping Programme Director.

Michelle Binfield, who previously worked as Lead Commissioner for the Pan-London Rough Sleeper Substance Misuse Programme and Lambeth Council’s Associate Director for Commissioning (Public Health and Social Care), will start in August.

In her new role, which is based at London Councils and jointly funded by the London Housing Directors’ Group and the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG), Michelle will work with London local authorities, the GLA, central government, health services, the voluntary sector, and others to build on the achievements made by working in partnership during the Covid-19 pandemic.   

London Councils has added an Instagram account to its social media. You can follow us @londoncouncils