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Your weekly update of London local government issues

16 October 2019

Response to the Queen's Speech

The Queen's Speech on Monday contained several announcements with major implications for London local government.

Responding to the government's plans for an Environment Bill, Cllr Julian Bell, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: ( [link removed] ) "Air pollution in the capital is a silent killer and we need to ensure that producers pay for disposing of the packaging they create.

"New legislation that provides London boroughs with improved powers and resources is essential if we are to deal with these challenges."

London Councils also commented on the commitment to new legislation on building safety standards.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: ( [link removed] ) "We welcome the government moving forward with new laws on building safety – although we clearly need to see the details behind the plans.

“London boroughs are determined to make sure all residents are safe – and feel safe – in their homes. But it has long been clear that more action is needed at a national level, which is why we’ve repeatedly called for legislation to resolve ongoing safety issues since our initial response to the Hackitt Review’s call for evidence in October 2017."

In an opinion piece for LGC ( [link removed] ), Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader of Westminster City Council, wrote:

"Crime, the environment and how devolution will be delivered will remain issues whatever the political landscape. The announcements in the Queen's Speech push us towards needed action and a necessary debate."

London's 'unsustainable' homelessness costs

London Councils has published a new report on the growing cost of providing homelessness services in the capital.

The research found that boroughs are spending more than £200m on homelessness from their general funds - with the costs set to increase even further as homelessness rates continue to rise.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: ( [link removed] ) "Even though London faces the most severe homelessness crisis in the country, the capital gets a raw deal when it comes to funding.

"Boroughs are committed to tackling homelessness but the government must make sure London's hard-pressed homelessness services have the resources they need."

Need for full apprenticeship devolution
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and London Councils have called for a fully devolved apprenticeship service for London.

The new 'business 1000' survey shows businesses would support this, as two years on from the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, only 13 per cent of businesses in the capital say that they currently employ apprentices, down from 17 per cent in 2018.

The survey results show that confusion persists within the business community regarding requirements to pay the Apprenticeship Levy and use of apprenticeship funds.

( [link removed] )Cllr Clare Coghill, Executive Member for Business, Europe and Good Growth, London Councils, said: ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) "Across the board, London businesses are also hugely supportive of greater devolution to address a whole range of the city’s most pressing issues such as housing, transport and community safety.  We will continue to work with the LCCI to make our case to government for greater devolution."

London challenge poverty week
London Councils’ ESF  ( [link removed] )grants scheme supports work to tackle poverty ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) and contribute to reducing child poverty in London by raising family income and skills through employment.

Groups from across the capital will be joining forces to highlight the issue, and some of the innovative work being done by national and local government, the Mayor, employers and local communities tackle poverty, during London Challenge Poverty Week (14-20 Oct). ( [link removed] )

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In the news...

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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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