The Chancellor of the Exchequer will later today deliver the second Budget of 2021 and reveal the outcome of the government's Spending Review, which details how government will fund public services for the next three years.

London Councils is urging extra investment in local services to boost economic recovery and level up the country.

Chair of London Councils, Cllr Georgia Gould, said: “The Chancellor needs to recognise that councils have played a vital role in responding to the Covid-19 crisis and their local services are equally important for securing economic recovery.

“London has been hit hard by the pandemic and we share the government’s determination to build back better. By giving boroughs enough resources to drive green and inclusive growth, the government will make faster progress on many of its top priorities – including tackling the jobs crisis and spreading opportunity to disadvantaged communities.

“The tough fiscal climate only strengthens the case for investing strategically and putting down payments on future economic growth across the UK. Supporting London and its local services is an integral part of this.”

In its submission to the Spending Review, London Councils highlighted the following recovery priorities:

• Levelling up opportunity, particularly for young Londoners
• Supporting a green recovery, so that London can lead the transition to net zero
• Unlocking housing through infrastructure as part of the plan for growth
• Advancing Global Britain by supporting Global London
• Ensuring strong and innovative local public services.

You can read a summary of our submission here

Ahead of the Spending Review, a report issued by Central London Forward (CLF), which represents the 12 central councils, argues that investing in infrastructure will be vital both to supporting the transition to net zero and adapting to the threats posed by climate change.

Chair of CLF and leader of Kensington and Chelsea council Cllr Elizabeth Campbell said: “We are ready to work with government to ensure we can deliver the infrastructure our city needs.”

Last week the co-chairs of the cross-party  APPG for London wrote an open letter in the Evening Standard calling on the government to give London the funding and flexibilities necessary to secure the post-pandemic economic recovery.

A new report for the UK Cities Climate Investment Commission (UKCCIC) calls for ‘place-based demonstrators’ or neighbourhood pilots where green investment opportunities can be gathered together as a package, stating that this will attract returns in the form of savings, additional revenue streams and other social and environmental benefits.

The report finds that investing in net zero projects such as solar panels, building retrofit and electric vehicle charging points across the eleven Core Cities and London will create a £500 billion investment opportunity.

The UKCCIC is a partnership between Connected Places Catapult, Core Cities UK and London Councils and aims to explore new ways of helping UK cities reach their net zero targets. Together, London Councils and the Core Cities represent almost half of the UK population.

The report will be showcased to international investors at COP 26 in Glasgow (see sidebar).

London Councils yesterday (Tuesday 26 October) hosted an online webinar to launch Retrofit London, one of London Councils’ flagship climate change programmes. Retrofit London is led by the London boroughs of Enfield and Waltham Forest, together with support from the London Housing Directors’ Group, BEIS, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, GLA, G15, London First and others.

The launch event set out how the Retrofit London Housing Action Plan can meet our ambitious goal to get all homes in London to an average of EPC B by 2030, and discussing some of the major challenges with key partners

Cllr Caroline Kerr has stood down as Leader of Kingston upon Thames Council.

Announcing her decision last week, Cllr Kerr said: "It is now time for new leadership to take the borough and the Liberal Democrat Group on the next phase of its journey. It has been a huge honour to lead the royal borough and this is not a decision I have taken lightly. I am extremely proud of the work of the Liberal Democrat council in serving the people of Kingston, particularly in these most challenging times.”

A meeting of the Lib Dem group on Sunday (24 October) elected Cllr Andreas Kirsch as the new Leader of the Council.

Camden Leader Cllr Georgia Gould and Westminster Leader Cllr Rachael Robathan have both been named on the shortlist for the Leader of the Year award at LGIU Councillor Awards 2021.

Other London nominees include: (Community Champion shortlist) Cllr Scott Farley, LB Hillingdon and Cllr Aled Richards-Jones, LB Wandsworth (Environment and Sustainability Pioneer shortlist) Cllr Mike Hakata, LB Haringey and Cllr Johnny Thalassites, RB Kensington and Chelsea (Innovation and Service Transformation shortlist) Cllr Paul Bell, LB Lewisham and Cllr Margaret McLennan, LB Brent (Young Councillor of the Year shortlst) Cllr Peymana Assad, LB Harrow and Cllr Adam Jogee, LB Haringey. Cllr Sheila Peacock, LB Haringey, has been nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award.