Your weekly update on London local government. Problems viewing this? [link removed] Add to safe sender.

Your weekly update of London local government issues

23 Feb 2022

Small Business Friendly Borough Awards Winners 2022

Congratulations to LB Haringey who were named  Best all Round Small Business Friendly Borough; and LB Tower Hamlets, whose support for local businesses' to pivot in response to the pandemic, was named Best Programme of Support for Small Businesses at the Small Business Friendly Borough Awards 2022.

Congratulations too to all of the shortlisted boroughs at this year's awards whose work was recognised as going 'above and beyond'. These were: (Best All Round Small Business category) LB Barnet; Westminster City Council and LB Enfield; (Best Programme of Support category): LB Hounslow [Highly Commended]; LB Islington and LB Richmond upon Thames.

The awards were presented by London Councils Executive Member for Business, Economy and Culture Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, LEAP board member Nita P. Wood, and FSB North London Area Lead David Clare at the Guildhall, City of London last week.

( [link removed] )You can read more about all of the winners and shortlisted candidates on our website here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London Greener Warmer Building Summit
London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan jointly hosted the  ‘London Greener and Warmer Buildings Summit ( [link removed] )’ yesterday (Tuesday 22 February 2022).

The summit showcased London boroughs' ambition to get all London homes to an EPC rating of B by 2030, which means retrofitting 3.8 million homes that are currently responsible for one third of London's carbon emissions.

In November 2019, London Environment Directors Network (LEDNet) and the Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) came together to discuss key climate change issues facing boroughs, and how they could work together to address them.

( [link removed] )You can read more about London Councils' seven climate change programmes, including Retrofitting London, on our website here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

Boroughs continue working to support Afghan evacuees

Boroughs continue to work hard in supporting Afghan evacuees and helping them settle into new lives in the UK.

London still has around 4,000 Afghan evacuees in bridging accommodation, around a third of the Afghan evacuee hotel population. Although more Afghan families are being matched and resettled, London is also continuing to receive new arrivals.

The government has provided more clarity on funding to cover local authorities’ housing costs for this work, with £25.5 million made available to help councils secure housing.

But there continue to be massive challenges in London where there is a particular lack of affordable, family-sized housing.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: “Boroughs are proud of our work supporting thousands of Afghan evacuees to settle in the UK and rebuild their lives.

“We’re committed to helping evacuees find new homes in London and we all want to see faster progress in moving evacuees out of hotels, but it’s extremely difficult to secure long-term accommodation options.

“We’re working closely with the Home Office, including escalating boroughs’ concerns and highlighting the need for adequate resources.”

Share this...

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

or forward to a colleague [link removed]

In the news...

( [link removed] )

London’s governance is a tangle. It’s time to simplify and devolve

( [link removed] )OnLondon ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

Council accolade for making Haringey 'business friendly'
( [link removed] )Ham & High ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

Shared prosperity fund devo offer ‘not real devolution’
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

Revealed: the rise in housing disrepair claims
( [link removed] )Inside Housing ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

Covid: Mask requirement on London transport set to end
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

London flooding poses ‘significant risk’ unless immediate action taken
( [link removed] )The Observer ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Boroughs commitments to their businesses

In 2021 London Councils agreed a set of 'Pledges to Business' that demonstrate London boroughs’ commitment to growing the capital's economy for the benefit of all Londoners and set out the boroughs’ roles in achieving this. ( [link removed] )You can read more about the pledges here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

( [link removed] )

Covid-19 advice

Please check these websites for the most up-to-date and accurate infomation regarding coronavirus advice:

On Monday 21 February Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement in the House of Commons on the government's strategy for living with COVID. ( [link removed] )

Covid-19: Guidance and support ( [link removed] )

Guidance for employees, employers and businesses ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

The official UK government website for data and insights on coronavirus: Daily summary ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )You can now also follow London Councils  ( [link removed] )
on Instagram  ( [link removed] )

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

visit londoncouncils.gov.uk ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

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.
59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL | [email protected] ( [email protected] )

Unsubscribe from this newsletter [link removed]