Responding to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement last week, which included plans to allow local authorities to increase council tax by up to 5 per cent a year from April 2023 without a referendum, London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould said: “Borough finances remain in a critical condition. Before the Chancellor's statement we estimated a £700 million shortfall next year for councils in the capital, which means a bleak future for many of the local services our communities rely on.

“Council tax is not the answer to the inadequate funding we’re grappling with. Council tax rises during a cost-of-living crisis are extremely difficult for the struggling households we’re determined to support. But even if council tax goes up, it could never plug that £700 million funding gap.

“Boroughs need proper investment from the government. Just as ministers worked in partnership with councils during the Covid-19 pandemic, we now require similar support in the face of the current economic emergency. We stand ready to work together in finding a sustainable solution that protects local services, helps Londoners through cost-of-living pressures, and secures the economic growth we all want to see.”

On Friday, London Councils Strategy Director: Local Government Finance and Improvement, Paul Honeyben, sent members a briefing providing an overview of the Autumn Statement, the government's funding announcements and London Councils' initial response to them. You can read the member briefing here.

The sixth annual survey of London businesses by London Councils and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) shows a dramatic deterioration in business confidence, with three-quarters of London businesses (75%) feeling less confident about the UK economy over the next 12 months than they were about the previous 12 months.

Polling for the survey was conducted by YouGov in summer 2022 at a time of growing economic uncertainty and against a backdrop of significant global events and national political upheaval.

Deputy Chair of London Councils, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “Businesses faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic and now the increasing cost of doing business, driven by rising energy costs and inflation, is putting businesses under further strain.

“Access to skills is a major concern for employers and business’ needs would be better supported by greater devolution of powers and funding to all UK regions. We also continue to work with Government to reform the Apprenticeship Levy as employers find the apprenticeship system does not work sufficiently for them currently.

“Meanwhile, London boroughs stand ready to work alongside Government to safeguard the future of our businesses, as we did during the pandemic when we distributed over 575,000 grants worth £3.4bn to London businesses.

“Boroughs will continue to champion businesses across the capital that make London such a vibrant and unique city to live in.”

You can read the results of the 2022 Business 1000 survey in full here.

Three London boroughs – Enfield, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth – have been recognised among the world’s city regions that are providing leadership on climate change in the latest ‘Cities A list’ compiled by global non profit charity CDP.

CDP runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. Their measurement is considered to be the gold standard of environmental reporting with the richest and most comprehensive dataset on corporate and city action.

Enfield, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth, along with the other 120 cities and boroughs on this year’s A List, are all recognised for demonstrating climate leadership through concerted and effective action.

You can read the 2022 list in full here.

A recent (10 November) by-election in the Green Lane and St James ward (RB Kingston upon Thames), was won byYvonne Tracey (Kingston Independent Residents Group). You can the result in full here.