London boroughs are redoubling efforts to support residents as new polling for London Councils reveals anxiety about the cost of living has reached new heights in the capital.

London Councils’ annual survey of Londoners conducted by Ipsos, finds 77% of Londoners believe cost of living is one of the most important issues facing the capital. This is the highest ever level of concern for any issue recorded on this question in the past decade, and an increase in 15 percentage points since last year.

Around one in four Londoners say they are finding it difficult to manage financially these days, with highest levels of worry around paying energy/utility bills (67%) and covering an unexpected household expense (64%).

London Councils Chair Cllr Georgia Gould said: “The figures are stark and reflect the reality that councils across London are seeing in their communities. As we did during the pandemic, local government has once again stepped up to do everything we can to support our residents through this crisis. We are opening up warm spaces, offering financial support and providing advice and guidance to those in need.

“The next few months will be critical for families across the capital who are already struggling. We stand ready to work with government to meet this challenge and ensure the right support gets to those who need it.”

Responding to Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty’s Annual Report on Air Pollution, published last week, London Councils Executive Lead for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, Mayor Philip Glanville, said: “London’s toxic air is a public health challenge that boroughs are determined to tackle by reducing pollution and carbon emissions.

“London Councils and London boroughs are doing a vast amount of work, including through our climate programmes. This includes prioritising low carbon transport, by aiming to halve road journeys made by petrol and diesel through restricting polluting journeys and encouraging people to use active travel options. We are also working on low carbon development, which seeks to increase low carbon buildings and infrastructure through borough planning powers. 

“However, even with all these initiatives to reduce carbon emissions across the capital it currently won’t be enough to completely sort out London’s air quality challenge.

“We must bring everyone with us on the path to Net Zero and the benefits better air quality brings. Only through a collaborative, sustainable and fair approach, which involves greater levels of investment and energy than ever before, can we create a capital city that looks after the health of all our residents, beginning with the air we all breathe.”

Retrofit London, the collaborative cross-tenure programme to retrofit London's 3.7 million homes to achieve an average of EPC B or equivalent by 2030, has been named Climate Change Project of the year at the UK Housing Awards.

Retrofit London is one of the seven major programmes for cross-borough working established by London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) and London Environment Directors Network (LEDNet) in November 2019.

The Retrofit London programme is being led by the London boroughs of Enfield and Waltham Forest, with support from London Councils and the London Housing Directors’ Group (LHDG).

London Councils Leaders' Committee met yesterday (Tuesday 13 December). Items on the agenda included the latest Survey of Londoners findings,  London Councils ongoing work on the cost of living and tackling racial inequalities programme.

Following the sad news of the death of former Westminster Council Leader Philippa Roe, Leaders from across the capital paid powerful tributes to her work with London Councils and in leading Westminster Council. A minute's silence was held in her memory.

The full agenda and related reports are available here.