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Your weekly update of London local government issues

18 Jan 23

Drop in Primary School demand will impact on schools budgets

London's declining birth rate is impacting on schools' budgets across the capital, a new report published by London Councils has revealed.

The majority of school revenue funding is allocated on a per pupil basis and a decrease in pupil numbers means a decrease in the funding a school receives. With many primary schools in London  already struggling to balance budgets due to a combination of factors, including inflationary price increases, and a shortage of teaching and support staff, means that schools will have to make further difficult decisions to balance their budgets.

( [link removed] )London Councils' Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Ian Edwards ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said:  “London boroughs are working closely with schools experiencing decreasing demand for school places to achieve the best for young Londoners. London still has the best performing schools in the country and it is vital we ensure our schools thrive in this difficult climate and, most importantly, that children achieve the best outcomes. 

“London Councils will work closely with key education partners in London, including government, to mitigate the impact of this drop in demand for school places and to establish an effective framework to meet this challenge going forwards."

You can read the full report: Managing Surplus School Places in London (2023) here. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Net Zero review published

On Friday (13 January), the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy ( [link removed] )published the findings of the Net Zero Review ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), chaired by former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore MP.

His final report, ( [link removed] )Mission Zero ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), makes more than one hundred recommendations - covering areas including the role that business can play and delivering more energy efficient homes - to maximise economic investment, opportunities and jobs, while working towards achieving legally binding targets to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Responding to the report's findings, ( [link removed] )London Councils’ Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Environment, Mayor Philip Glanville ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: “[The] Net Zero Review confirms that in order to create a sustainable, effective transition to tackle climate change, local authorities must be at the core [and] it is positive to see our representations reflected in the report.

“The report highlights the number of barriers we face in delivering net zero targets. These include the complexity of government funding programmes and the lack of long-term certainty for funding, which has a knock-on effect on local places’ ability to strategically plan and deliver projects efficiently.

“We welcome the acknowledgement of these challenges, particularly the recommendation for central government to simplify the net zero funding landscape for all local authorities by the next Spending Review.

“We stand ready to work with government and other partners to achieve a successful, place-based transition to net zero that develops green jobs for the future.”

Fast Track City

This week marked the five year anniversary since London became a ' ( [link removed] )fast track city ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )', by signing up to the Paris Declaration on Fast Track Cities Ending the Aids Epidemic.

The agreement, signed by the Mayor of London, London Councils, Public Health England and NHS England, commits London to end new HIV infections, stop preventable HIV deaths and eliminate the discrimination and stigma associated with HIV by 2030.

The ( [link removed] )London HIV Prevention Programme ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) (LHPP) and the public facing information campaign Do It London ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) has played a key role in London' ambitions to achieve the fast track cities goals.

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Media round-up...

Warnings of ‘worsening’ homelessness in London as report reveals extent of crisis
( [link removed] )Housing Digital ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London Councils responds to the Net Zero Review
( [link removed] )London TV ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Local government spending up fifth year running
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Local net zero push held back by Government, review finds
( [link removed] )The MJ ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London outperforms UK economy again in sign capital could swerve recession
( [link removed] )City A.M. ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Afghan mother-of-two says living in London hotel ‘like a prison’ amid affordable housing shortage
( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Roll-out of school mental health support teams could save £1.8bn
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

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Help with cost of living ( [link removed] )

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Covid data and advice ( [link removed] )

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

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

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London Councils is the collective of local government in London, the 32 boroughs and the City of London.We also run pan-London services like Freedom Pass and Taxicard. 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL | [email protected] ( [email protected] )

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