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Your weekly update of London local government issues

15 Mar 23

Urgent Budget action required to tackle growing homelessness crisis

London's housing crisis has been put into stark relief this week with new figures published by London Councils revealing that on average at least one child in every classroom in the capital is homeless.

The latest figures suggests there are now 166,000 homeless Londoners – equivalent to the entire population of a city such as Oxford – living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough. That total includes 81,000 children, meaning one in every 23 children in London is homeless.

The capital's homelessness crisis is driven by a severe shortage of affordable accommodation and new research conducted by Savills and Rightmove on behalf of London Councils suggests housing affordability for low-income Londoners in the private rented sector has shrunk even further due to increasing rents.

Ahead of today's Budget announcement, boroughs are calling on the government to increase help for households struggling with their finances, including by raising Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: "The situation is unsustainable. Homelessness has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and it also leads to massive costs to councils and the wider public sector.

“We need urgent action from the government. The Chancellor must use the Budget to boost support for struggling households and to help us deliver the affordable homes London’s communities are desperate to see.”

MPs call for 'fresh support' to boost economic growth in London

A group of cross-party MPs has urged the Chancellor to use today's Budget to boost economic growth in London.

Describing the capital as a “vital cog in driving the UK’s future prosperity”, the ( Boroughs are calling on the government to use the upcoming Budget to increase help for households struggling with their finances, including by raising LHA rates. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “London’s homelessness crisis is getting even worse. The toxic combination of cost-of-living pressures and the chronic shortage of affordable housing means more and more Londoners – especially families with kids – are ending up homeless. “The situation is unsustainable. Homelessness has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and it also leads to massive costs to councils and the wider public sector. “We need urgent action from the government. The Chancellor must use the Budget to boost support for struggling households and to help us deliver the affordable homes London’s communities are desperate to see.” )All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London ( Boroughs are calling on the government to use the upcoming Budget to increase help for households struggling with their finances, including by raising LHA rates. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “London’s homelessness crisis is getting even worse. The toxic combination of cost-of-living pressures and the chronic shortage of affordable housing means more and more Londoners – especially families with kids – are ending up homeless. “The situation is unsustainable. Homelessness has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and it also leads to massive costs to councils and the wider public sector. “We need urgent action from the government. The Chancellor must use the Budget to boost support for struggling households and to help us deliver the affordable homes London’s communities are desperate to see.” ) ( Boroughs are calling on the government to use the upcoming Budget to increase help for households struggling with their finances, including by raising LHA rates. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “London’s homelessness crisis is getting even worse. The toxic combination of cost-of-living pressures and the chronic shortage of affordable housing means more and more Londoners – especially families with kids – are ending up homeless. “The situation is unsustainable. Homelessness has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and it also leads to massive costs to councils and the wider public sector. “We need urgent action from the government. The Chancellor must use the Budget to boost support for struggling households and to help us deliver the affordable homes London’s communities are desperate to see.” ) hopes to see fiscal measures that will help businesses and create new jobs and opportunities.

( [link removed] )Sir Bob Neill MP, Co-Chair of the APPG for London ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: “The Budget is a chance for the Chancellor to show he recognises London as an invaluable national asset. Rather than try to level London down, the government must do everything it can to get London back in business.

“We want London to be the best city in the world to live, to visit, and to run a business. To achieve that, the Budget must bring fresh support for London’s economic recovery and help the capital overcome its immense challenges.”

Homes for Ukraine

One year on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the launch of the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme, London boroughs are ( [link removed] )thanking London’s local communities ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ) for offering sanctuary and support to thousands of Ukrainians arriving in the capital.

Close to 17,000 Ukrainians have arrived in London on the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme since the scheme was launched on 14 March last year. Thousands more have arrived via other schemes such as the Ukraine Family Visa.

Speaking on the anniversary of the launch of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, ( [link removed] )London Councils’ Executive Member for Communities Cllr Claire Holland ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ), said: “I would like to thank Londoners for their selfless and compassionate welcome of Ukrainians to the capital. People across London’s communities have stepped up to the plate, offering all kinds of support.

“Historically London has been proud of its role as a place of sanctuary to those fleeing the direst circumstances and it is amazing to see that ethos shining through even as we face our own challenges as a city.

“Boroughs have also been working hard to support Ukrainian arrivals but face huge barriers which are linked to the long-term issues that blight our city. It is no surprise that finding suitable affordable accommodation for arrivals once their sponsorship arrangement ends is the biggest mountain to climb. We are determined to do more, with government and other partners, to overcome these challenges.”

By election results

Two by-elections took place in London boroughs last week (9 March):

In LB Haringey, the Tottenham Hale ward by-election was won by Sean O'Donovan (Lab). Full result here ( [link removed] ).

In Hounslow, the Heston West ward by-election was won by Emma Siddhu (Lab). ( [link removed] )Full result here ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] ).

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Media round-up...

The number of women sleeping rough could be 7 times higher than estimated
( [link removed] )Big Issue ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

MPs urge Chancellor to ‘safeguard’ London’s transport system in budget
( [link removed] )Evening Standard ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Cannes-Do Spirit: London councils head to MIPIM to pitch for sustainable investment
( [link removed] )City AM ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Central London: E-bike users who block pavements to face larger fines
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

Minister will ‘see what we can do’ to ‘speed up’ finance settlement
( [link removed] )LGC ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

London's counter-terror Prevent referrals buck UK trend - meeting
( [link removed] )BBC News ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )

MPs call for more power to be granted to London’s councils
( [link removed] )LocalGov ( [link removed] ) ( [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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