London Councils welcomes new Supporting People Strategy

London Councils has today welcomed the government's new Supporting People strategy, particularly its recognition of the vital leadership role of councils in providing care for vulnerable people.

However, the leaders of London's local authorities have called on the government to recognise the far greater challenges faced by the capital's borough social services and ensure they are adequately funded in this work.

Welcoming the strategy, London Councils' executive member for health and adult services, Councillor Stephen Carr, said:

"We are pleased the government has recognised the central role played by local authorities in providing services for vulnerable people. Local leadership from councils is vital in bringing together services for people in need of our support.

"However, it is essential that government recognises the significant challenges faced in the capital - and that the resources for supporting people are sufficient to support boroughs and providers in providing innovative projects that address these challenges. We are keen to work with CLG to develop an allocation formula that takes into account London's special circumstances."

As the publisher of the London Supporting People strategy, London Councils remains fully committed to ensuring that the supporting people programme continues to care for the capital's vulnerable people.

The leaders of London's local authorities support the recommendation to use local area agreements (LAAs) to encourage boroughs, partner agencies and other service providers to provide quality services with fair access across the capital. Such a move recognises the central role local councils will play in ensuring the most vulnerable members of society are provided with the essential care they need.

London Councils has also argued that providing services in the capital represents a far greater challenge than elsewhere in the country. London's population is the most diverse in the UK with high levels of mobility - which places significant strains on the delivery of its public services.

The capital is home to some of the most deprived areas of the country - one in four of all the poorest districts in England is found in London. London Councils believes that it is vital that government ensures the capital's local authorities are allocated sufficient resources to meet these challenges.

The government's Supporting People strategy was released by Communities and Local Government today, Thursday 21 June.

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