From our Chair: Leadership in Challenging Times

The recent London Councils Summit - our free to attend annual conference for councillors in London - took as its theme Leadership in Challenging Times.

Against the background of substantial cuts to funding, local authorities are on the frontline in responding to competing crises. In the face of the ongoing economic slump they must help stimulate growth and bring jobs to their communities.

As Darra Singh’s report into the summer disorder shows, they must help communities recover, work to understand the causes and put in place measures to mitigate against the same thing happening again. All the while they must continue to provide the services residents and businesses rely on and shape their local areas to meet the needs and aspirations of the people they represent.

That's why continuing to make the case for London is so important, and why it was particularly pleasing in recent weeks to see some reward for the hard work of local authorities, councillors and London Councils officers in campaigning for more funding for primary school places in the capital. Previously London has faced a shortfall of 70,000 places over the next four years, and has been allocated only 26 per cent of the available funding for school places despite having 64 per cent of the national shortfall.

London was recently awarded about £260M of extra funding, 52% of the £500M pot available. London still faces a major challenge in providing a school place for every child that needs one and more money is still needed, but the recent move by the Government is a welcome one, as is the commitment from Michael Gove to work with London Councils in developing a transparent funding mechanism that meets London’s needs. Much more work like this will need to be done in the coming years to ensure London's public services are adequately resourced.