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Key Issues 152: 15 October 2008
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Email: info@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Police accountability
London Councils has included a range of proposals to make the police more accountable in its formal response to the government green paper 'From the Neighbourhood to the National: Policing our Communities Together'. The response calls on the government to go further in involving local authorities in policing, and proposes an alternative model which gives council leaders greater powers to influence policing in their communities.
Read London Councils' press release
Read London Councils' response
Contact: Anastasia Lungu-Mulenga, policy and projects manager
Icelandic bank crisis
Following the collapse of several Icelandic banks, London Councils is working with the LGA to identify local authorities' full range of investments. Ernst & Young who are acting as administrators for the two UK subsidiaries Heritable, and Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander, will aim to provide estimates of recoverable funds and possible timescales by mid-November to assist local authorities' budget-planning. Treasury officials are currently discussing the position of Landsbanki and Glitner with the Icelandic government. London Councils is also calling on the government to guarantee all money deposited by London's local authorities in Icelandic banks, estimated at £219 million.
Read London Councils' press release
Read London Councils' chief executive circular
Contact: Jo Mennell, head of local government finance
Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards winners
Streetwise Live has won the £10,000 top prize in this year's Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards for its Streetwise Opera project. The awards, presented by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State from the Department of Communities and Local Government, also recognised five other organisations for their innovative work in tackling homelessness.
Read London Councils' press release
Read more about the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards 2008
Contact: Nigel Minto, head of sustainable communities
Local Democracy Week
This week is Local Democracy Week and events are being held in many boroughs to educate local residents about the role of councillors and the council. During the week London Councils is running seminars for people interested in becoming councillors.
Read more about borough activities
Contact: Emma Stewart, promotions manager
Halloween and Fireworks Night
The London Anti-Social Behaviour Board is offering resources and support to boroughs in their work around preventing anti-social behaviour during Halloween and Fireworks Night. This includes template briefings and press releases to help press officers and elected members inform local communities about activities planned in their boroughs.
Find out more about the resources
Contact: Jain Lemom, commissioning officer
