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key issues 155: 5 November 2008
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Email: info@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Balance of Power
London Councils has called for the devolution of more powers to local government, constitutional reforms and increased financial autonomy in its written submission to a government inquiry into the balance of power between central and local government. London Councils chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell is due to provide oral evidence to the Communities and Local Government select committee later this month.
Read more about the CLG select committee inquiry on the Parliament website
Read London Councils’ submission to the CLG select committee
Contact: Oliver Hatch, public affairs manager
London Councils chairman joins economic group
London Councils chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell has been invited to join an influential group of business leaders, politicians and other public authority officials to tackle the issues facing the capital during the economic downturn. The group will be jointly chaired by the Minister for London, Tony McNulty, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
Read London Councils’ press release
Contact: Dianna Neal, head of economic opportunity
Waste position statement
London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee has launched a position statement setting out proposals and priorities for London in managing the capital’s waste. The statement has been released in anticipation of the Mayor of London’s revisions to London's municipal waste strategy and calls for a more flexible and collaborative approach to waste management in the capital.
Read London Councils’ press release
Contact: Michael Ojo, head of environment
Tackling worklessness
London Councils has formally responded to the Department for Work and Pensions’ green paper ‘No one written off: Reforming welfare to reward responsibility' that sets out plans for improving support and work incentives to tackle worklessness. London Councils particularly supports proposals for greater local partnership involvement in the management of employment and skills provision.
Read London Councils’ response
Read more about the green paper
Contact: Catherine Ford, policy officer
Property assessment tool
Capital Ambition has launched Workplace Wizard, an office automation toolkit to help London's boroughs take a corporate approach to the asset management of their property portfolio. The toolkit, which could be used nationwide, will provide useful guidance for councils wishing to undertake a 'rationalisation' of their portfolio.
Contact: Mike Smith, communications officer
London scrutiny event
Capital Ambition is hosting a London Scrutiny Network event to explore the relationship between scrutiny and partnerships against the backdrop of current legislation and the increasing powers of scrutiny. The event is free to members, officers and other scrutiny stakeholders from across London and is taking place on Friday 7 November at Tower Hamlets town hall.
Contact: Mike Smith, communications officer
London Compact Awards 2008
Winners of the first London Compact Awards 2008 will be announced on Thursday 6 November. The awards recognise the best partnership working involving the third sector and at least one statutory partner in the capital.
Read case studies on partnership working
Contact: Ian Redding, head of grants
Youth crime partnership
London schools and their partners in the fight against youth crime have launched the London Schools Programme for Safety and Cohesion, which aims to build safety and crime prevention measures into the culture of schools. The programme, spearheaded by the London Youth Crime Prevention Board (LYCPB), brings together a coalition of agencies including the Government Office for London, the Metropolitan Police, Youth Justice Board and London Councils.
Contact: Caroline Dawes, principal policy and project officer
European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund London Programme has launched a second round of applications offering £34 million of funding for projects supporting the growth and environmental performance of small and medium-sized businesses in the capital. Applications are welcome from local authorities, statutory or non-statutory public-funded bodies, voluntary and community organisations; some private sector organisations are also eligible to apply.
Find out more about the funding opportunities
Contact: Rachael McCorriston, Greater London Enterprise
European Service
London Councils’ European Service is offering free training to help boroughs and third sector providers become experts in delivering a European Social Fund project in partnership with organisations and local authorities across the EU.
Find out more about the training
Contact: Rachael McCorriston, Greater London Enterprise
