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key issues 156: 12 November 2008
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Email: info@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Heathrow expansion
London Councils has reiterated its strong opposition to plans to expand Heathrow Airport that were debated in the House of Commons yesterday. London Councils is seeking an urgent meeting with Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to discuss its concerns about the proposals, which include building a third runway and a sixth terminal.
Read London Councils’ briefing: Adding capacity to Heathrow Airport
Read London Councils’ press release
Contact: Marisa Burnal, policy and project manager (infrastructure)
London Plan
London Councils’ response to the Mayor of London’s review of the London Plan, ‘Planning for a Better London’, was agreed by its Executive on 3 November. London Councils has welcomed the Mayor’s commitment to developing a more consensual working relationship with boroughs but has expressed concern that Planning for a Better London does not offer any new direction or purpose on strategic issues.
Read 'Planning for a Better London' on the GLA website
Read London Councils' response to Planning for a Better London
Contact Marisa Burnal, project and policy manager (infrastructure)
14-19 education
The capital's directors of children’s services have signed up to a London Proposal for14-19 year-old education and training; submitted in response to the DCSF paper ‘Raising Expectations’. The submission has been prepared by London’s Shadow regional planning group on behalf of all London local authorities, who have agreed the approach to 14-19 reorganisation set out in the proposal, while recognising that details remain to be worked out.
Read The London Proposal for 14-19 reorganisation
Read more about 14-19 education and training
Contact: Caroline Dawes, principal policy and project officer
Compact awards
Some of the most successful working relationships between the voluntary and public sectors in London were celebrated at the first London Compact awards last week. The awards, part of the nationwide Compact week, were hosted by the Greater London Authority. The GLA is a leading member of the London Compact, which was formed in 2003.
Read more about the London Compact Regional awards
Read more about the Compact and its codes of practice
Contact: Ian Redding, head of grants
Transport strategy
The Mayor’s direction of travel document ‘Way to Go!’ (subtitled Planning for better transport), setting out his vision for transport in London and a proposed timetable for issuing a revised Mayor’s Transport Strategy was published on 5 November 2008. The document also includes some key questions that the GLA would like comments on by 16 January 2009. London Councils' response will draw on work it has already undertaken to influence the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
Read the Mayor’s vision for transport Way to Go!
Read a summary and details of how to contribute to London Councils’ response
Contact: Ruth Bradshaw, head of infrastructure policy
Bus lanes
TfL has announced that, from 5 January 2009, motorcyclists will be able to share red route bus lanes with cyclists, black taxis and buses for a trial period of 18 months. The scheme, which will be implemented through an experimental traffic order, will cover motorcycles, scooters, tricycles and mopeds, but exclude motorcycles with side-cars.
Read London Councils' circular
Read more information on the TfL website
Contact: Maya Martinez, principal project and policy officer (infrastructure)
Managing the public realm
London Councils is hosting a half-day seminar for borough officers on 27 November on managing the public realm. The event, entitled ‘Whose space is it anyway?’, is jointly sponsored by London Councils and the London Environment Directors Network. The seminar is free, but spaces are limited and booking is essential.
Read more about Whose space is it anyway? And register online
Contact Michael Groves, divisional support officer (World City)
The Working Neighbourhoods Fund
CLG has published consultation on revisions to funding allocations for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for the final two years of the programme (2009-11). The proposals will particularly affect allocations for a small number of London boroughs. The deadline for responding to the consultation is 9 January 2008.
Read The Working Neighbourhoods Fund 2009-2011: Revising the Third Criterion, on the CLG website
Contact: Dianna Neal, head of economic opportunity
Pay & Employee Relations Forum
The next meeting of the Pay & Employee Relations Forum will be held on 3 December 2008 and will cover: the city of Westminster’s new reward strategy; delivering excellent city management through a higher skilled, smaller and better remunerated workforce; Local Government Employers, an update on the reference to arbitration and other national developments; and Merton and Capital Ambition on the regional workforce data warehouse.
Contac: Peter Thomas, employment research manager
