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key issues 157: 19 November 2008
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Email: info@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Planning levy
London Councils is calling for local authorities to be allowed to keep the majority of money raised through the government’s proposed Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which would allow both boroughs and the Mayor of London to raise income from new building schemes to fund necessary improvements in local areas affected by developments. London Councils is also concerned that consultation on the regulations and implementation of CIL will not be launched until spring 2009.
Read London Councils’ press release
Contact: Ruth Bradshaw, head of infrastructure
Balance of power
Chairman of London Councils Cllr Merrick Cockell gave evidence to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee of the House of Commons on 17 November on the need for further devolution of power to local authorities.
Read London Councils’ press release
Read the background to Cllr Cockell’s evidence
Contact: Oliver Hatch, public affairs manager
Child poverty summit
Key figures from national and London government, including children’s minister, Beverley Hughes, Mayor Boris Johnson and London Councils’ chairman Cllr Merrick Cockell, will attend the London Child Poverty Summit today (19 November) to share good practice in promoting the London Child Poverty Pledge. The pledge sets out actions which all organisations can take to improve the impact of their work on improving parental employment and reducing child poverty.
Read the London Child Poverty Pledge
Read more about London Councils' work on child poverty
Contact: Dianna Neal, head of prosperous communities
London CIC chief executive
The London Community Interest Company (CIC) of deaf and disability organisations has appointed its current chair, Andrew Little, as its first chief executive. Additional board members and a new chair are now being recruited to lead the CIC in providing policy, campaigning and capacity building support for deaf and disabled people's organisations in the capital.
Read London Council’s press release
Contact: Clare Kiely, policy and grants manager
London health conference
The London Health 2008 conference and exhibition, supported by London Councils, will take place on 10 - 11 December at the Business Design Centre in Islington. The conference, the first of five major events planned through to 2012, will enable policy makers and practitioners responsible for delivering health care services to compare and exchange performance ideas to improve services in the capital.
Find out more about the conference
Homeless pledge
A group of leading London housing associations has launched a pledge to make more homes available to meet the government’s target to reduce the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation by 50 per cent by 2010. The ‘Offer to London’ will be launched by East Thames Group director Victor da Cunha on behalf of the G15 group of landlords at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual Lettings and Homeless conference.
Read more information on the G15 website
Migration conference
Hammersmith and Fulham is hosting a free conference in partnership with the European Citizen Action Service to discuss the challenges and impact EU migration has on public services, the voluntary sector and new migrants who come to London in search of work. The conference takes place on January 23 2009 at Hammersmith town hall.
Find out more about the conference
Outer London Commission
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has appointed planning and development expert William McKee to chair his Outer London Commission, set up to support outer London’s contribution to the capital’s economy. Mr McKee is currently chairman of Tilfen Land, the Urban Exposure Group and a former chief executive of the London borough of Merton.
