Press releases 2019

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• Boroughs praise ‘festive force for good’ ready to work with vulnerable Londoners on Christmas Day

  At least 22,000 care workers will be supporting Londoners on Christmas Day. 

• London boroughs welcome return of Domestic Abuse Bill

  London Councils welcomed the return of the Domestic Abuse Bill in the Queen’s Speech, which will help address London’s unacceptably high rates of domestic abuse.

• Don’t have a rubbish holiday this year – recycle

  This holiday, London Councils is encouraging Londoners to take advantage of councils’ reuse and recycling resources to have a more sustainable Christmas and New Year.

• London Councils responds to 'appalling' homelessness figures from Shelter

  Shelter's report suggests almost one in 50 Londoners are now homeless. 

• Launch of City Tools: London to spur collaboration and drive efficiency in London’s service delivery

  The London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) and Bloomberg Associates, a pro-bono municipal consulting service is releasing City Tools: London, a report and interactive dashboard that maps technologies, contracts and skills across London’s boroughs. 

• "Getting this right will be vital to the next generation of young Londoners" - statement on early years funding

  Response to Government confirmation that Maintained Nursery Schools will continue to receive additional funding in 2020/21.

• London businesses want councils to have greater infrastructure and house building powers

  Councils should be given more power to deliver infrastructure and housing in their communities, say the majority of businesses in London.

  According to research from London Councils and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 80% of businesses surveyed support giving councils more freedoms to fund and build infrastructure. When it comes to funding and building more houses, 78% of businesses surveyed agreed that London councils should have more freedoms to do so.

• Annual parking enforcement and appeals statistics published

  London Councils has published data on parking enforcement and appeals in London for the 2018-19 financial year.

  This year’s figures show that London boroughs and TfL issued 5,958,048 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to motorists who they believed had contravened parking and moving traffic regulations in 2018-19. This represents a 6% increase from the previous financial year.

• “Boroughs are first responders in supporting victims of modern slavery” - London Councils comments on Anti-Slavery Day

  On Anti-Slavery Day (Friday, 18 October), London Councils is reaffirming London boroughs’ commitment to rooting out modern slavery in the capital and protecting vulnerable people who become victims.

• London boroughs unite to beat County Lines gangs

  Almost 700 children and young people – some as young as 11 years old – have been referred to Rescue and Response, a new pan-London programme tackling County Lines.

  This includes 21 rescues from County Lines in coastal towns.

  The figures were revealed at London Councils’ latest Learning Hub on Serious Youth Violence which shares intelligence and strategies across all of London’s 32 boroughs on how best to beat the organised crime networks that groom and manipulate children into transporting drugs across the country.

• Government should support local welfare solutions to tackle poverty, says London Councils

  London boroughs want the government to share Universal Credit data and to restore funding for Local Welfare Assistance. 

• "Air pollution in the capital is a silent killer" - London Councils responds to Environment Bill in Queen's Speech

  London Councils' priorities for the Environment Bill announced in the Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019.

• 'The government must listen to the boroughs on building safety' - London Councils responds to Queen's Speech announcement

  London boroughs want to see detailed plans from the government for improving building safety regulation. 

• Councils warn London’s funding ‘raw deal’ undermines homelessness push

  New research from London Councils shows that the growing homelessness crisis and inadequate funding are costing London boroughs more than £200 million every year. 

• London Chamber and London Councils urge full apprenticeship devolution

  With close to 9 in 10 (86%) of businesses in the capital not currently employing apprentices, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and London Councils have called for a fully devolved apprenticeship service for London – something that new research shows business supports.

  The research comes from the organisations’ ‘London Business 1000 Survey’, based upon ComRes polling of 1000 London business decision-makers about the skills and recruitment challenges their companies face.

• ‘The public understand the importance of tackling homelessness’ - London Councils welcomes research for World Homeless Day

  A public opinion survey carried out for World Homeless Day (Thursday 10 October) shows public support for an increase in housing benefit.

• £20 million funding to tackle county lines gangs - London Councils' response

  London Councils' response to £20 million additional Home Office funding for tackling county lines drug gangs.

• Include children with SEND ‘by default’

  A new report by London Councils shows that although many schools and councils in the capital are using a range of innovative strategies to meet the needs of children with SEND, if they wish to attend their local mainstream school, it also found that not every school is succeeding at being inclusive.

• London’s environment and public health directors call for investment of 2.5% of UK’s GDP into clean air

  London’s Environment and Public Health Directors have published a shared position statement on how to clean up London’s air, which includes calling for 2.5% of the UK’s GDP to be spent on climate change and air quality.

• 'This is the latest evidence of the massive pressures faced by renters in the private sector' - London Councils comments on new Shelter research

  New research from Shelter shows that 45% of private renters in England could not affod to pay their rent for more than a month if they lost their job. 

• Lack of awareness putting children at risk of criminal exploitation

  Greater awareness is needed of the link between drug taking, modern slavery and the criminal exploitation of children and young people in drug dealing, new polling commissioned by London Councils has revealed.
   

• ‘We’re proud that London is a global leader in HIV prevention’ – London Councils welcomes international HIV conference to the capital

  London Councils has expressed a warm welcome to the international delegates attending Fast-Track Cities 2019. 

• Spending Round 2019 - London Councils' response

  Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, announcing the outcome of the 2019 Spending Round, London Councils' Executive members have been responding on behalf of the cross-party group.

• London Borough Apprenticeship Awards celebrate diversity and excellence

  London Councils is proud to hold the 2019 London Borough Apprenticeships Awards, which recognise the outstanding contribution and impact apprentices make across London local government.

• New HIV statistics show London’s ‘great progress’ towards zero infections target

  According to Public Health England, new HIV diagnoses in London fell 42% between 2015 and 2018.

• Services for vulnerable Londoners in desperate need of Spending Round boost

  Local services relied on by millions of vulnerable Londoners are in desperate need of more funding in the Spending Round, London Councils has warned today.

• ‘The government must take action’ - London Councils welcomes Crisis research on the need to restore Local Housing Allowance levels to tackle homelessness

  New research suggests restoring Local Housing Allowance levels so that the benefit covers the cost of the cheapest 30% of market rents would reduce homelessness and secure a net economic benefit of £2.1 billion over three years. 

   

• "This situation is simply unsustainable" - response to HCLG Select Committee report on council finances

  London Councils' Chair, Cllr Peter John OBE, welcomes this new report, calling for an urgent £300 million boost for London's children's services in the Spending Round 

• Adult social care in London achieves ‘impressive efficiencies’ and is ‘critical to NHS performance’ – but faces growing funding challenge

  Boroughs' care services have achieved impressive efficiencies and make an important contribution to NHS performance, but face a funding shortfall of £540 million due to fast-rising levels of demand.

   

• London Councils responds to rising rates of drug deaths

  There was a significant increase in deaths relating to drug misuse registered in London in 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

• "Essential" that one-year Spending Round prioritises local government funding

  London Councils' asks of Government as a one-year spending settlement for Government departments covering 2020-21 is announced.

• 'Invest in local communities to tackle knife crime and keep young Londoners safe'

  London Councils responds to a new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Knife Crime, highlighting young people's perspectives on the issue. 

• Call for ‘Addison alliance’ to turbocharge council housebuilding

  A new partnership between central and local government could empower boroughs to build more homes. 

• New research points to London’s ‘high-value, high-impact’ children’s services, as boroughs call for early intervention funding boost

  London Councils has highlighted the life-changing impact of early intervention, while warning that a £185 million funding shortfall puts crucial services at risk.

• 'Boroughs are committed to providing support to meet every child’s needs' - London Councils responds to Education Select Committee report

  London Councils responds to a House of Commons Education Select Committee report.

• 'Reducing serious violence and keeping Londoners safe can’t be done on the cheap'

  London Councils comments on the new public health duty on preventing serious violence announced by the government.

• Highway maintenance backlog hits £1 billion mark, warns third annual “State of the City” report

  London’s highways are suffering from chronic underinvestment, warns the third annual “State of the City” report from the London Technical Advisers Group (LoTAG) and London Councils. This year, the maintenance backlog has reached £1 billion. 

  The maintenance of London’s highways is no small undertaking, with the category of “highways” encompassing carriageways, footways, street lights, trees, and structures such as tunnels, bridges and signs.

• Local Housing Allowance freeze is fuelling homelessness, warns London Councils

  New analysis shows a significant reduction in the number of homes affordable to Londoners receiving Local Housing Allowance.

• Broken system failing asylum-seeking children

  London Councils is calling on the government to fully fund boroughs providing care to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

• ‘We can achieve zero new HIV infections - if Londoners keep making safer choices’

  The capital is on its way to achieving zero new HIV infections if Londoners keep making safer choices, say public health experts. 

• Illegal tobacco ‘brings crime into communities and undermines stop smoking efforts’

  Trading standards and public health experts have issued the warning as the Stamp IT Out London summer campaign gets underway. 

• Capital Letters starts securing accommodation for homeless Londoners

  The not-for-proft venture set up by the boroughs has also appointed its first chief executive and finance director. 

• Eight out of 10 Londoners say combatting air pollution must be a priority for the capital

  On Clean Air Day 2019, London Councils, the London Environment Directors’ Network (LEDNet) and the London Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH London) are calling for urgent new measures to combat air pollution and publishing new polling of Londoners on air quality issues.

• "It's only right" UK continues to extend a helping hand to refugees

  London Councils' response to a Written Ministerial Statement laid by the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, on the future of refugee resettlement schemes post 2020.

• ‘New era of digital transformation’ boosted as London Office of Technology and Innovation launches

  London’s public services are set to benefit from faster adoption of technology, data and digital skills, as the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) is officially launched today.

• Invest in local public services to help London’s voluntary sector

  The plight of millions of Londoners affected by stretched local public services has led 32 of the capital’s voluntary sector organisations and funders to write to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond.

• London Councils holds rough sleeping and daytime begging seminar

  Developing strong partnerships to address rough sleeping and day-time begging was top of the agenda at a seminar for borough officers, business improvement districts, police, and the voluntary sector organised by London Councils.

• Uncertainty looms over London’s skills, employment and growth funding post Brexit

  London Councils is warning that the future of skills, employment and growth projects across the capital worth more than a half a billion pounds is worryingly uncertain after Brexit.

• Latest fire safety warnings 'should serve as a wake-up call to ministers'

  London Councils has urged the government to ensure transparency over new tests of cladding and building materials. 

• Statement on CCN report on council finances

  Responding to the report, our Chair, Cllr Peter John OBE, said that "the entire sector is crying out for more certainty over our finances and better recognition of the costs we face".

• "Widespread exploitation" revealed - statement on county lines police operation

  London Councils' response to the national police operation on county lines that took place this week.

• Awards success for small business friendly London boroughs

  The fifth Small Business Friendly Borough Awards have recognised the pivotal role played by London’s boroughs in supporting and promoting small and micro businesses across the capital. 

• London Councils welcomes prison sentences for 'County Lines' drug dealers

  In a landmark case, the drug dealers were charged under the Modern Slavery Act.

• Government's cladding announcement 'will be a relief to many Londoners'

  London Councils welcomes the announcement that the government will cover the £200m of replacing Grenfell Tower-type cladding on privately-owned blocks. 

• Crisis' findings chime with boroughs’ experience of worsening homelessness

  New research shows that Londoners receiving Universal Credit are unable to afford the vast majority of rented homes in the capital.  

• Londoners go electric thanks to 1,000 new residential charging points

  London’s boroughs are super-charging the switch to electric vehicles by installing 1,000 new residential charging points across the capital.

• Statement on HCLG select committee's report on children's services in England

  Our response from Cllr Nickie Aiken, London Councils' Executive member for Schools & Children's Services.

• Modular housing manufacturer unveiled for London’s innovative homelessness scheme

  PLACE Ltd has announced that Extraspace Solutions will design and manufacture its modular homes.

• Statement on Citizens Advice report on council tax collection

  London Councils' response to a report published by Citizens Advice on council tax debt collection.

• Boroughs working to tackle knife crime in London

  Boroughs are working with local partners to tackle serious youth violence and knife crime in the capital, London Councils’ overview of borough knife crime action plans has revealed.

• London Councils agrees aspirations to improve Londoners’ lives

  London Councils’ Pledges to Londoners set out aspirations that London boroughs have agreed to work together on to improve the lives of all Londoners over the next three years.

• National Primary Offer Day 2019: 97 per cent get preferred school place

  97 per cent of London children due to start primary school this September have been offered a place at a preferred school.

• "Too many Londoners have been asked to leave rented accommodation" - statement on 'no-fault' evictions consultation

  London Councils' response to Government launching a consultation on ending 'no-fault' evictions using section 21 notices in the private rented sector.

• More Londoners to receive HIV prevention medicine

  London boroughs have confirmed an expansion to the PrEP Impact Trial in the capital. 

• 'We’re in this fight with one hand tied behind our back' - London Councils responds to new guidance on tackling rogue landlords

  Boroughs welcome increased information sharing but highlight the need for stronger enforcement powers. 

• 'Shift in the level of accountability' on social media needed - statement on White Paper on online harms

  London Councils has welcomed the government's proposals for improving online safety. 

• Recruitment drive launched for new London Office of Technology and Innovation

  The city-wide venture will enable faster adoption of technology, data, and digital skills across the capital's public services. 

• Boroughs formally join Capital Letters collaborative programme

  13 boroughs have formally become founding members of Capital Letters, a not-for-profit company that will procure accommodation for homeless Londoners and those at risk of homelessness.

• Spring Statement 2019 - London Councils' response

  London Councils' response to the 2019 Spring Statement from Cllr Peter John OBE, Chair of London Councils.

• Spring Statement 2019 - knife crime funding

  London Councils' response to an announcement in the 2019 Spring Statement - £100 million additional funding for the police to tackle violent crime.

• Statement on Ofsted's report on safeguarding London children from knife crime

  London Councils' response to Ofsted's report on safeguarding children and young people in education in London from knife crime.

• London boroughs are ‘fully committed to tackling HIV and making a success of PrEP trial’

  London boroughs have restated their determination to continue reducing HIV and supporting access to PrEP. 

• Councils meet rising demand as 88,000 London children secure preferred school place

  It's National Secondary Offer Day 2019 and 92 per cent of children due to start secondary school in London this September have been offered a place at one of their preferred schools - equivalent to just over 88,000 children.

• London Councils welcomes PrEP Impact Trial expansion

  Boroughs are committed to promoting PrEP's use in HIV prevention. 

• London Councils appoints new Deputy Chair and crime lead

  Cllr Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council, has been appointed Deputy Chair of London Councils, and Cllr Jas Athwal, Leader of Redbridge Council, has been appointed Executive member for Crime and Public Protection.

• London local government funding squeeze confirmed

  London Councils is ‘disappointed’ that despite growing demand for council services, London boroughs will still need to make millions of pounds of savings in 2019-20 to balance their budgets.

• ‘No Londoners left behind’ – boroughs want better ways to support long-term unemployed and tackle poverty pay

  A new London Councils report calls for a 'local first' approach to employment support. 

• 'The government should end restrictions on use of Right to Buy receipts'

  London Councils has commented on the findings of the 'Right to Buy: Wrong for London' report. 

• Domestic Abuse Bill - London Councils' response

  London Councils' response to the publication of draft legislation for the Domestic Abuse Bill.

• Invest in London’s public services to support London business

  London boroughs are committed to their role in supporting London’s businesses

• London Councils's response to the Clean Air Strategy

  London Councils's response to Clean Air Strategy

• London Councils welcomes NHS England's PrEP announcement

  The expansion of the PrEP Impact Trial will boost boroughs' efforts on HIV prevention. 

• "Londoners should have access to top quality healthcare" - statement on the NHS long-term plan

  London Councils' statement on the unveiling of the NHS long-term plan