London Councils
London in skills devolution call
The capital has called on the Government to further devolve powers over skills funding.
Pilots testing 75% business rates retention to come to an end
Pilots testing 75% business rates retention will come to an end, with no new pilots planned for 2020/21.
Re-engaging business and boroughs
The Charter for Business sets out London boroughs’ commitment to growing the city’s economy for the benefit of all who live there. Cllr Clare Coghill looks at how to enable the dialogue between business and boroughs required to make this happen.
Fixing social care is a crucial mission for all of us
A new analysis by London Councils shows the capital’s adult social care funding situation is ‘simply unsustainable’, with a shortfall of £540m expected by 2025, says Cllr Ray Puddifoot.
Improved efficiency saves hundreds of millions
London boroughs have saved almost half a billion pounds in adult social care by improving efficiency, a report has revealed.
He’s going by the book
Based on years of reading council reports, Diary never previously associated local government with creative writing.
No time to waste in boosting early intervention
Cllr Nickie Aiken says early intervention programmes across London are creating higher quality, responsive provisions that prevent needs from escalating, and helping to manage costs.
Financial risk for children's services across London is 'unsustainable'
Children’s services across London are facing an unsustainable level of financial risk, a new report commissioned by London Councils has warned.
London boroughs face £32m asylum funding gap
Boroughs in the capital face a funding gap of £32m to support children seeking asylum, according to new research by London Councils.
Spending Review must meet costs of refugee resettlement
Local government has cautiously welcomed the Government’s commitment to continue resettling refugees after a flagship scheme ends next year.
EXCLUSIVE: New protocol to ease council tensions
A protocol encouraging best practice between councils will be drawn up by the Local Government Association (LGA) as tensions grow around increasing out of area placements, The MJ understands.
Call for VOA cuts review
‘Significant cuts’ in Valuation Office Agency (VOA) staffing levels should be reviewed to ensure the organisation is ‘fit-for-purpose’ amid a backlog of 69,000 appeals, London Councils has said.
Council tax system needs 'fundamental reform'
The council tax system is ‘highly regressive and unsustainable,’ and needs ‘fundamental reform,’ progressive think-tank IPPR has argued.
Keep making the investment case for prevention
John O'Brien says that whether we end up with a one year Spending Review or a longer one, it's important to make the wider investment case for preventative services programmes such as Troubled Families.
London council budgets slashed 17% over last decade
London’s local authority budgets have dropped by nearly a fifth – 17% – per head over the last eight years, a new study has revealed.
Housing shortage hampers councils' homelessness reduction efforts, MPs told
A social housing shortage is holding back councils from preventing homelessness, MPs have heard.
Pledges focus on what matters most to Londoners
London Councils’ Pledges to Londoners set out the aspirations the 32 boroughs and the City of London have agreed to work on together to improve the lives of all the capital’s residents, says Peter John.
Rule change signalled following London 'social cleansing' accusation
Local government secretary James Brokenshire has signalled a possible change to the rules to help councils facing an influx of London’s homeless.
Bexley selects Jackie Belton as new chief
Bexley LBC has recommended Jackie Belton, formerly at Lambeth LBC, is appointed to the role of chief executive.
Councils agree to ramp up efforts to tackle children's services pressures
Local authorities in London have agreed to intensify their efforts to tackle the increasing financial pressures on children’s services.