The  Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, this week announced a new long-term plan for housing covering a wide range of policy areas including ownership, leasehold reform, planning procedures, and regenerating key towns and cities. You can read his speech in full here.

Responding to the announcement, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing
& Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell,  said: “Boroughs are ready and willing to help deliver the homes our communities need, but this requires more local powers and resources for housebuilding.

“There are at least 143,000 potential new homes we could begin building immediately in London if the funding was in place, and we would welcome the prospect of enhanced government support for housing development and regeneration. We are calling for reform of Right to Buy receipts, increased grant allocations, and investment in new infrastructure so that we can truly turbocharge affordable housebuilding.

“The focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable, high-quality homes. The government’s pledge to expand permitted development rights does not guarantee this will happen – in fact it brings serious risks. Boroughs must retain the ability to ensure housing is built to the right standards, in suitable locations, and with the necessary local infrastructure such as GP surgeries and transport connections.”

Pupils who change schools during term-time have to navigate a challenging system, which leads to some children missing out on their education, a new report by London Councils has revealed.

The report makes a number of recommendations to improve the current system for children, families, schools and local authorities, beginning with greater powers for councils to have oversight of all in year admissions.

London Councils Executive Member for Schools and Young Children, Cllr Ian Edwards, said: “London Councils shares the government’s commitment to ensure all children, especially the most vulnerable in our society, are safe and have access to an excellent education. But boroughs need greater powers to bring about the necessary changes to create a system that is faster, fairer and more simple to navigate.

“We look forward to working with government and head teachers across the capital to ensure local authorities have oversight of all in-year admissions to decrease disruption to children and schools, as proposed in the Schools White Paper last year."

Last week the Metropolitan Police launched its new policing plan - A New Met for London - setting out how the Met intends to deliver more trust, less crime, and high standards.

Responding to the plan, London Councils Executive Member for Community Safety and Violence Against Women and Girls, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “It is positive to see the Met committing to a proactive approach to tackling male violence against women and girls and London boroughs stand ready to support the Met in its new targeted initiative in whichever way we can.

“[The Met's] broader commitment to neighbourhood policing, resourcing public protection and increasing the number of community support officers is an opportunity to create a Met workforce that represents London's diverse communities. We will continue to work closely with the Met to help keep Londoners safe."

A major survey of children’s social workers in London and the south east of England shows the vast majority are passionate about their work, while also pointing to the serious challenges and pressures many face.

The research for the Big Listen project involved 52 local authorities across London and the South East. 

The survey found that 88% respondents felt that they can make a difference to children and young people through their work, but the survey also provides fresh evidence of longstanding workforce concerns with around 40% of respondents describing their workload as unmanageable. Around 20% of respondents from local authorities stated that they intended to work for an agency in future, this figure was even higher for respondents from ethnic minorities.

London Councils’ Executive Member for Children & Young People, Cllr Ian Edwards said: "The Big Listen has provided us with vital insight. Carrying out the research across the two regions has undoubtedly brought many benefits and presents a good model for future cooperation.

“We’re grateful to all those who shared their views as part of the Big Listen. Now we’re determined to show that those views have been heard as we develop our workforce strategy.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published modelling that suggests that, unless MMR vaccination rates improve, London could see a measles outbreak with tens of thousands of cases.

The risk in London is primarily due to low vaccination rates over several years, further impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in some areas and groups where coverage of the first MMR dose at 2 years of age is as low as 69.5%.

Parents should check their children are fully vaccinated with two MMR doses, which gives 99% life-long protection, by checking their red book or with their GP practice, which younger and older adults can also do. Anyone not up-to-date should make an appointment as soon as possible.

More information on the NHS vaccination schedule here.