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  • Briefing

    Published:

    20 May 2013

    No.222

    Use Class order changes

    On 9 May, the government laid regulations enacting a number of changes to the planning regime. It puts into legislation previously announced policies relating to householder extensions, broadband infrastructure, planning for free schools, and temporary uses for shops and industrial premises. It also set out the areas that had been exempted from the policy to allow buildings designated for business use to convert to housing without requiring planning permission. Of 17 English local authorities partly or wholly exempted from this policy, eleven are in London. This briefing summarises all of these changes and considers their impact on the capital.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    17 May 2013

    No.221

    The London Finance Commission

    On Wednesday, the London Finance Commission launched its report – Raising the capital. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, this report examines how public services are funded in London and the potential for greater financial autonomy and devolution. This briefing provides a summary of the key recommendations and what they may mean for London local government in the drive for economic growth.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    15 May 2013

    No.220

    Spending Round 2013

    The Spending Round will be announced on 26 June 2013. This will confirm the overall resources available for individual government departments for 2015-16. Budget 2013 has already announced the broad framework in which funding decisions will be made with clear signs that local government will face a period of prolonged financial austerity. This briefing sets out the nature and context for the Spending Round and London Councils' contribution to the debate.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    14 May 2013

    No. 219

    Mayor's Vision for Cycling - opportunities for boroughs

    The Mayor of London has published his vision for cycling in London. This briefing outlines the main points for boroughs and highlights how they can best influence delivery and take advantage of the opportunities – including funding – the vision offers to maximise cycling and make areas better places to live.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    11 May 2013

    No. 218

    Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing

    The report of the Commission on Mental Health and Policing, chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, was published today. There are significant recommendations for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), but there are issues raised in the report that are of direct relevance to London boroughs, not least questions on multiagency working and strategic governance.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    10 May 2013

    No. 217

    Community Budgets - Next Steps

    The government and the Local Government Association have begun to outline how the work of the community budget pilots can be extended to other areas. This briefing explains how this is happening and comments on the government's view of community budgets and on some of the crucial factors that councils interested in this approach should be aware of.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    08 May 2013

    No. 216

    The Queen's Speech

    Today's Queen's Speech contained 20 bills that the government will progress in this parliamentary year. This briefing draws members attention to the key bills affecting London local authorities.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    07 May 2013

    No. 215

    London's Police and Crime Plan

    The first Police and Crime Plan (PCP) for London, which was published in March 2013, sets out the Mayor's strategic plan for tackling crime and keeping London safe. The PCP will be important in setting the framework for local policing up to 2016. This briefing presents the key aspects of the plan, provides details on the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime's recent round of crime prevention commissioning and discusses some of the implications for councils.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    30 April 2013

    No. 214

    Improving the Lettings Market

    The private rented sector (PRS) is the fastest growing housing tenure in London.There has been increasing concern over the role of the intermediaries (lettings agents) whose role it is to bring tenants and landlords together. This briefing sets out borough concerns over the workings of the lettings agency industry, London Councils lobbying in this area and the government's response to bring about a change to the sector to better protect and safeguard consumers.


  • Briefing

    Published:

    26 April 2013

    No.213

    Do The Maths

    This week, London Councils published 'Do The Maths', a report looking at the projected need for school places in the coming years. The report predicted that by 2016, there will be a shortfall of 118,000 primary and secondary places. This briefing summarises the report's findings and outlines the impact for London's boroughs.