MIL Pubishing Engine 2

Source: City of York

Source: London Assembly

Tuesday 17 October 2023
Child poverty in London

Economy Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

The percentage of children in poverty after housing costs in London in 2021/22 was 33 per cent, which amounts to around 700,000 children. This is the fourth highest of regions in England and is higher than the UK average of 29 per cent.

The London Assembly Economy Committee will meet for the first of two meetings on child poverty in London. It will examine the scale and causes of child poverty in London, how it differs across boroughs, and the impact of growing up in poverty on children.

• Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice
• Dan Drillsma-Milgrom, Senior Manager – Equality and Fairness, Communities and Social Policy, Greater London Authority (GLA)
• Katherine Hill, Strategic Project Manager, 4in10
• Tom Lee, Senior Policy Analyst, Child Poverty Action Group
• Chris Price, Chief Executive Officer, Pecan
• Klara Skrivankova, Director of Grants, Trust for London

MEDIA CONTACT: Emma Bowden on 07849 303897

 

Wednesday 18 October 2023
Bridging the low-carbon skills gap to meet net zero target

Environment Committee – Committee Room 2 & 3, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

The Mayor has a number of initiatives and programmes aimed at increasing the supply of low-carbon skills and jobs, including the Mayor’s Academy Programme and London Retrofit Accelerator.

Links have been made between the transition to net zero with low-carbon skills and jobs, with London projected to have a 12.2 per cent share of the low-carbon jobs in England by 2050.

The London Assembly Environment Committee will meet to investigate the challenges of increasing supply of low-carbon skills jobs, and how effective the Mayor’s programmes have been to date.

• Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills
• Dr Austin Entonu MBE, Head of Energy, GLA
• Cara Jenkinson, Interim Head of Cities, Ashden
• Andrew Eldred, Director of Workforce and Public Affairs, Electrical Contractors’ Association
• Ann-Marie Soyinka, Assistant Director for Skills and Employment Unit, GLA
• Nancy Jonsson, Technical Consultant, Heat Pumps Association
• Polly Persechino, Head of Economy, Skills and Employment, South London Partnership

MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07510 488715

 

Wednesday 18 October 2023
Is London a 15-minute city?

Planning and Regeneration Committee – Committee Room 2 & 3, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm

The idea of a 15-minute city is aimed at reducing car usage, where the necessities of modern life, including access to jobs, public services, recreational facilities, and other basic amenities, should be available within a 15-minutes from home.

The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will meet to investigate the 15-minute city concept, whether it could benefit the health and wellbeing of Londoners, and whether urban planners should be designing with the concept in mind.

• Nicholas Boys Smith, Director, Create Streets
• Catherine Gall, Executive Director, Chaire ETI
• Enrica Papa, Associate Professor, University of Westminster
• Further guests TBC

MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07510 488715

Thursday 19 October 2023
When will building start on the Mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26?  

Housing Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am

In 2021 the Mayor was allocated £4 billion in central Government funding for the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) 2021-26, and committed to 35,000 affordable housing starts by 2026. As of September 2023, there have been no starts yet under the Programme.

The GLA has since confirmed that the new target for starts in the AHP 2021-26 is between 23,900 to 27,100 starts.

The London Assembly Housing Committee will meet to examine the Mayor’s plan for delivery under the AHP 2021-26, investigating when building will start on the programme, and how the GLA and investment partners are navigating the financial situation that is currently affecting house building nationally.

• Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development

• Clare Miller, Chief Executive, Clarion Housing Group

• Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chair of G15 and Chief Executive of L&Q

• Tim Steer, Executive Director of Housing and Land, GLA

• Heather Juman, Interim Assistant Director, Housing and Land, GLA

• Tajmina Jetha, Head of Programme Management, GLA

• Hakeem Osinaike, Director of Housing, London Borough of Brent.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07510 488715

 

Thursday 19 October 2023
GLA grant programme management

Audit Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm

The Audit Panel will meet to consider how grant programmes are managed across the GLA, including what corporate policies, guidance and systems are in place to ensure that grants are awarded fairly and transparently, with proportionate checks and monitoring.

It will also consider a number of internal and external audit reports with a number of guests.

MEDIA CONTACT: Emma Bowden on 07849 303897

Source: London Assembly

Following his recent report, London’s ‘Retrofit Revolution’: What’s going wrong?, Zack Polanski AM took his inquiry directly to London’s Mayor during today’s Mayor’s Question Time.  

After pushing the Mayor to take accountability for the retrofitting shortcoming, rather than deflect blame onto Government, Green London Assembly Member Zack Polanski said: 

“London’s housing stock is being retrofitted at a tenth of the speed it needs to be. Meanwhile, funding from Government is going unspent because London doesn’t have the skilled workers to capitalise on it. Every day that passes, the climb to hit the Mayor’s own net zero target becomes even steeper. 

“It’s not enough for him to declare a ‘retrofit revolution,’ issue a press release, and walk away. Londoners need actual follow-through to deliver a stronger supply chain, create better pathways into retrofit work, and make sure our homes are fit for the twenty-first century.  

“I am pleased my report has successfully put retrofitting back on the Mayor’s agenda. It’s time he stands behind his own promise and helps deliver the retrofit revolution London so badly needs.” [1] 

Issued in September 2023, the primary recommendations from Zack Polanski AM’s report are as follows: 

• The Mayor and London Partnership Board should urgently assess the recent failure to deliver existing retrofit funding from the Government, through councils and the GLA, and share their findings. 

• The Mayor should work with the London Partnership Board retrofit sub-group to publish a GLA retrofit strategy, with actions the GLA specifically can make across training provision, procurement, and elsewhere. 

The full report can be viewed and downloaded on the website. 

Zack Polanski AM’s full exchange with London Mayor Sadiq Khan can be viewed here.  

Source: London Assembly

• Mayor outlines support, resources and funding available to schools to help prevent and tackle knife crime and violence
• Measures include toolkits to educate young people on the dangers of knife crime, targeted and tailored one-to-one outreach work from London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and enhanced police support for schools.
• Schools can work with local councils who lead on bidding for small grants from the VRU for practical measures to prevent violence

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today (Friday, 13 October) written to the headteachers of every secondary school in London to outline the support, resources and funding available to help prevent and tackle knife crime and violence.

Following the tragic murders of teenagers in Croydon and Edmonton in the last few weeks, the Mayor is taking action to ensure secondary schools are aware of the wide range of support available to them locally. 

The Mayor’s approach to tackling crime and the causes of crime is underpinned by the belief that violence is not inevitable, but preventable. And all key public and voluntary organisations, partners and communities must work closely together to help vulnerable young people in need of support to help prevent tragedies.

This includes support for schools via:

• Enhanced police support – Schools can ask the Met to provide an officer to deliver knife crime prevention talks to students on the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife. Schools can also request a Safer Schools Officer who provides visible reassurance to the school community and build positive relationships between young people and the police. And schools can also ask the Met for knife wands to screen for weapons on school premises. These knife wands can be obtained for schools to keep or can be used by Safer Schools Officers are part of a planned operation.
• Mentoring opportunities for young Londoners most in need of support. The Mayor has invested a record £34million package to support voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver high-quality mentor opportunities to young Londoners most in need and help vulnerable young people most at risk of exploitation or being drawn into violence. The scheme recognises the vital importance of a trusted adult relationship in a young person’s life and how crucial it can be in supporting those most vulnerable to exploitation being drawn into violence. Teachers searching for mentors and activities for young people can search for opportunities through the Local Village Network website.*
• Toolkits to tackle violence against women and girls which are available for teachers to use, free of charge, in all secondary schools across London. The toolkit -which is funded by the Mayor and part of his wider public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls – helps boys understand why their words and attitudes towards women and girls matter and the need for them to recognise, call out and tackle sexist and misogynistic behaviour. The toolkit includes material suitable for children aged 11-18 years old and contains all the information teachers need to lead workshops, discussions and activities on teaching the next generation of men about building positive and healthy relationships with the women and girls they see and interact with every day.  
• A Knife Crime toolkit to help teachers talk to young people about knife crime and help them feel supported and empowered to make the right decisions like reporting concerns and how young people are more at risk of being victims of knife crime if they carry a weapon. This toolkit includes lesson plans, group activities, resources and useful links for schools, colleges, community and faith groups.
• The Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) leads a partnership approach to tackling the complex causes of violence that is rooted in prevention and early intervention. This includes investment in more than 70 schools across London, working with teachers to embed healthy relationships and conflict resolution, as well as one-to-one mentoring for young people in 30 Pupil Referral Units. This is backed up by the development of London’s Inclusion Charter, supported by funding opportunities accessed through the VRU to further build on and embed inclusive practices in schools. New Mayoral funding is also supporting 23 grassroots community organisations to deliver targeted interventions and opportunities for 17,000 children and young people aged 8-18 after school and at weekends.
• Funding for prevention work. Schools can work with councils to bid for small grants of up to £5,000 from the VRU to support immediate practical measures to prevent violence. This includes practical safety measures like more CCTV, outreach youth work, and greater engagement with communities, and would be applied through and led by the local authority. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Every death of a young person on the streets of our city is utterly heart-breaking. I want to support our schools and hard-working teachers to access the support, resources and funding they need to help prevent and tackle violence.

“I’m determined to be tough on crime by investing and supporting our police, and tough on the complex causes through a pioneering prevention and early intervention approach led by my Violence Reduction Unit.

“I will continue working closely with London’s schools, local community groups, parents and youth workers to build a safer London for everyone.”

Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, said: “It’s important to recognise that there are significant challenges facing young people which were further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Schools and teachers, who are already doing more with less, have seen the impact of this in the classroom first-hand. 

“With the support of the Mayor, the VRU is investing in mentoring in Pupil Referral Units and work on conflict resolution and embedding healthy relationships in secondary schools. This works alongside funding targeted interventions and opportunities to keep young people safe and supported in the crucial after-school period.

“We’re committed to supporting and working with schools and colleges across London to ensure children and young people are safe in order to develop and thrive.”

Notes to editors:

* Teachers searching for mentors and activities for young people can search for opportunities through the Local Village Network website.  https://www.lvn.org.uk/signpost/.

+ The Mayor has invested record amounts in the Metropolitan Police which has helped to boost officer numbers by 1,300 and recruit 500 new Police Community Support Officers to revitalise neighbourhood policing in our communities. Alongside this, the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit – the first of its kind in England – is leading an approach rooted in prevention and early intervention and has invested in more than 150,000 positive opportunities for young Londoners.

Since his VRU was set up, there has been a 25 per cent reduction in homicides, 15 per cent fall in knife injury of a person under-25, and a 26 per cent reduction in robbery. Last year, we saw a 20 per cent reduction in the number of homicides in London and a 50 per cent drop in the number of teenage homicides.

With the Mayor’s support and investment, the VRU has supported more than 150,000 young people over the last two years.

++ Latest Crime Stats and information:

Crimes which have fallen over the Mayoralty (twelve-month period to May 2016 compared to twelve-month period to August 2023)

• Knife crime with injury under 25 years (down 17%)
• Gun crime (down 19%)
• Homicide (down 5%)
• Burglary (down 19%)

Source: City of Portsmouth

Organisations and residents across Portsmouth are being asked to shape their council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Portsmouth City Council is developing a new strategy looking at how to make improvements around equality, diversity and inclusion and wants feedback from the people it is aiming to support.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of the council, said: “We want to make sure our services deliver what all of our residents and communities need and are provided in a way people are able to engage with them.

“We do a lot to support residents across the city but we know we can always do better, particularly when it comes to areas like equalities. We have a draft strategy developed with input from groups with protected characteristics, now we want to go out more widely to get views from as many people as possible and make sure what we’re planning works for them.”

People can give their views through a survey which is open until 12 November. It is available online along with the draft strategy.

Anyone who doesn’t have access to the internet or will find it difficult to complete the survey online can complete it over the phone by calling 023 9261 6708.

Source: London Assembly

The London Assembly stands in solidarity with the Jewish community both in London and beyond.

At a Mayor’s Question Time meeting today, the substantive Mayor’s Question Time motion was amended to state that the London Assembly is shocked and horrified by the recent terrorist attacks in Israel.

It also recognises that this atrocity was committed by the terrorist group Hamas and not the Palestinian people, who themselves are now suffering as a result.

The Lord Bailey of Paddington AM, who proposed the amended substantive motion, said:

“We are shocked and horrified by the recent unjustified terrorist attacks in Israel and fully support Israel’s right to defend itself.

“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbours both in and outside of London.

“It is vital that our Jewish community feels safe and supported. Now is the time to come together with our Jewish residents to show our support for them. Hate must not win.”

Anne Clarke AM, who seconded the amended substantive motion, said:

“We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community following the terrorist attack on 7 October. There is no justification for the murder of innocent people and our hearts go out to the victims and all those who have been affected and lost loved ones.

“This is a worrying time for many families in London who have loved ones caught up in the terrorist attacks and the humanitarian disaster and those who are impacted by the rise in anti-Semitic incidents.

“We must do what we can to support our communities in London and send our condolences to those who have lost friends and family members. We must not let terrorism sow the seeds of division.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes in particular the answers to the questions regarding the terrorist attacks in Israel and the impact on many Londoners.

This Assembly is shocked and horrified by the recent unjustified terrorist attacks in Israel.

Our thoughts are with everyone caught up in the violence and with those who may be waiting for information on the safety of loved ones. We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost friends and family members.

This Assembly stands in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbours both in and outside of London. It is vital that our Jewish community feels safe and supported. Now is the time to come together with our Jewish residents to show our support for them.

We recognise that this atrocity was committed by the terrorist group Hamas and not the Palestinian people, who themselves are now suffering as a cause of this. We recognise that Israel has every right to defend itself. We urge all actions by all parties to comply with international law.

We must not let hatred win.

Source: London Assembly

Siân Berry has challenged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to use his legal powers and require local councils to uphold their Healthy Streets commitments. Her questions come as Tower Hamlets Council, despite consultations showing strong support from residents, is set to publish a timetable to rip out its Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. [1] 

Minutes after responding to questioning from Siân Berry AM during which the Mayor said he was still reticent to use his own legal powers to back up Healthy Streets, Green Party London Assembly Member Siân Berry sent the Mayor a formal letter asking him to prevent these schemes being removed.  

Siân Berry AM said: 

“The Mayor cannot just be a bystander when a council is removing changes that made congested, polluted streets into green, pleasant spaces. All the more so when he is far off meeting his own targets to deliver safer and cleaner streets. [2] 

“The Mayor has the powers to be able to stand up for Healthy Streets, and it is time for him to use them. Ever since the Greater London Authority and Mayor were created in 1999, the law has been clear that the primary duty to plan and implement transport in London rests with the Mayor for London.  these duties rest with the Mayor of London.  

“We cannot reach any of London’s ambitious goals to cut congestion, carbon or casualties, if boroughs are allowed to cancel their commitments. 

“It is not enough for the Mayor to withhold money or have quiet words in private, we need a Mayor who steps up and acts.” 

Every few years, London boroughs are required to set out plans illustrating how they will implement the Mayor’s Transport Strategy at the local level. In 2019, Tower Hamlets made legally binding commitments to deliver liveable streets, specifically naming Columbia Road, Arnold Circus, Old Bethnal Green Road, and Brick Lane.  

Despite delivering on these commitments, with a majority support from local residents, Tower Hamlets Council has decided to remove them without any plan of what to do for the community instead. Additionally, Transport for London (TfL) had refused to approve an earlier version of the council’s plan, saying it wouldn’t meet mayoral priorities to save lives and cut pollution. 

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

RegTech conference to focus on effectively managing new technologies

12 October 2023

In today’s global landscape, regulation is becoming increasingly prevalent due to factors such as the growing complexity of the global economy and international trade, environmental concerns, and the focus on public health and safety. 

Rapid advancements in technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) require new rules to ensure responsible and ethical usage, which together with other new regulations such as for corporate sustainability, will significantly increase the cost of regulatory compliance across all sectors.

The highly anticipated RegTech Conference ‘Navigating the Future of Regulation’, taking place in Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal on Wednesday, 25^th October, is part of a North West RegTech Initiative being developed by Donegal County Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, ATU and Catalyst, to establish an all-island national institute – working across sectors, regulators and borders to become a recognised world leader in regulatory technology.  

Regulatory technology, commonly referred to as ‘RegTech’, describes the use of emerging or innovative digital technologies to manage or comply with regulatory processes, including monitoring, reporting and compliance. The purpose of the RegTech sector is to apply these technologies in a way that will deliver regulatory requirements more efficiently or effectively and which therefore reduce costs.  For regulators, these technologies play an important role in being able to deliver more agile and responsive regulation, particularly in periods of significant change or challenge, such as during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

This conference will be an important platform which will bring together policy makers, regulators, industry experts and regulated organisations from around the world to discuss and shape the future of regulation, and the role of emerging technologies, in our rapidly changing world. 

MC for the event, Richard Curran, Broadcaster, Journalist and Presenter or RTÉ Radio 1’s show ‘The Business’, will oversee a variety of keynote speakers and panel discussions – these will focus on key cross-sectoral issues such as AI and ESG – as well as on specific sectors including financial services and health & life sciences. 

Attendees can expect to hear from two leading industry experts including Nell Watson, a Machine Intelligence engineer who is known as an international trailblazer for protecting human rights and putting ethics, safety, and the values of human spirit into Artificial Intelligence, and Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland, a strategic cluster organisation that works across the private, public and third sectors, as well as academia to drive responsible FinTech innovation and research across Scotland.

This event will also examine in more detail how regulation can foster and nurture economic growth and promote public welfare, while also addressing serious challenges that transcend international borders, including climate change, financial stability, health & safety, and cybersecurity. A key focus of the conference will be on the regulation and impact of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence – both in terms of how it is regulated as well as its role in innovation to meet regulation requirements. 

There will also be opportunity for attendees to learn more about the vision and purpose for creating the world’s first multi-sector Regulatory Supercluster, building on the unique multi-jurisdictional advantages of the North West City Region, to position key stakeholders at the forefront of solving complex global regulatory challenges.

Secure your place at the conference at: https://plannd.co.uk/regtechconference/ – where you can attend in person or online. 

Article also available:  https://donegal.ie/news/2023/october/navigating-the-future-of-regulation