London Councils 'Let's talk about' Podcast

Kath Scanlon, Distinguished Policy Fellow at LSE London, Elly Shepherd (London Councils’ Strategic Lead for Housing & Planning), and Alex Sewell (London Councils’ Special Projects Lead – Housing & Planning) discuss the methodology, key findings and recommendations from recent research that looks at the implications for boroughs’ homelessness services. Find out more about: - The growing challenge facing London boroughs’ homelessness services - London’s unique homelessness costs pressures and disproportionate burdens - The impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act, implemented in April 2018.

This podcast updates members on recent research London Councils commissioned from ISOS Partnership into children’s service finances. Natalie Parish, Director of ISOS Partnerships, discusses the methodology, key findings and recommendations from the report with Caroline Dawes, Head of Children’s Services at London Councils. The research aims to unpick the drivers behind the considerable cost and demand pressure facing children’s services in London, particularly children’s social care and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND), identify areas of good practice across London and create a set of recommendations for local authorities, London local government and national government to take forward.  You can find out more about the research, including downloading a copy of the full report. Members are welcome to submit views, comments and suggestions to: caroline.dawes@londoncouncils.gov.uk and share your opinions with other members across London.

The majority of the young people exploited by County Lines are London children.  London Councils County Lines Summit gave greater voice to the need to protect young Londoners from criminal exploitation, in particular to: Share learning from the Rescue and Response programme so that innovative and effective practice may be applied more widely Shine a light on the use of modern slavery powers to prevent exploitation Highlight findings on the London Councils' polling, exploring attitudes to the link between drugs and modern slavery Plan for Action which boroughs and their partners can take to redouble efforts to protect young Londoners from exploitation. Listen to Dr Carlene Firmin MBE- Safeguarding as everyone's business

 This podcast informs members about how social care and health are linked when it comes to hospital discharges and how this can impact the wider system, such as long A&E waiting times and delays to ambulance services.  Members are welcome to submit views, comments and suggestions to: anastasia.mulenga@londoncouncils.gov.uk and share your opinions with other members across London.   

To mark the centenary of the Addison Act – a major moment in the development of council housing – our Special Projects Lead for Housing and Planning, Alex Sewell, talks to Mark Baigent (Chair of the London Housing Directors' Group), Professor Tony Travers and Eloise Shepherd (London Councils’ Strategic Lead for Housing and Planning) about the historic legislation’s legacy on council housing in the capital. The Addison Act, passed in July 1919, gave local authorities new duties, powers, and funding for large-scale housebuilding and was a key part of the government’s strategy to address a post-war housing shortage. Its author, the government minister Christopher Addison, was a London MP committed to improving the health and living conditions of the poor.

Let's talk about illegal tobacco and public health in London, with Valerie Solomon (Policy and Projects Manager, Health and Adult Services) David Hunt, Trading Standards, LB Hackney and Michele Kemp, Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Team Public Health England (London). This podcast informs you about the topical issue of illegal tobacco and explains what the issue is and why it is important to address the impact of illegal tobacco on our health and within our communities. The podcast also sets out London boroughs’ response and the action being taken to raise awareness of the issue in London. Read our member briefing on illegal tobacco Members are welcome to submit their views, comments and suggestions to: valerie.solomon@londoncouncils.gov.uk and share your opinions with other members across London.   Music: www.bensound.com

 Let's talk about the London HIV Prevention Programme (LHPP), with Valerie Solomon (Policy and Projects Manager, Health and Adult Services at London Councils) and Paul Steinberg (Lead Commissioner of the LHPP).  HIV is an important public health problem in London. In 2017, an estimated 38,600 people were living with HIV in London. This represents 38% of all people, both diagnosed an undiagnosed in the UK. The LHPP was established by the boroughs in 2014 in response to the previous decade’s increasing HIV rates in the capital. The LHPP oversees a free condom distribution scheme, provides outreach services targeting at-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, and runs the award-winning Do It London public awareness campaign Since 2014, London has made remarkable progress in addressing the HIV challenge. The most recent figures from Public Health England revealed a substantial decrease in London’s HIV diagnosis rates of 21 per cent in 2016-17. London Councils has also published a briefing on the HIV National PrEP IMPACT Trial which you can read here.  Members are welcome to submit their views, comments and suggestions to: valerie.solomon@londoncouncils.gov.uk and share your opinions with other members across London.   Music: www.bensound.com

 Let's talk about gambling and public health in London, with Jack Eddy (Principal Policy and Project Officer, Health and Adult Services) and Valerie Solomon (Policy and Projects Manager, Health and Adult Services). This podcast informs members about the topical issue of gambling. It sets out the London context and the relevance to public health, explains the boroughs’ role and responsibilities around gambling and finally, includes the government’s action and London Councils’ response to support boroughs. Music: www.bensound.com