London Councils has welcomed the appointment of Steve Reed MP as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The cross-party group emphasises how boroughs in the capital are determined to work with the Government, especially on their shared priorities of building homes, generating economic growth, and restoring stability to town hall finances.
Steve Reed is a London MP representing Streatham and Croydon North. He was previously co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for London, leader of Lambeth Council between 2006 and 2012, and a member of London Councils’ executive committee.
Cllr Claire Holland, Chair of London Councils, said: “We welcome Steve Reed’s appointment as Secretary of State and look forward to working with him to deliver on our shared priorities.
“He is someone who knows the local government sector inside out and recognises the challenges facing boroughs in the capital, as well as the huge opportunities which exist to bring about positive change for our communities.
“Boroughs are determined to deliver — whether it’s building new homes or driving economic growth. After more than a decade of structural underfunding, fixing the crisis in local government finances is vital to ensuring we can play our part.
“We look forward to working in positive partnership with the new Secretary of State on these issues, particularly as work continues on the proposed reforms to local government funding.”
The Government’s plans for reforming council funding are a key concern for London Councils. The group has urged the Government to adapt its proposals, arguing that they currently fail to measure the high levels of deprivation and need in the capital accurately — particularly when it comes to children and young people’s services — and would leave boroughs without the resources required to deliver vital local services and drive economic growth.
Header image: Steven Reed – UK Parliament official portraits 2017
