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Council & Politics
City Hall, borough councils, the Mayor and London democracy.
183 stories · page 8 of 10
Council & Politics · LondonRichmond Council installs speaker at Teddington Lock to deter river jumps
Richmond Council has installed a high-tech speaker at Teddington Lock to broadcast safety warnings when people are seen near the water. The measure follows the 2023 death of 14-year-old Brian Sasu after a jump from a nearby bridge. Residents are urged to report emergencies to 999.
London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council pledges more work experience after student protest
Barnet Council will increase its work experience placements and convene local businesses to create more opportunities, following a protest by students from Hendon School and St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School. The council currently offers ten places and does not coordinate business offers.
Barnet5 min readTrust 58 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · Kensington & ChelseaKensington and Chelsea Council wins High Court injunction to stop late-night car meets
Kensington and Chelsea Council has secured a High Court injunction to ban late-night car meets in Hyde Park, St James’s, West End, Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Brompton and Hans Town wards. Police can now use CCTV, social media or witness statements to prosecute organisers, attendees or drivers.
Kensington & Chelsea4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 32
Council & Politics · BarnetGhana Party in the Park closed early after overcrowding injures attendees in Barnet
More than 8,000 attendees were at the annual Ghana Party in the Park festival when overcrowding at the entrance led to injuries. Emergency services, including two air ambulances, responded. Organisers and Barnet Council confirmed the early closure, citing health and safety concerns.
Barnet5 min readTrust 86 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · BrentBrent Council adopts five-day repair deadline for damp and mould in 12,000 homes
Brent Council approved a policy on 27 July requiring repairs for damp and mould in its 12,000 social homes within five days of inspection. The move follows Awaab’s Law and addresses 320 existing cases, with 34 new reports weekly.
Brent5 min readTrust 64 · Craft 64 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · BrentBrent Council approves free child swimming and £1.5m leisure upgrades
Brent Council has approved free swimming for under-17s during school holidays and a £1.5m investment in leisure centres. Plans for a new Bridge Park leisure centre and a potential lido aim to boost health and regeneration in Stonebridge and beyond.
Brent5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council Deletes Post on Financial Crisis Before By-Election
Wandsworth Council removed a Facebook post warning of a 'serious financial crisis' days before a by-election that could decide control of the borough. Labour claimed the Conservatives breached neutrality rules, while the Tory deputy leader cited a £137m annual budget gap due to government funding cuts.
Wandsworth5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 65
Council & Politics · CamdenCamden tops UK air pollution rankings with Holborn levels four times WHO limit
An interactive pollution map names Camden as the UK’s most polluted local authority, with Holborn, St Giles and Covent Garden recording annual PM2.5 averages of nearly 21 micrograms, four times the World Health Organisation guideline. Camden Council’s 2022 Clean Air Action Plan is now the main policy response.
Camden5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 70
Council & Politics · HackneyNewcome House lift broken for seven weeks with no repair date
Residents of Newcome House on Powell Road, Lower Clapton, have been without a working lift for over seven weeks. Hackney Council’s contractor is yet to secure a repair slot, leaving elderly and disabled residents to climb four flights of stairs daily. The council is spending £24 million to replace 120 lifts by 2027.
Hackney5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Council & Politics · LondonBarnet transport and budgets to shift under London devolution plans
Barnet residents will see faster transport upgrades and council service changes after the government announced devolution plans giving London mayors control over a share of local income tax and business rates. The threshold for Whitehall approval on transport projects rises to £500m, affecting schemes like the West London Orbital linking Hendon.
London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 55
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council relocates families from Colliers Wood tower over heat risks
Wandsworth Council is moving four households out of Britannia Point in Colliers Wood after reports of extreme heat and restricted air conditioning. Residents say temperatures hit 37°C, while the building’s management denies blocking access to cooling systems. Other councils are reviewing placements at the 19-storey tower.
Wandsworth5 min readTrust 46 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · LondonBurnham to propose income tax share for London mayors
Andy Burnham will this week outline plans to give London and other English cities a share of income tax revenue, a move praised by Sadiq Khan. The Greater London Authority currently relies on Whitehall for over three-quarters of its £23.9bn budget.
London5 min readTrust 68 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · All LondonBarnet Inquest Reveals NHS Trust Flaws After Patient Death
An inquest found a clinical support worker misled the court over checks on Najib Naagi, 55, who died in a Barnet mental health ward. The Trust admitted systemic flaws, issued disciplinary action, and overhauled observation policies to prevent future risks.
All London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · BrentBrent Council overspends £18.3m as homelessness and care costs rise
Brent Council reported an £18.3 million overspend for 2025/26, driven by £7 million in adult social care and £11.7 million in housing services. Nearly 8,800 households applied as homeless, a 40% increase, while 1,400 lived in nightly-paid accommodation. The council called for government intervention.
Brent5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 80 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council closes cost-of-living reserve with £6.2m unspent
Wandsworth Council will close its cost-of-living reserve, leaving £6.2m unspent, and redirect funds to its financial resilience reserve. The move ends summer food vouchers for free school meal recipients and funding for an extra domestic violence advocate.
Wandsworth5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 65 · Hype 55
Council & Politics · BrentBrent Council launches EV pavement charging trial for residents
Brent Council has approved a six-month trial of pavement channels to allow electric vehicle owners without driveways to charge at home. The scheme, funded by a £169,000 government grant, prioritises blue-badge holders but may include other residents. Results will determine a potential borough-wide rollout.
Brent5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · EalingHanwell bingo hall appeal dismissed after noise and crime fears
An independent planning inspector has rejected Pure Gaming Ltd’s appeal against Ealing Council’s refusal of a 24-hour bingo hall in Hanwell. Concerns over noise for residents above the unit, crime risks, and the venue’s appearance led to the decision, despite potential job creation and reuse of a vacant property.
Ealing4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 87 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · LewishamHouse of Flavourz licence kept with new conditions after Forest Hill complaints
A Caribbean restaurant in Forest Hill will remain open after Lewisham Council reviewed its licence following complaints about noise and disorder. The committee added new conditions, including an event management plan and a dispersal policy, but rejected calls to revoke the licence or cut hours.
Lewisham5 min readTrust 55 · Craft 65 · Hype 35
Council & Politics · WestminsterSupreme Court to hear Palestine Action ban appeal after 117 arrests
The Supreme Court will review the Home Office’s ban on Palestine Action after 117 protesters were arrested outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The case, expedited for autumn, follows a Court of Appeal ruling upholding the group’s proscription under terrorism laws.
Westminster5 min readTrust 78 · Craft 95 · Hype 45
Council & Politics · LondonLondon Mayor to retain portion of income tax and business rates
The Mayor of London will keep a share of income tax and business rates collected within the capital. The Prime Minister confirmed the move as part of a wider devolution drive to transfer power from Westminster to regional leaders.
London3 min readTrust 62 · Craft 95 · Hype 35