In response to the Spring Budget 2021, Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Chair of Central London Forward and Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea commented:
“It is right that the Chancellor has used today’s Spring Budget to lay the foundation for recovery and focus on supporting jobs. CLF welcomes the decision to extend vital business support measures to those thousands of businesses in central London which are currently on the brink of collapse and rely on support to survive.
However, what we need most is for government to listen to local authorities when deciding the nature of long-term measures – in areas like business rates, planning and employment support – that will allow urban centres across the UK to recover economically, socially and culturally.
The government’s ambition must include levelling up within regions as well as between them and must not leave central London behind.”
Read the full response
Central London Forward has submitted our response to the government’s technical consultation which highlights our significant concerns regarding the impact of the proposed permitted development right on our high streets and town centres, as well as our businesses and communities in central London.
Read the full response
We are pleased to announce that Joe Dromey has been appointed as CLF’s new Director and will be joining the team on the 19th April. Joe will continue to ensure that Central London Forward supports the work of the partnership and delivers maximum impact for the CLF boroughs, local economies, and communities.
The Evening Standard article highlights the less generous Covid-19 grants available to businesses in central London and references the Central London Forward Board Members letter sent to Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, stressing the need to “review and urgently enhance” the formula and eligibility criteria of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).
Central London Forward has submitted our response to the White Paper which sets out our thinking on the proposals and highlights our concerns regarding the impact on affordable housing, employment and skills, and the risk of increased complexity in the current system.
Read the full White Paper response
Central London Forward has submitted our representation to the 2020 Review which outlines our strategic recommendations on the proposed Online Sales Tax, Small Business Rates Relief and the frequency of valuations.
Read the full CLF representation
Central London Forward have submitted our representation to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). This sets out our thinking on what the government needs to prioritise in the next Spending Review.
Read the full CSR submission
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent government advice, the Central London Forward team will be working from home. All staff are contactable via email or phone and where possible, scheduled meetings will take place virtually.
We thank you for your patience during what are difficult and unprecedented times.
Despite the weather conditions, some of the CLF team took part in the planting of 493 trees at Mudchute Park.
Thanks to The Conservation Volunteers for their support and Deputy Mayor, Asim Begum for planting the first tree.
As of December 2019, Central London Works (CLW) had supported 493 participants, throughout the 12 central London boroughs into sustainable employment.
As a result, Central London Forward (CLF) pledged to plant 493 trees within 1 of the 12 central London boroughs. The selected borough would not only be allocated 493 trees, but the CLF team would participate in the tree planting activity as part of their employee volunteering programme and commitment to promoting a sustainable environment.
Whilst this great success was obtained throughout the partnership, the allocation of the trees could only be awarded to 1 borough. The selection of this borough was put to a vote and opened to the members of the Integration Board and the CLW Commissioning Team, who voted to provide the allocation to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
The Conservation Volunteers have kindly supported CLF by locating a site for the trees and arranging the tree planting activity, which will take place on the 27th February 2020 at Mudchute Park & Farm, Wild pond.
London’s future depends on its ability to innovate, reinvent and develop new ideas. This publication champions fresh original thinking with the potential to transform London’s city centre for the better.
It explores the ingredients needed to keep central London thriving as a sociable city centre and asks: how can central London cope with the demands placed on it.
Central London Forward has been named as one of the Project Partners on the Centre for London, London ideas project.
This project champions new ideas that could transform the city through a magazine and a series of associated events.
The publication will feature thought leadership on central London’s role as a cultural, retail and social hub, exploring interlinked questions such as:
The publication will be followed by an associated roundtable with relevant stakeholders.
Learn more about London ideas on Centre for London’s website.
March 2020
Developing an Employment and Skills Outcome Agreement
Central London Forward (CLF) are working alongside Shared Intelligence on an exciting project to develop an employment and skills outcome agreement in the health and social care sector.
This sector is a key priority for CLF – there are nearly 80,000 jobs in the sector across our boroughs, average pay is considerably below the London Living Wage, and turnover across London is high, at 27%. If you are working in health and social care in central London, please read our prospectus, and get in touch with responses to the key questions posed in the document.