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As Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, the Leader of Southwark Council, Councillor James McAsh, has written to him on the importance of devolving more power away from Westminster, and enabling local authorities to build much-needed council homes (1/2)

Southwark Council wholeheartedly supports a legal challenge against the reduction of London’s affordable housing requirements. The Mayor of London decided last year to cut the affordable housing requirement on new developments from 35% to 20%. The council has written to support a legal challenge brought by @TowerHamletsNow, @LewishamCouncil and @hackneycouncil against the decision. Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Southwark Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “Southwark’s defining issue is a lack of genuinely affordable housing. “We have over 23,000 households on our housing waiting list and over 4,300 households in temporary accommodation. “Behind each of those numbers is a family who needs a genuinely affordable, secure home. “Cutting London’s affordable housing requirement would lock in a lower standard as the new norm and weaken our hand in negotiating every scheme with developers. “Ultimately it would mean fewer much-needed affordable homes for Londoners, not more. “Southwark Council wholeheartedly supports the legal challenge against the Mayor of London’s decision to cut the affordable housing requirement.”

In Refugee Week, two members of Southwark Council’s Executive have written to the Home Secretary to express deep concerns at the Government’s Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns proposals. Cllr Rebecca Corn, Southwark Council’s Executive Member for Education and Care, said: “Children are children. Their welfare and best interests should never depend on their immigration status. “We have a statutory duty to support children and young people, including care experienced young people, and to support them into adulthood. “These proposals would reduce support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities and use immigration law to pull support away from some of the most vulnerable young people we look after, often at the very point they are trying to build an independent life. We are deeply concerned that they risk replacing a fundamental principle of protection based on a child's needs, with support based on their immigration status. “We cannot stay silent and we are asking the Government to think again.” Cllr David Watson, Southwark Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety and Engagement, said: “We believe people seeking safety should be treated with dignity, compassion and humanity. “That is why we are deeply concerned by proposals that would reduce support for vulnerable families and young people, and by any suggestion that force could be used against children during immigration enforcement. These measures risk causing lasting harm to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. “Southwark will continue to stand alongside our faith groups, voluntary organisations and local communities in championing a borough where everyone is treated with fairness, respect and dignity.”