YESTERDAY, June 15, it was announced that the final step on the roadmap out of lockdown will be delayed by four weeks until July 19, at the earliest.

Following that announcement, London Councils, a cross-party organisation that works on behalf of all 32 councils released a statement and asked the Government for the following:

• Extend the 100% business rates holiday and the business evictions moratorium beyond the end of June.
• Confirm a short-term extension to the existing furlough scheme, with employers not having to contribute more to the scheme from next month as previously planned.
• Urgent confirmation of the funding allocation and guidance for the additional £1.5billion business rates relief announced in March for supply chains and other in-directly impacted firms.
• An additional targeted one-off grant to directly impacted firms, such as those in the hospitality and culture and creative sectors and ensure that boroughs receive their Additional Restrictions Grant top-ups quickly to ensure that they can make uninterrupted discretionary payments to firms.

Chair of London Councils, Cllr Georgia Gould, said: "We are really concerned to see COVID-19 cases rising again across the city - the majority of boroughs now have case rates of more than 50 per 100,000 of the population.

"We must be vigilant to make sure we keep the freedoms we've all worked so hard to achieve.

"The latest announcement of a delay to the final step in the roadmap will be a disappointment for many, but we need to use this extra time to get everyone vaccinated so we can reopen knowing that our communities are protected from the virus.

"If you are aged 23 and over, please have your vaccine as soon as you can - it is free, safe and easy.

"We must also continue to remember the basics – wearing a mask in busy and indoor spaces, washing our hands frequently and getting tested regularly.

"Boroughs will dig deep to protect and support all our communities across the capital, drawing strength from the resilience they have shown over the past year.

"We will also be clear with national Government and others that more resources will be needed to deliver vital local services and support businesses struggling to survive in this final push before restrictions end.

"The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.

"Thank you to all Londoners for the strength and kindness you've shown in looking after one another throughout the pandemic.

"Although the delay in the complete lifting of restrictions is not the news we wanted, it is especially important we look out for one another in these final weeks."