The Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the London Borough of Bromley's membership of Local London, a sub-regional partnership. The committee was to be informed of the activities undertaken by Local London and the benefits to Bromley.

Local London Annual Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the London Borough of Bromley's (LBB) membership in Local London, a sub-regional partnership (SRP) comprising nine boroughs in north east and south east London. This partnership represents approximately 2.6 million residents and over 100,000 businesses. The report was intended to provide an overview of LBB's activities within Local London since March 2025.

Founded in 2016, Local London manages over £138 million in externally funded programmes across the sub-region, with £18 million allocated for delivery in 2026-27. In the 2025-26 period alone, the SRP reportedly secured over £54 million in new government investment for initiatives such as Trailblazers and Connect to Work.

A key document discussed was Local London's 'Vision for Growth 2030', published in November 2025. This vision outlines a strategic plan for inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the nine boroughs, aiming to attract investment, unlock infrastructure, support businesses, and boost work and skills. The report indicated that Bromley's membership in Local London aligns with this vision, offering opportunities to promote strategic assets like Biggin Hill and key town centres, and to enhance collaboration on marketing, investor engagement, and lobbying for infrastructure improvements.

Since joining Local London in December 2022, LBB had reportedly secured £5.8 million in funding, representing a return on investment of 38.7% against membership costs of £150,000 between 2022-23 and 2024-25. This funding has supported various projects, including:

• Strategic Infrastructure Fund (SIF): £1.4 million secured for the deployment of 78km of dark fibre network across key sites in the borough to improve connectivity for 4,000 Bromley businesses.
• UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF): £733,000 secured for an employability programme supporting economically inactive residents into employment, and a further £169,000 for a 12-month extension of the People and Skills investment priority.
• Connect to Work (C2W): A five-year, £2.8 million supported employment programme aiming to assist over 800 Bromley residents with complex barriers to secure and retain employment.
• DWP Trailblazer 1: £330,000 secured for a 12-month pilot programme testing innovative approaches to supporting residents facing barriers to work.

The report also highlighted increased influence for LBB through the attendance of the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation & Housing at the Local London Joint Committee and officers at relevant Officer Groups. Furthermore, membership provides access to additional data and analysis, such as LightCast Labour Market statistics, and facilitates the sharing of best practices in employability services. Elmfield Road / Bromley South was noted as being included in the Local London prospectus as a Strategic Opportunity Site, aiming to elevate Bromley's commercial core and enhance its visibility with investors.

The annual membership fee for Local London remained unchanged at £50,000 per annum. The report stated that the meeting was for noting the content of the information briefing, with no new decisions requiring legal obligations for the Council. Any future programme activities or funding opportunities arising from LBB's membership would be considered separately and would need to comply with the Council's statutory duties and governance processes.

The report also detailed the impact of LBB's membership on vulnerable adults and children, health and wellbeing, and the local economy, noting that it has enabled the commissioning and delivery of employment and skills projects for residents furthest from the labour market.