Home | About | City Hall | Contact | FAQ | Help | Jobs | Site map
| Home | About | City Hall | Contact | FAQ | Help | Jobs | Site map
|
| London Life | | | Mayor of London | | | London Assembly | | | Media Centre |
|
Nineteenth Report of the Mayor of London to the London AssemblyThis is my nineteenth report to the Assembly, fulfilling my duty under Section 45 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. It covers the period from from 9 January - 12 February 2002. Budget update Budget updateGLA Consolidated Budget 2002-03 PPPOn 7 February the government announced that it was proceeding with its partial privatisation of the London Underground. Under the Greater London Authority Act, it is obliged to consult Transport for London and myself as Mayor of London before proceeding to agree contracts. Bob Kiley and I, who will be responsible for the London Underground in the near future, were told we will not be given the key legal documents until 9am on Monday 11 February. At the time of writing this, I have not been given access to all the final drafts of the PPP contracts. Once I have received them and been advised by my Commissioner and lawyers at TfL, I will make an announcement on my position. In the meantime, we are taking the consultation period very seriously and we will be scrutinizing these contracts in minute detail, because to sign up to a 30-year experiment is absolute folly. The authors of the so-called 'independent' report on which Stephen Byers has based his claim that the PPP represents value for money are the consultancy firm Ernst and Young. This company is anything but `independent' on this issue. Ernst and Young are in fact the auditors for key companies in two of the successful PPP consortia - Bombardier and Jarvis. This appears to be a clear conflict of interest and on these grounds alone this report should be disregarded. However even this report by PPP companies' own auditors cannot bring itself to fully endorse the PPP. Ernst and Young's covering letter makes clear that the report is based on documents and discussions with the London Underground management who created the PPP. They state amazingly: `We have not sought to verify the accuracy of the data or the information and explanations provided by management.' They admit: `The contract structure does not allow the presentation of an indisputable quantified assessment of the value for money.' They go on to admit that the PPP contract structure remains 'unproven' and state that 'subjective' 'adjustments' have been made which increase the cost of the public sector option compared to the private sector option by `£2.1 billion'. In simple language that means, as Deloitte and Touche pointed out last year, the figures have been manipulated to favour the PPP bidders. Every genuinely independent analysis of the PPP, most recently by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, shows this is outrageously expensive, not value for money, sets the wrong priorities and is unsafe. Yet the government has completely disregarded the views of parliament, of London and the world's foremost experts on underground rail systems. When TfL finally receive all the documents, our financial and legal advisers - unlike Ernst and Young - will thoroughly analyse the accuracy of the information and data provided by London Underground. We already know that under the PPP London will be waiting for 10-20 years for the works, like new trains, needed to restore the Underground. Bob Kiley on the other hand has promised to repeat what he did in New York which meant replacing or refurbishing 85% of the trains within the first seven and a half years. The PPP will saddle the travelling public and council tax payers of London with huge and unquantified liabilities while replicating the key mistakes of rail privatisation on the Underground. As Mayor, I have a clear duty to uphold London's interests by taking all necessary steps to oppose this scheme. If my lawyers advise that these should include further legal action I will have no hesitation in taking it to protect London's travelling public. Congestion ChargingFollowing publication of proposed modifications to the scheme order on 27 November 2001, there was a further consultation period on the proposed modifications from 10 December 2001 until 18 January 2002. This consultation included:
This second major period of consultation ended on 18 January 2002 and generated more than 500 further responses. These responses are being incorporated in the report that TfL is producing for me. Once I have received this report I will be in a position to decide whether the proposed scheme goes ahead as planned or not. My decision is expected towards the end of February. Transport Policing InitiativeIn last month's report I mentioned the proposed implementation of a Transport Operational Command Unit within the Metropolitan Police. From 14-25 January a two-week pilot scheme was held on the 159 and 109 bus routes in the Boroughs of Croydon and Lambeth. The trial proved to be a success and demonstrates the benefits of having a dedicated transport police unit. Over the two weeks 922 parking tickets were issued, 2010 verbal warnings were given, 33 vehicles were removed and 108 tax disc offences were reported. There were also 13 arrests including two for burglary and one each for the following - robbery, burglary, driving whilst disqualified, criminal deception, breach of the peace and six offences under PACE for giving false details to a Revenue Protection Inspector. The Metropolitan Police were delighted with the results and the positive working relationship with Transport for London. I believe this short trial has demonstrated the need for a dedicated Transport Policing unit to crack down on crime on buses, bus lanes and the transport system more broadly. The visible presence of police officers will ensure that bus lanes are enforced, deter criminals and reassure passengers and staff. Taxis In 2001, the Metropolitan Police Force carried out 27 operations of this kind and made 223 arrests, of which 213 were for touting. This proves the crackdown against illegal taxi touts is working and I was delighted to be on the first of what I am sure will be many more successful operations this year. Revised Taxi Knowledge Blue Book The new book comprises 20 lists of 16 runs. Lists 1-5 cover every postal district in the 6 mile radius thereby giving a basic knowledge. Each subsequent five lists adds a further layer of knowledge such that when all 320 runs are completed the individual has an in-depth knowledge of London. The new book provides a more structured learning process to the benefit of the Knowledge student and improved coverage of London to the benefit of the travelling public. Buses Buses are affordable, accessible to everyone and get to every corner of the city on a regular basis. I have held down fares and introduced adult and child saver tickets which are bought as a carnet of six single tickets. Some of the key improvements in buses have been:
Bishopsgate Goodsyard Site (East London Line) Mayoral StrategiesDrugs and Alcohol StrategyThis month £340,000 from the Home Office's Confiscated Assets Fund has been secured by the GLA to invest in drug prevention projects in London. Prior to my election I promised to lead an initiative to use the confiscated assets of drug dealers to invest in drugs rehabilitation and awareness programmes across all of London's boroughs, and the funding for the two projects announced today will do just that. I am committed to providing the police with the resources to bring drug dealers to justice, but this is a problem that we have to tackle by every means available. This is why drug prevention projects are of such vital importance: they address the drugs problem right at the root. The £340,000 will be divided between two projects on behalf of the London Alcohol and Drug Alliance, a coalition of statutory and voluntary sector organisations with an interest in tackling substance abuse. The first project will tackle drug and alcohol abuse in London's refugee and asylum seeker community, a group that is currently marginalised from information and rehabilitation programmes. Implemented by the Ethnicity and Health Unit at the University of Central Lancashire the project will identify and involve key organisations working with or representing asylum seekers across London. The aim is to increase these organisations' capacity to tackle substance misuse through training for staff and a publicity and information campaign in languages and formats appropriate for the target audience. The second project will be implemented by the London Drug Service Users Network, and aims to ensure the development of more effective and appropriate drug services by involving those with first-hand experience of using drugs services in the planning process. Best-practice guidelines and a London training resource will be developed to support both user groups and service providers in this process. The funds are aimed at innovative and pilot projects that would not automatically qualify for mainstream funding. Air Quality Strategy TourismThe Greatest Show on EarthDue to overwhelming demand the booking period for the discounted theatre offer was extended until the end of January. People wanting to take advantage of the 'Greatest Show on Earth' theatre offer were given an extra two weeks to buy tickets. Over 42,000 theatre tickets have been sold since the West End theatre offer opened on 5 December. I am delighted that my 'Greatest Show on Earth' offer has received such a fantastic response. The success of this offer has provided a much needed boost to the West End's businesses. The next phase of the 'Greatest Show on Earth' drive to bring tourists back to the West End, focusing on another sector badly hit by the tourism downturn, will be announced shortly. Umoja Closure Recruitment My new budget proposes to provide funds for another 1,000 police officers to be recruited over the next year. I am also pleased to see that we are starting to see a police force which reflects the diversity of the capital. This year there has been an encouraging increase of recruits from minority ethnic communities as well as female recruits and I have every confidence that the Met will continue to build on this success. In my budget I have proposed the funding of an additional 1,000 police officers as well as funding a scheme which will see police officers recruited to a specialist transport unit. This unit will have responsibility for policing agreed bus corridors on the London network and will provide an additional police presence on the streets, as mentioned earlier. Operation Trident The key message of the seminar was that the great strides the police and black community have made to tackle drug-related crime must not be allowed to go waste. Both the work of members of the black community and the police officer working for Operation Trident in tackling the growing threat of drug-related violence is to be praised. The seminar's objective is to get London Boroughs to support the adoption of Operation Trident objectives into their crime and disorder strategies. This is also tied to a request to make more resources available to help the police and black community organisations tackle the problems of 'black on black' gun crime. Since its launch, the Operation Trident team has arrested and charged over 200 individuals in connection with murder, firearm and drug offences. Over 130 guns and 1000 rounds of ammunition and 500 kilos of class A drugs have been recovered. Annual London Survey 2001On 22 January the results of the Annual London Survey carried out by Mori between October and December 2002 were published. Apart from the welcome increase in satisfaction with my performance as Mayor of London the survey indicates that Londoners are increasingly concerned about rising crime levels, frustration with traffic congestion and the high cost of housing and accommodation. This shows that more resources are still needed to turn the city around and this is precisely the direction I have taken with my proposed budget for 2002-03. Where I have real powers, the city is witnessing change. In one year a generation of decline on the bus network has been reversed, with lower fares, more conductors, more vehicles and tougher bus lane enforcement. As a result London now accounts for the entire increase in bus usage in the country, with a six per cent increase in bus ridership, a 16 per cent increase in ridership at night and more people using the service than at any time in the last 26 years. Similarly, my single real power over policing is to set the budget for the Met. Increasing the visibility and number of police on the streets is central to my approach. This is why I used my budget-setting power last year to pay for 1050 new front-line officers. By comparison, on the tube, which has still not been devolved to me, services and satisfaction are at an all-time low. The mechanism for solving London's problems is to devolve more powers to the mayor and to ensure that I have the resources to make real change. The London survey is an annual exercise enabling myself and the GLA to monitor trends in London as well as gauge public opinion and attitudes on issues relevant to life in the capital. The survey includes key questions which were repeated from last year's survey as well as new topical questions. As 85 per cent of Londoners acknowledge in this survey, London is not perfect but we enjoy living here. As Mayor of London it is my job to continue to make vital improvements which will make London an enjoyable place to live. Planning and Development Control Planning decisions (Stage Two referrals) I have sent letters in response to the following
statutory referrals: Paterson Park, Lynton Road, SouthwarkI have written to the London Borough of Southwark stating that I direct refusal of this application. Although I want to see a new school in the borough I do not wish to see this on the site of a local park. I believe that other sites may be available and should be examined, and have offered the help of my officers in identifying one. I understand that there is a real need for a new school in Southwark, but building it on a site that would take away a park from local people is unacceptable. Paterson Park is the only public green space in the area. Its loss would cause and area of open space deficiency. The park should be improved for local people, not taken away from them. This was not an easy decision to make, but ultimately I believe the children of Southwark will be best served by having both a school and a park in their community. I also have to consider the wider impact on the whole of London, and I believe that setting a precedent of building on London's parks, and thereby creating an area of open space deficiency, would be very dangerous for the capital in the long term. There are already two applications from the London Borough of Bromley (see Stage one referrals below) which include similar use of open land. The projected increase in the school age population of London over the next 15 years is 28%, and the new schools needed to provide for these children will need to be built away from the Green Belt. This position is supported by local, regional and planning guidance, and by the London Assembly in their Green Spaces report. Arsenal Football Club, Islington Following this, on Thursday 17 January I gave my reaction to Government Office for London's decision to issue an Article 14 direction on the new Arsenal stadium application, which could delay indefinitely the Secretary of State's decision on whether or not to call in the scheme. This indecision over Arsenal's new stadium causes delay and uncertainty to a scheme which Islington Council and I agree offers enormous benefits to the local community and to London as a whole. My officials have worked closely with Arsenal to improve the Club's original application. The new application includes a package of £60 million to go towards transport improvement, education and healthcare facilities, and housing for the local community. The improved proposal offers a great opportunity for significant private investment in the area, which traditionally has not benefited from this kind of investment. The relocation and improvement of the stadium to a world-class sports venue is also important to the world city role of London as a whole. Feltham Town Centre Wandsworth Shopping Centre Castle House, Elephant and Castle Land South of Auriol Drive, Greenford Empress State Building, Empress Approach SW6 Coombe Farm, Oaks Road, Croydon Imperial Wharf, Townmead Road SW6 Auriol Drive, Greenford (north of Grand Union canal,
west of Auriol Drive) 9 Albert Embankment/5 Salamanca Street However, I have also passed on my concerns for the plans for the proposed development including offices, shops, leisure and 270 housing units. In deciding whether or not to direct Lambeth to refuse planning permission, I have had to consider a number of factors. The most important was that although the scheme did not meet my policy aspirations as set out in 'Towards the London Plan', my planning policies carry less weight than the borough's own Unitary Development Plan (UDP). I consider the proposed development represents a missed opportunity on a prime riverside site to deliver a world class, high quality form of development. Planning Decisions (Stage One referrals) I have asked officers to send letters giving my comments about the following stage one referrals: · 32 Brewer Street, Soho Unitary Development Plans Camden UDP Review Any Assembly members seeking a copy of a planning report should contact Hannah Elliott on x 4265 AppointmentsLondon Pension Fund Authority Maurice has made a considerable contribution to local government in London over some 40 years and I am grateful for the work he has done on the LPFA Board over the last six years. I wish him well for the rest of his retirement which I am sure will continue to be extremely active. I decided, following consultation with the LPFA Chairman not to appoint a new Deputy. Two current board members, Bill Roots (Business Development Committee chairman) and Serge Lourie (Audit and Scrutiny Committee chairman), will deputise for the Chairman as required. A new member, Ray Ambrose, has been appointed and joined the Board on 1 January 2002. Ray, a current pensioner of the LPFA Fund, is a consultant solicitor at Nabarro Nathanson and specialises in public sector and government law. Before taking up his current position, Ray was Deputy Director of Legal Services and Local Government at the Local Residuary Body. Before that he held a number of legal positions at the Greater London Council. SDS Programme Manager As the Assembly will appreciate getting a high quality SDS in place and delivered on time is critical for London and to ensure I secured a person of the right calibre I set a salary of up to £100k for the post and advertised it nationally. I can now confirm that following interviews, I have recruited Greg Lomax to the position. Mr Lomax has very senior project management experience and is currently Chief Executive of the East London Business Alliance. Review of LDA Board members' remuneration Nomination to Royal Parks Agency The Royal Parks include some of the most important green spaces in London. The new body will give transparency to an organisation, which has previously been shrouded in bureaucracy. Making the agency more responsive, will help complete its work of restoring 5000 acres of parkland to a world class standard of excellence. Working with local authorities will open the parks up to an exciting and more diverse range of activities. GLA Building and OrganisationCity Hall Opening I wrote to Her Majesty the Queen on 12 February to express my sympathy and condolences on the death of her sister, Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret on behalf of the GLA. Payroll contract Internal Audit contract Procurement of Bespoke Furniture EqualitiesStanding Together Against Intolerance A final pan-London event will provide a high-profile platform for debate and bring together all of the responses and ideas from the regional events. The recent MORI survey showed that 82% of Londoners see London's diversity as something that they positively enjoy. London's diversity is one of the city's greatest strengths, economically, culturally and socially. However racism and intolerance still exist, and we cannot afford to be complacent. Standing Together Against Intolerance gives Londoners a chance to affirm their belief in the diversity of London, and to find out about practical ways they can help promote this message. Partnerships Register I have welcomed the Private Members Bill on Civil Partnerships that is being introduced into the House of Lords by Lord Lester. The success of the London Partnerships Register shows there is a demand for civil partnerships. The interest that councils from Northampton to North Tyneside have shown is a clear indication that partnership registration is not only of interest to the major metropolitan centres. I am delighted that Lord Lester is pushing for legislation to finally offer equality to same sex as well as heterosexual couples and shall be calling on London MPs and peers to back the measure. In September I launched the London Partnerships Register, making the Greater London Authority the first public body in the country to offer official recognition to same sex as well as heterosexual couples. A number of companies are planning to change their own policies on recognition of unmarried partners and Camden Council is exploring ways of using the Register to improve services in the borough. International linksVisit of Rudolph Guiliani Architecture Centres Trafalgar Square World Squares for All Phase 1 Contracts for Trafalgar and Parliament Squares Refreshments on the Square Chinese New Year celebrations St Patrick's Day festival Aimed at all Londoners the St Patrick's Day festival is being organised by the GLA, the Irish Post, the Irish Counties Association and Irish community organisations as a celebration of the Irish contribution to the capital. It will include traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance, food, bars and craft and children's activities. respect Last year's event included performances by Run DMC, Blue and Mis-Teeq, dance music and comedy tents and children's activities. It was attended by over 60,000 people. Information on bands and other entertainment will be available in early spring. respect is being jointly organised with the National Assembly Against Racism, TUC and SERTUC. I have also approved the commissioning of the Poetry Society to run a poetry slam as part of respect week. This will be rap poetry competition within London Schools. The final heat of this competition will take place at the festival on 20 July. London - a film friendly city However, production units need to have easy access to locations, parking facilities and other special requirements. Discussions between the London Film Commission and the GLA suggest that there is a need for a concerted effort to improve the situation. I am hoping that the GLA will be able to take a lead in creating a more positive approach to film making in London, promoting its benefits and championing London as a film friendly city. Other key engagements over the past month have included:
Ken Livingstone |
|
| Top of page | Home | About | City Hall | Contact | FAQ | Help | Jobs | Site map |
