Press Release

Mayor's budget priorities: Youth crime, quality of life and value for money
22-7-2008   381

The Mayor’s budget priorities were published in a document; Greater London Authority Group Budget Guidance for 2009-10.

The document outlines the Mayor’s priorities and provides formal guidance for the GLA group: Greater London Authority (GLA), Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), Transport for London (TFL), London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) and the London Development Agency (LDA).

The Mayor will issue a draft budget for consultation in December and present the draft budget proposals to the London Assembly in January.

Boris Johnson said,

"Tackling crime, delivering value for money and improving the quality of life in London are my administration’s top priorities.

‘Crime is the number one issue for Londoners. I will build on the early measures I have introduced such as the alcohol ban on the tube and extra 440 safer transport police officers. Tackling the long-term root causes of crime and violence and ensuring a visible police presence on the streets must become the priority for the entire GLA group.

‘Delivering greater value for money is vital and it is clear there are a series of areas where the GLA and LDA can be improved and made far more efficient. We have already showed through scrapping the Londoner that savings can be made. That’s why I am proposing a 15 per cent saving in the GLA budget to ensure we are providing maximum value for London taxpayers.

‘I have taken a series of decisions to improve the quality of life in London since I was elected in May such as scrapping the Londoner newspaper to fund 10,000 new trees and measures to improve run down parks and open spaces. I will continue this work to improve everyday life in the capital with better housing and protection for open spaces."

Ends.

Notes to Editors

1. The Mayor’s priorities:

The budget guidance outlined the Mayor’s priorities for budget planning. These include:

• Contributing towards the Mayor’s priority of tackling youth violence through preventative measures and increasing youth opportunities
• Delivering value for money and better quality of life for all Londoners
• Prioritising measures consistent with the commitment to carbon reduction targets of 60 per cent by 2025 and promoting open spaces
• Supporting the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and its legacy
• Delivering the Mayor’s revised Housing Strategy to be published in the autumn
• Implementing the Living Wage for London and promoting equality in the workforce.

2. Tackling youth crime:

Since the Mayor was elected he has:

• Supported new assertive action to tackle knife crime with more knife arches and stop and search.
• Banned alcohol on Tube, bus, DLR, and tram services and stations across the capital.
• Announced an additional 440-uniformed officers to make public transport safer.
• Asked TFL and the Met Police to press ahead with plans to crack down on illegal cabs.
• Appointed Sir Trevor Chinn as Chair of the Mayors Fund. The Mayor’s Fund will help provide support and engagement to these communities, particularly targeting disaffected young people.

3. Value for money:

The Mayor is committed to delivering greater value for money through the GLA.

• On 13th July the Mayor fulfilled his manifesto commitment to launch an immediate review of City Hall finances and report initial findings within the first 100 days.
• On 27th May the Mayor launched a process to consider whether the Greater London Authority’s international offices perform a useful strategic function and represent value for money.
• On 13th May the Mayor announced the closure of The Londoner newspaper saving nearly three million pounds.

4. Budget guidelines:

Subject to any further guidance issued later in the year, budget plans should be prepared within the following guidelines and assumptions:

• MPA - For 2009-10 increases in net revenue expenditure of 1.75 per cent over the 2008-09 amount of £2,595.0 million presented in the Mayor’s published budget and annual increases of 1.25 per cent in 2010-11 and 2011-12. There is no addition to the GLA council tax precept for Olympic security costs.
• LFEPA - For 2009-10 an increase in net revenue expenditure of 1.75 per cent over the 2008-09 amount of £425.3 million presented in the Mayor’s published budget and annual increases of 1.25 per cent in 2010-11 and 2011-12. There is no addition to the GLA council tax precept for Olympic security costs.
• GLA - For 2009-10 a reduction of 15 per cent in net revenue expenditure from the amount of £79.1 million (which excludes the contribution to the Olympic and Paralympic Games) presented in the Mayor’s published budget and annual increases of 1.25 per cent in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
• TfL - No change to the published forecast component budget requirements of £12 million in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
• LDA - No change to the published forecast component budget requirements of £nil in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

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