• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

I was rung about a specific survey that you had apparently conducted. I was asked to comment on 7 March and, given that the congestion charge extension went in on 19 February, by my calculations that is about three weeks, one of those weeks was half term. What was the point of doing a survey, spending public money so quickly?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

Thank you, because we have a time issue here.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

If what we are saying then is it is too soon to say, why do you think that it was timely to spend public money on a survey of the traffic reduction within three weeks of the introduction? What on earth use were those figures going to be? Your claim that there was a 13% reduction this survey showed. I was asked about it on 7 March, I was asked to comment. I did say, `Hang on, it has only been in for three weeks, one of those weeks was half term'. So you were basically surveying about two weeks'...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

I was asking about the total Zone rather than just where it was extended, because I suspect that the road speeds in the central area may well be no different at all, if not worse. The only up to date figures we have of course are ones that you and I have discussed before, which are the road speeds put out by the Department of Transport, and the best we have, I think, were last summer, 2006, when it showed that there was an improvement of little more than one mile an hour since the introduction of the original Congestion...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

So what you are saying is rather what you told me last time round, it is too soon to say?

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

These are history. I want you to talk about these particular cases.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

Indeed. Those people that I have spoken to that live down the Kings Road say there is absolutely no difference whatsoever. My own experience of Kensington High Street, where I live, is there is very little difference.But of course the other statistics we are now beginning to get through are the initial reactions from some of the local businesses. I am sure you will have seen the report that I saw that one of the Filipino supermarkets in Kenway Road is saying that they have seen literally a 70% reduction. I know that sounds huge, but they are saying that...

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

Nobody is claiming a double yellow line in this case, they are talking about Kenway Road.

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

You said you were disappointed a month ago. Is there going to be an improvement now you have the budget: yes or no?

• Question by: Andrew Pelling
• Meeting date: 21 March 2007

Through you, Chair, the Mayor made inconsistent remarks this morning about the sharing of the increase in land value between London tax payers, the Government and the lottery. At one stage you said that it was up for negotiation, and then you said it would be shared equally. Would you like to restate the position as it is?