• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

I was going to ask the Mayor whether he was aware that Lord Ousley was helping the council, because I certainly know that my colleagues there are not happy with the current culture of the council as a whole. The Mayor will be as familiar as the rest of us with the history in Southwark. In relation to this particular project, it has been hugely problematical. What can the Mayor actually do to help, because I do think there is some reality about this question of the skill sets within boroughs, not just Southwark but all boroughs? My own ward...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

You have made some critical comments about Southwark this morning, although I do think by and large this has been a very positive, collaborative project. Are you satisfied that Southwark Council has both the professional capacity and the right approach to deliver this project the way it should be delivered, and if not, what would you bring into the pot that is additional?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

There are three issues at the moment that I am particularly concerned about and I would like you to share my concern that these issues come up for you. The first is housing and the fact that there is only 30% affordable housing at the moment in the project. In a poor borough like Southwark that seems far too low, particularly in that sort of area where we want to see sustainable communities. What will happen is that families will be broken up and communities will be lost. The second is the issue of the black and ethnic minorities there...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Very quickly, I would certainly agree with the Mayor. The problem is the sub-regions all have different boundaries: the London Plan sub-regions, the health sub-regions, the skills sub-regions. Part of your leadership role might be to help nudge these sub-regions together so that boroughs can do this.

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

In fact, I have met the traders and shops last year and we had discussions with the LDA. There is a concern about the survival of the small local businesses through the development and a space for them in the development for the future. Broadly, I think everyone very much welcomes the Elephant and Castle regeneration project. It is going to be the key to the future of south London. One of the blockages at the moment is that the private developer partners need to be engaged in those discussions about the future. Southwark are just going to the market...

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Thank you for that response, Mayor. Most of the other venues outside of the Olympic Village itself are outside of the local government structures. I was just wondering, whilst we have heard good words and deeds from the various venues, how we can make sure that there are other mechanisms for them to be accountable. Have bodies like Sport England a role to play in this?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Turning to the bus service, which you state will be fully compliant by 2006; I think you said early 2006 but are the ramps actually working? In fact, my evidence is that in many cases it is not possible for people with a wheelchair to access a bus on a low floor through a ramp, because the ramp is inoperable. Are there any efforts by TfL to get on top of this, such as using a secret-shopper approach?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Thank you. On getting into London itself and the fact that it is going to be a very broad-based Games, we know that we have real problems in access for people with disabilities to our public buildings. Indeed, a recent statement in Disability Capital states that only 17% of public buildings in London are accessible. What plans are in place for involving disabled people in the cultural Olympiad?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Will you set them objectives or targets?

• Question by: Geoff Pope
• Meeting date: 08 September 2005

Thank you. Clearly, work is being done, but I read in the Paralympic Games bid document that the catchment area for the Paralympics is 30 million people across much of southern England within a day trip of the Games. Therefore, what is going to be done about helping people with any kind of disability across that catchment area, particularly if they rely on mainline rail services? What plans are in place for that situation?