• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

Similarly, another concern was the extent to which young people in London feel that graffiti is sometimes one of their few outlets and some young people feel they are part of a sub-culture, although I don't think the wider community supports that for obvious reasons. I've seen some good work going on in boroughs such as Merton who are having diversionary activities. But I think an underlying issue is the state, the condition and sometimes the lack of appropriateness of youth services in London. Do you see any way in which we might take up these concerns of young disaffected...

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

This point of capital standards came to the Environment Committee back in November 2000. It has been a very long time in coming and, in a sense, all political parties I am sure can agree that cleaning up London's litter is a very important political imperative. There have been two questions, has there been London wide borough support for this particular scheme and have you got any more information about how we are going to be able to get hold of the fine money that Michael Meecher said boroughs will keep as a result of this particular initiative?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

Ken, I might have wondered why the Fire Authority had not been involved in the excellent initiative of the Capital Standard given that the Fire Authority is already working with a number of boroughs on removing abandoned cars, trying to reduce litter which is a source of arson and given that the Fire Authority is involved in work with young offenders. But I think some of your comments earlier this morning might have explained why Capital Standard didn't involve the Fire Authority. Quite frankly, because you don't seem aware enough of what's going on in the Fire Authority. I wonder...

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

So we could set up a working party of the best boroughs and we can enjoin that with Capital Standards? The Mayor: Absolutely. Samantha Heath: Thank you.

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

In going through the Capital Standard as it was launched a couple of weeks ago, I noticed in it that it doesn't deal with one thing that we do have to address full on, which is abandoned cars. There is some excellent work that's going on with the ALG and with Lewisham and Newham in particular who have the DVLA pilot. I am not suggesting that Capital Standards can embrace all of these problems, but in a sense there is learning from boroughs and learning from excellent good practice and also other partners that we can bring in on that...

• Question by: Samantha Heath
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

I think you'll find that Wandsworth's standards, certainly parts of Tooting High Street, aren't particularly high. But there was the criticism, I did put the very same question to Eddie Lister at last Council meeting and he had no real answer. In the press later he did say that there wasn't enough money for it. Now Meecher has promised that boroughs can keep the fine money and I think that this is a good imperative. There are issues that people complain that there is insufficient money for this particular scheme, but they can keep the fine money. Have you had...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

It appears to have cost the boroughs who've gone in for it so far. Would you consider paying the good boroughs money to share their expertise with the bad boroughs in London and, therefore, possibly encouraging them to take part in your campaign by giving them an incentive to do so?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

Sutton obviously consider their waste disposal " The Mayor: Obviously you knew the answer to the question before you asked the question. Roger Evans: Is beyond criticism. But perhaps some of those boroughs, and perhaps certainly some of those other boroughs who have refused, have decided not to take part in your campaign because they consider their standards higher than standards you set. What are the targets that you have set for audit performance indicators for the Capital Standards Campaign?

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

I am glad about that. I think the point I am trying to make is that you shouldn't overlook the flowers in your own garden, Ken. Through the functional bodies, and in particular the Fire Authority, you have institutions that can make a huge contribution to the mainstream problems of London. Can I move on quickly to graffiti? One of the key concerns of many people who came to visit the graffiti scrutiny, and we did have many residents who spoke at that event, was the ease with which young people were able to get hold of spray cans and...

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 27 March 2002

What I am concerned about is who they are going to be caught by. Have you sorted out having a dedicated team of police in each borough whose only job is to target people trying to evade the congestion charge?