The Mayor’s key decision this year was to increase council tax by 5 percent to be mainly allocated to the Met and London’s fire service. But despite the extra cash, Sadiq Khan has admitted that it will be tough to halt the ongoing rise in crime in the capital.
The London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee publishes its ‘Response to the Mayor’s draft consultation budget 2018-19’ today. The report presents the Committee’s findings on the Mayor’s draft budget for London.
The Committee supports the Mayor’s decision to raise council tax in the context of rising crime and the increased risk from terrorism. It also welcomes indications that the Government will provide additional funding to support the Met’s work in dealing with the 2017 terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower investigation. Some of the report’s other findings include:
- The increase in council tax means the Met can afford 30,000 police officers in 2018-19, but this won’t be possible in future years unless it makes more savings or receives more funding
- Falling passenger numbers means that TfL is not generating the income it needs – it has had to cut funding to boroughs, reduce investment in roads and cancel the purchase of new tube trains as its finances tighten
- There is a big funding gap between what the Mayor can deliver and what London needs in terms of affordable housing
- The ongoing financial woes at the London Legacy Development Corporation continue to cause problems for the GLA Group
Gareth Bacon AM, Chairman of the Budget and Performance Committee said:
“After the terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, the Mayor’s decision to increase council tax to help the Met is understandable. But, unless the Met finds extra savings from somewhere, we could see another big council tax increase next year or fewer officers on London’s streets.
TfL’s finances are a cause for concern as passenger numbers fall. The Mayor has decided to spend less on London’s roads to help balance the books – things could get bumpy for bus passengers, cyclists and motorists in the next few years.”
Notes to editors
- ‘Response to the Mayor’s draft consultation budget 2018-19’.
- The Committee questioned representatives from Transport for London (TfL) and the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) at its meeting on 3 January 2018, and from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the Metropolitan Police Service (Met) and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) at its meetings on 4 January 2018.
- Pre-Budget Report
- The key responsibility of the Budget and Performance Committee is its annual scrutiny of the Mayor’s budget proposals for the next financial year. This involves detailed examination of the Mayor’s plans for spending his budget to help ensure taxpayers’ money is used appropriately and effectively.
- Gareth Bacon AM, Chairman of the Budget & Performance Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Sonia Labboun on 020 7983 5769. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.