Funding London’s priorities
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265 Londoners have responded
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The Mayor’s budget sets out how he will fund his priorities. Before he takes any final decisions, we would love to know what you think.
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- What do you think are the most important priorities to make London better next year, and why?
Help inform the budget and share your views in the comments below. We will share your feedback with the Mayor’s Office, Assembly Members and our Group Finance team.
About the budget for London
Through the budget, the Mayor ensures there is a sound financial plan to deliver his priorities within the resources that are available to the GLA (Greater London Authority) Group.
The budget goes through several stages, including scrutiny from the London Assembly, before it can be finalised.
Read more about the budget, what it covers and how it’s set.
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Log into your accountConcerned1
Community Member 45 minutes agoThe survey gives the impression that clean water/water pollution was part of the Mayors remit. Is that true? If it is then there is a duplication of responsibilities with Thames Water. The survey mentioned air pollution but surely when...
Show full commentThe survey gives the impression that clean water/water pollution was part of the Mayors remit. Is that true? If it is then there is a duplication of responsibilities with Thames Water. The survey mentioned air pollution but surely when compared to cities like LA (where I have lived) or Mumbai (where I would never live) you notice London is better. Not the best but better. The survey mentioned about trees...if more trees are planted ensure they do not make areas unsafe at night, ensure local authorities can afford to water and maintain them, and ensure they are in keeping with surroundings. The survey mentioned more electric charging points. Not sure how that is priority with a rapid rise in homelessness.
Show less of commentConcerned1
Community Member 1 hour agoI guess my top priority is for the Mayor to recognise that we are not his personal purse. We are not banks.
Show full commentI guess my top priority is for the Mayor to recognise that we are not his personal purse. We are not banks.
Show less of commentConcerned1
Community Member 1 hour agoOk. So thanks to the Mayor, the council tax doubled. DOUBLED!!! This is after an increased the year before. My priority is what has he done with all the money that has taken from Londoners? Second priority is when will he ACTUALLY take...
Show full commentOk. So thanks to the Mayor, the council tax doubled. DOUBLED!!! This is after an increased the year before. My priority is what has he done with all the money that has taken from Londoners? Second priority is when will he ACTUALLY take crime in London seriously? He created a team, the team includes a former head of a local authority who did NOTHING for crime in the borough. And I have seen one announcement from this team, that mentioned....youth clubs I think.....what a waste of time and money!!
Perhaps a focus on social issues that are forcing people into crime. Housing is a good example. Around the country, social housing has been forgotten. Not everyone wants to buy and not everyone is a student. Stop building anymore new housing and focus on social housing. Focus on building back communities - the very thing that has been ruined by said same former head of a local authority. Focus on having police on streets and in communities. Stop cycling on pavements,stop new cycle lanes, take out unsafe floating bus stops (please note I am a cyclist but some bits of infrastructure are so awful). And can we have local authorities that actually work!? If local government does not work then people suffer no matter what the Mayor or Central government does.
Show less of commentLyndyloo
Community Member 3 hours agoWhy can’t all bikes be legally required to have number plates? It would surely stop cyclists going through red lights, riding on pavements etc as they could be caught and heavily fined
Show full commentWhy can’t all bikes be legally required to have number plates? It would surely stop cyclists going through red lights, riding on pavements etc as they could be caught and heavily fined
Show less of commentposorio
Community Member 2 hours agoI totally agree, bycicles should be treated as any other means of transportation
Concerned1
Community Member 1 hour agoCaught by who? I've seen cyclists riding on pavements and going through red lights with police sat watching.
Show full commentCaught by who? I've seen cyclists riding on pavements and going through red lights with police sat watching.
Show less of commentFrustrated
Community Member 4 hours agoDO NOT PEDESTRIANISE OXFORD ST. As others have said this will kill the street off totally. There is a huge amount of evidence from other pedestrianised areas around the country that these areas die because of increasing crime and ASB. I...
Show full commentDO NOT PEDESTRIANISE OXFORD ST. As others have said this will kill the street off totally. There is a huge amount of evidence from other pedestrianised areas around the country that these areas die because of increasing crime and ASB. I regularly use the buses in Oxford st to move between shops. This will stop me going anywhere near them. The surrounding streets cannot cope with the increased congestion.
Sadly we know the Mayor is not listening and he thinks he knows best. Another politician ignoring the wishes of the residents. Even WCC does not want it.
TfL cycleways causing the usual congestion in my area, again the Mayor ignoring consultation that they were not wanted by the majority.
Show less of commentConcerned1
Community Member 58 minutes agoRight! I've noticed that the mayor has said nothing about the proliferation of "American sweet shops". Sadly, I don't bother to go this way partly because the Mayor has changed the buses in my area and so it's no longer a smooth and easy...
Show full commentRight! I've noticed that the mayor has said nothing about the proliferation of "American sweet shops". Sadly, I don't bother to go this way partly because the Mayor has changed the buses in my area and so it's no longer a smooth and easy journey. And there is nothing new but is the same tat you can get in other major shopping areas away from central .
Show less of commentstraycat
Community Member 5 hours agoThe local labour run councils should Stop destroying wildlife habitat for hundreds and thousands of homes over green belt countryside and farmland to accommodate nonces murderers terrorists and Rapists staying in hotels and HMOs. It's...
Show full commentThe local labour run councils should Stop destroying wildlife habitat for hundreds and thousands of homes over green belt countryside and farmland to accommodate nonces murderers terrorists and Rapists staying in hotels and HMOs. It's disgusting. Rough sleepers British people and British citizens should be first priority not These undocumented men adding to the population of the UK crime goes up within the area they live in it isn't safe for anybody anymore it's also putting a strain on the NHS GP surgeries and dentists and causing delays in the ambulance service khan and labour party don't care More votes for them from the third world
Show less of commentConcerned1
Community Member 54 minutes agoLast night I saw a police TV programme. The first person pulled for speeding on the motorway was not legal and the second person spoken to incorrect parking/no insurance was not legal either.
Show full commentLast night I saw a police TV programme. The first person pulled for speeding on the motorway was not legal and the second person spoken to incorrect parking/no insurance was not legal either.
Show less of commentTony Pattison
Community Member 11 hours agoIncrease the number of light rail extensions, whether DLR or London Tramlink. They are cheaper than heavy rail and are very good at getting people to switch from using cars. And they are always accessible, unlike buses that are not always...
Show full commentIncrease the number of light rail extensions, whether DLR or London Tramlink. They are cheaper than heavy rail and are very good at getting people to switch from using cars. And they are always accessible, unlike buses that are not always able to carry wheelchair users.
Show less of commentsupersonicbionic89
Community Member 11 hours agoExtend the Bakerloo Line, regenerate the Old Kent Road area. It's a very underdeveloped and it's in a great spot. I don't understand how it has been abandonded all those decades. Campaign to fund the extension.
Also, do something about...
Show full commentExtend the Bakerloo Line, regenerate the Old Kent Road area. It's a very underdeveloped and it's in a great spot. I don't understand how it has been abandonded all those decades. Campaign to fund the extension.
Also, do something about those using ebikes and wearing balaclava regardless of the weather. Help the young generation by providing opportunities for everyone and apprenticeships.
Pedestrianise Oxford Street during the weekends and give incentives to club owners to return to central London.
Show less of commentMabisabighorse
Community Member 12 hours agoReduce crime, freeze rents, open up the youth clubs again, get the rough-sleepers off the streets. Introduce a tourist tax to help pay for the above.
Lyndyloo
Community Member 13 hours agoDONT PEDESTRIANISE OXFORD STREET, I travel from Euston road/warren street to marble arch ever day. The buses are always so crowded that people get left behind HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO TRAVEL?? Lots are too old, disabled, shoppers with...
Show full commentDONT PEDESTRIANISE OXFORD STREET, I travel from Euston road/warren street to marble arch ever day. The buses are always so crowded that people get left behind HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO TRAVEL?? Lots are too old, disabled, shoppers with big bags etc etc for whom the tube is no suitable let alone having to change tubes
Show less of commentKeepCool
Community Member 13 hours agoAgreed, how are people going to walk from end to end. It is discriminatory to make it pedestrians only, when not everyone (disabled, or elderly) are able to walk that distance. It becomes a no go zone.
Show full commentAgreed, how are people going to walk from end to end. It is discriminatory to make it pedestrians only, when not everyone (disabled, or elderly) are able to walk that distance. It becomes a no go zone.
Show less of commentGenuine-Reside…
Community Member 13 hours agoThere’s a constant push to “just build more homes” in London, but that ignores one of the biggest drivers of demand... population growth fuelled by migration into the city. According to ONS and GLA data, net international migration into...
Show full commentThere’s a constant push to “just build more homes” in London, but that ignores one of the biggest drivers of demand... population growth fuelled by migration into the city. According to ONS and GLA data, net international migration into London has been adding well over 100,000 people a year in recent periods. At the same time, London has only been delivering around 28,000 new homes annually. It doesn’t take a mathematician to see the imbalance.
A large share of new arrivals enter directly into the private rented sector, which is already under immense pressure. Research from the LSE also shows that migrants initially rely more heavily on rental housing before their long-term housing patterns settle. This means that demand rises instantly, while supply takes years to catch up. By the time new homes are built, the population has already grown again! pushing the shortage right back to where it started.
London’s infrastructure is also stretched: transport, schools, social services, even basic GP availability. Every year of rapid population growth compounds these pressures. Building more homes without addressing the pace of migration is like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. You can keep adding more, but you’ll never stabilise the level.
None of this is about blaming individuals. It’s about recognising that policy has to match reality. If London wants sustainable housing, infrastructure that isn’t collapsing, and a market that people can actually afford to live in, then population growth has to be part of the conversation. Otherwise, we’ll keep treating symptoms while ignoring one of the core structural causes.
Show less of commentLyndyloo
Community Member 3 hours agoAbsolutely right
Zara1
Community Member 14 hours agoAll this petty crime and it seems nothing much happening about. Is there anything being done done? I don’t know . Wearing masks. We’re not in covid now. E-bikes are dangerous they are not being used properly.
Disabled bays are there for a...
Show full commentAll this petty crime and it seems nothing much happening about. Is there anything being done done? I don’t know . Wearing masks. We’re not in covid now. E-bikes are dangerous they are not being used properly.
Disabled bays are there for a purpose. But lots of people park in them without a blue badge. Yesterday 5 spaces in car park out side shops. Not one having blue badge. Driver got really annoyed when I pointed out. Why aren’t these people fined etc?
Show less of commentturaco
Community Member 14 hours agoThe trouble is pretty well all of the Mayor's priorities are indeed important. But in order of importance I would put crime, important though it is, after housing and transport.
Show full commentThe trouble is pretty well all of the Mayor's priorities are indeed important. But in order of importance I would put crime, important though it is, after housing and transport.
Show less of commentbuildmorehouses
Community Member 15 hours agoThe sheer volume of very central, low density council housing is ridiculous given the lack of housing. Anything 2 stories or less in zone 1 has got to be demolished and replaced by 6 stories minimum, with a mix of social and private housing...
Show full commentThe sheer volume of very central, low density council housing is ridiculous given the lack of housing. Anything 2 stories or less in zone 1 has got to be demolished and replaced by 6 stories minimum, with a mix of social and private housing. The social housing should prioritise key workers and be partially subsidised by the increased private housing in the development. We are missing millions of homes so to waste land on council owned low density housing in zone 1 is doing the people on the wait list for social housing a massive disservice.
Show less of commentcatandmouse
Community Member 15 hours agoI don't support illegal immigration for housing but for our British homeless like our veterans but I do think that that crime should be prioritised and get proper coppers on our streets that will actually do a real job and and not turn a...
Show full commentI don't support illegal immigration for housing but for our British homeless like our veterans but I do think that that crime should be prioritised and get proper coppers on our streets that will actually do a real job and and not turn a blind eye and investigate the crime that is going on and turning up and be respectful to victims and be honest for once which they are not and there will be a lot of people that don't trust the police they are useless criminals them selves
Show less of commentMarie Louise
Community Member 16 hours agoLondon is becoming increasingly unsafe to travel at night and when it gets dark in winter. There should be bobbies on the beat all over London especially where people gather for social activities to be a deterrent against violent behaviour...
Show full commentLondon is becoming increasingly unsafe to travel at night and when it gets dark in winter. There should be bobbies on the beat all over London especially where people gather for social activities to be a deterrent against violent behaviour by people in general.
Show less of commentspark6
Community Member 16 hours agoInvesting into youth and community will hopefully reduce crime, assisting social related aspects and homes should also lead to this. We must all be encouraged to come together as a community and everyone should give back where they can.
Merry-Citizen-3768
Community Member 16 hours agoThe Mayor's urgent priority must be crime, especially the everyday overt low level crime and antisocial behaviour. While there are many other important areas of focus, and I acknowledge that the Mayor has had extreme constraints on police...
Show full commentThe Mayor's urgent priority must be crime, especially the everyday overt low level crime and antisocial behaviour. While there are many other important areas of focus, and I acknowledge that the Mayor has had extreme constraints on police funding from central government over the last decade and more, it is now out of control.
It seems almost mandatory now to smoke or vape on London Overground and Underground trains and platforms. Dozens of people barge their way through the ticket barriers without paying every few minutes. Drug taking on the streets is everywhere: all day every day on the benches in our local children's playground. Every other driver appears to be texting while driving, and every other cyclist barrels through red lights, in both cases threatening the lives of other road users and pedestrians. Thefts, vandalism and burglaries are frequent, and of course aren't investigated. Being threatened with violence is part of everyday life in London, especially if you confront anyone for any of the above.
Sickening though it is to be forced to agree with the rabid right-wing press that love to paint London as a lawless den of crime, they are becoming increasingly hard to disagree with: not in terms of major crimes like murder or knife crime, but the low level abundant criminality that makes everyday life a misery. It is the reason why, after living here most of my life, I am researching the possibility of moving away.
Show less of commenttalk_london_us…
Community Member 17 hours agoI put Crime and Safety as the top priority. I don't think London has a worse situation with crime or safety than anywhere else. However, the complete lack of visible police officers on the beat (or on bicycles) was the single reason for...
Show full commentI put Crime and Safety as the top priority. I don't think London has a worse situation with crime or safety than anywhere else. However, the complete lack of visible police officers on the beat (or on bicycles) was the single reason for putting this item top. I put Clean air and pollution at the bottom of the priorities. This was mainly due to the fact that all six items are very important and one had to go last. As a supported of ULEZ and all them work done so far on clean air, I feel that this can be seen as a lower priority for the next year. I also worry that if we go too fast with EVs we may find that there are environmental issues we regret (battery recycling) and until charging is much quicker EVs won't be attractive for most people. Let's walk, cycle and use our great public transport system.
Show less of commentgoya12
Community Member 17 hours agoThe tourism tax on balance is a good idea. However it should apply to everyone who lives outside of London but travels into the city for work, culture or fun. So the tax should apply regardless of nationality or race. Itis possible to...
Show full commentThe tourism tax on balance is a good idea. However it should apply to everyone who lives outside of London but travels into the city for work, culture or fun. So the tax should apply regardless of nationality or race. Itis possible to learn about London and the UK by visiting one of the British Council centres overseas. For example, British Council centres are in Seoul, Prague, Calcutta (Kolkata) and other cities.
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