Coming up next week at the London Assembly
PUBLICATIONS
Thursday 4 June
Heat networks
Environment Committee
The Environment Committee will publish its report - Zoning: The Heat Networks Puzzle – with recommendations for stronger price protections for heat network customers in London.
MEDIA CONTACT: Daniel Zikmund on 07860 647 577 / [email protected]
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Monday 1 June
Funding of Met officer numbers
Budget and Performance Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm
The Budget and Performance Committee will speak to the Met on how its increased funding has been allocated, why officer and PCSO numbers have fallen in recent years, and what the Met’s plans are for delivering safety outcomes for Londoners within its current budget.
The Committee will then hear from external experts on how effectively the Met is allocating its resources.
The guests are:
Panel 1 – Mayor / Met Police:
- Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- Adrian Wright, Interim Chief Finance Officer, Metropolitan Police Service
- Amana Humayun, Chief Finance Officer, MOPAC
Panel 2 – External Experts:
- Blair Gibbs, Director, Police Foundation
- Ian Wiggett, Associate Director, World Policing Advisory
- Professor Tom Kirchmaler, Director of the Policing and Crime research group at London School of Economics
MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected]
Tuesday 2 June
Oxford Street pedestrianisation
Economy, Culture and Skills Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
In September 2024, the Mayor announced plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street, with it estimated that the initial capital programme for Phase One of the project (from Orchard Street to Great Portland Street) between 2025–26 and 2030–31 will cost £144 million.
The Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet to begin an investigation into the economy of Oxford Street and surrounding area, with a focus on the impact of the proposed pedestrianisation plans.
The guests are:
Panel 1 (10:00am – 11:10am):
- Mark Williams, Heart of London Business Alliance
- Tim Lord, Westminster Amenity Societies Forum
- Marcos Gold, Director of Policy and Place, Fitzrovia Partnership
- Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, Marble Arch Business Improvement District
Panel 2 (11:20am – 1:00pm):
- Kate Nicholls, Chair, UKHospitality
- Daniel Reast, Senior Researcher, Centre for London
- Dee Corsi, CEO, New West End Company
- Katie Mulkowsky, PhD student and Director of Research and Urban Health at Future Places Studio
MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected]
Wednesday 3 June
Grooming gangs
Police and Crime Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
The Met has said it is reviewing 9,000 historic cases of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse from the last 15 years, where the outcome was no further action by police or the Crown Prosecution Service.
The Police and Crime Committee will hear from investigative journalists who have written articles on grooming gangs in London and have spoken to victim-survivors, charities, solicitors and police officers.
The guests are:
- Sima Kotecha, Senior U.K. Correspondent, BBC
- Zak Garner-Purkis, Investigations editor, Express
- Rachael Burford, Political reporter, Standard
- Charlie Peters, Reporter and presenter, GB News
MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251727 / [email protected]
Wednesday 3 June
Access to green space
Environment Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm
A new 500-hectare West London Regional Park, announced earlier this year, aims to connect a number of existing green spaces into a larger ‘regional’ park, and includes plans for a new walking trail. 585,000 people live within a 30-minute walk of the park.
The Environment Committee will meet to examine how access to green space can be improved across the capital, with a focus on the role of larger “regional parks” in connecting people and nature.
The guests are:
Panel one:
- Abby Crisostomo, Head of Green Infrastructure, Greater London Authority
- Darren Share MBE, Director of Parks, Royal Parks Trust
- Graham Horton, Deputy Director, Thames Solent Area Team, Natural England
- Sam Parry, Chief Programme Officer - Regional Park, Ealing Council
- Paul Roper, Head of Projects, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Panel two:
- Alexandra Goodship, Head of Transport Policy – Active Travel & Public Transport, Transport for London
- Kate Conto, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Ramblers
- Hana Sutch, Founder, Go Jauntly walking App
MEDIA CONTACT: Daniel Zikmund on 07860 647 577 / [email protected]
Thursday 4 June
Plenary – London’s culture
All Assembly – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
The London Assembly will hold a Q&A session with guests, discussing London's cultural offering.
Following the morning Q&A, Members will debate a number of motions.
The guests are:
- Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries
- Shonagh Manson, Assistant Director of Culture and Creative Industries, Greater London Authority
- Other guests TBC
MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]
Notes to editors
For more details, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251 727. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.