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Mayor’s budget fails on key London priorities, says Assembly
Mayor’s budget fails on key London priorities, says Assembly.
The London Assembly has called on Mayor Boris Johnson to revise his £14.6 billion spending plans for 2012/13.
A motion passed at a meeting of the full Assembly today[1] accused the Mayor of proposing a budget which fails to address key London priorities including policing, affordable public transport, jobs, housing and environmental problems.
John Biggs AM, who proposed the motion, said;
"The Mayor has failed to set out a credible vision to steer London to a fair and prosperous future at a time when many Londoners are under severe financial pressure.
Darren Johnson AM, who seconded the motion, said:
“The Mayor’s budget delivers unaffordable fares, environmental inaction and puts public safety at risk. We want to see his budget focus on the real priorities of Londoners, clean air, safer neighbourhoods and reasonably priced transport.”
The full text of the motion agreed at today’s meeting reads as follows:
“This Assembly believes that the Mayor has failed in his draft budget for 2012/13 to respond to Londoners’ concerns to protect frontline policing, failed to deliver sustained investment to tackle London’s deep-seated environmental problems, failed to keep London’s public transport affordable, and failed to do enough to address London's jobs and housing shortages.
The Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor to bring back a revised budget that:
• Puts more money and police numbers into borough and safer neighbourhood policing and saves money in setting up the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime;
• Provides a higher level of continuous sustained investment for measures to address London’s environmental challenges, including air pollution and energy efficiency and be clear about where funding is coming from to meet the Mayor's stated targets;
• Reduces the impact of his fares package; and
• Sets out how the new combined housing and regeneration function at City Hall will effectively tackle rising unemployment and continued housing shortages.”
Notes for editors:
1. The motion was agreed by 13 votes for to 11 against at a meeting of the full Assembly today. Watch the webcast.
2. Today’s meeting did not amend the Mayor’s draft budget for 2012/13. The final budget will be presented to the Assembly for approval at its meeting on 9 February when it may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members voting.
3. Full agenda papers for the meeting, including the Mayor’s draft GLA budget 2012/12
4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Mark Demery in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 5769/4283. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000
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