Boris Johnson now needs to deliver on his promises - Tuffrey

2.20.00pm GMT Wed 11th Feb 2009

Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group leader, commenting on the passing of Boris Johnson's first budget said:

"The Mayor is right to be freezing his council tax bill this year. But in the year ahead he needs to give Londoners a clearer sense of how he plans to invest in vital public services, achieve value for money and leave London a safer, more healthy and prosperous city at the end of his term of office.

Commenting on the Mayor's response to the Liberal Democrat budget amendment Mike Tuffrey said:

"I welcome the Mayor's statement today that he is interested in a number of the proposals we put forward, such as the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street. I especially welcome his interest in taking additional measures to tackle London's appalling air quality which each year leads to the premature death of over 1,000 Londoners.

"The real test is whether the Mayor now delivers on his promises and in particular reverses his decision to scrap the third phase of the Low Emission Zone."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Liberal Democrat Motion on Mayor's Final Consolidated Budget 2009-10

This Assembly notes that the Mayor's final budget is unamended compared to the draft, other than putting £2.2m in additional new resources identified into reserves. The Assembly regrets the Mayor's failure to take on board the proposals submitted by the Liberal Democrat Group, missing the opportunity of using the additional resources either to adopt the constructive ideas proposed or to lessen the Council Tax burden on Londoners.

Accordingly we resubmit our budget proposals that aim to use resources wisely and focus spending on carefully chosen areas that improve the lives of Londoners.

Community safety:

A plan to roll out a youth worker for every Safer Neighbourhood Team, to work with those at most risk and so preventing youth crime at source, at an initial cost of £4.1m, to be funded within existing MPS budgets from resources identified through a rigorous zero-base budgeting exercise

Transport:

A package of measures to keep London moving, promote good value fares and enhance the environment, including:

· a one hour bus ticket and online fares calculator so Londoners can identify best value fares;

· further investment in walking and cycling, including completion of the London Cycle Network Plus, providing cycle maintenance points and a London walking map;

· a study to explore the feasibility of turning Oxford Street into a pedestrian precinct and produce some preliminary designs;

· fulfill the promise of more orbital express bus routes, beginning with the "Fastbus" in Brent and Ealing;

· move ahead with the East London Line phase 2 extension;

· maintain work in preparation for the Cross River Tram;

· improve the service to vulnerable Londoners through an independent audit of Dial-a-Ride;

· a feasibility study into an inner London Low Emission Zone, to increase health, save lives and improve air quality;

at a total cost of £40.9m , to be funded within Transport for London budgets from tackling fare evasion (£25m), reviewing the provision of free travel for TfL staff nominees (£10m), reduced bonus packages (£2.9m) and reductions in marketing budgets (£3m)

London Development Agency:

· Support to voluntary sector organisations offering financial advice to Londoners coping with the credit crunch;

Over…

· Targeted projects to provide training and skills for school leavers and job seekers through the LDA, including environmental industries, to be funded from within existing LDA budgets by reassigning priorities.

Value for money and better services for Londoners

· the Mayor to apply the drive for value for money to his own promotion budgets by reducing the amount spent on holding and publicising the planned additional public meetings;

· align the spending on housing, skills and recycling over which the Mayor has influence to core GLAS objectives, including a programme to reduce energy costs in social housing by investing in higher environmental standards.

Proposed: Mike Tuffrey

Seconded: Caroline Pidgeon