Hard- pressed Londoners will benefit from safer streets, investment in transport infrastructure and more affordable housing in the capital next year, along with a cut in the Mayor of London’s share of the council tax, in budget proposals outlined today.
The Mayor has published his draft 2014 budget for consultation, which will protect Londoners from tax increases, whilst maintaining public services and continuing to invest in the future. It also shows that the Mayor is on course to deliver his manifesto commitment of a 10 per cent reduction in council tax over the life of his second administration.
For the third consecutive year, Londoners will benefit from a cut in their council tax. Since elected, Boris Johnson has overseen a reduction in his portion of the council tax equivalent to 24 per cent in real terms. Under the previous administration there were eight years of continued increases in the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept totalling 152 per cent.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘The main priorities for my budget this year is to ensure that every penny the GLA spends delivers value for money; and to promote jobs and growth across the city. Obviously I have had to make tough, but necessary decisions, but at the same time I am committed that we continue to protect frontline services and to invest in key infrastructure projects.
’I am determined to cut the cost of living for hardworking Londoners and, by rigorously pursuing efficiency savings, I have been able to make a modest cut to my share of the council tax, whilst also holding down fares.’
Under the Mayor’s plans, next year the GLA precept will be reduced by 1.3 percent.
The key deliverables of the Mayor’s budget are as follows: - Deliver the Mayor’s property pledge, including 45,000 low cost homes - Maintain police numbers at around 32,000 - Reduce Tube delays by 30 per cent by 2015 compared with 2011 - Deliver the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea
The Mayor’s budget will help to provide an additional 2,600 police officers for the frontline by 2016 and will seek to deliver swifter justice for victims of crime by reducing delays in the criminal justice system. It will also ensure that Transport for London continue to bear down on costs, whilst maintaining neo-Victorian levels of investment in transport infrastructure including Crossrail and the Tube upgrades and keeping fares down as much as is possible. The Mayor has secured a fares package for London that will see them frozen in real terms in 2014, on average fares will rise by less than the Retail Price index (RPI) - 2.7 per cent. In addition by March 2015, the Mayor plans to make a further £325 million savings across the GLA Group.
Notes to editors
1. The Mayor’s 2014/15 draft Council Tax requirement is £768m. Under the proposal the total GLA precept will be reduced from £303.00 to £299.00 a year (Band D household).
2. The Mayor’s proposed council tax precept draft budget comprises of £562m to support the Metropolitan Police service, £128m for the London Fire Brigade, £61m for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and £17m for transport and other services.
3. The Mayor’s draft budget consists of – Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime, Transport for London, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, the Olympic Park Legacy Company and core Greater London Authority. The total revenue budget expenditure is £11 billion.
4. The consultation document, which outlines the Mayor’s proposals, will be sent to all 32 London Borough Councils, the Corporation of London and key stakeholders in the business and voluntary sectors representing London’s wide range of interests.
5. The document is available on the Greater London Authority website, www.london.gov.uk, enabling members of the public to make their comments. The direct link to the consultation budget is https://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/gla/spending-money-wisely/budget-expenditure-charges/the-mayors-budget-for-2014-15. The consultation period ends on 15th January 2014.