How your views on recovery from COVID-19 helped shape London’s Budget for 2021-22

Since March 2020, Londoners have been telling us about their immediate and longer-term priorities for our city and for recovery from the pandemic, including here on Talk London.

Your views helped inform the draft London Budget 2021-22, of which as much of the available funding this year was dedicated to London’s recovery from COVID-19.

City Hall has set out a missions-based approach to recover from the economic, social and health impact caused by the pandemic. This will bring together the public, private and voluntary sectors, and involves working with all Londoners to make it a success. You can find out more about the nine recovery missions in our new hub.

Throughout January, we asked for your views on the Mayor’s spending plans for the year ahead, as part of the annual London Budget Consultation. A big thank you to everyone who read and forwarded our emails and commented on our discussion. We received 219 comments, from members aged 17 and 80 and from all of London’s boroughs.

Here’s what you told us: 

The environment
The most commented upon topic was the environment. Overall, you are aware that we are facing a climate emergency and that some aspects of city life must change. A majority of you support the budget’s emphasis on the environment and developing the green economy. However, this general understanding of what needs to be done to benefit the planet is often in conflict with individual needs and wants – primarily, car use. As last year, air pollution is still a major issue that needs to be addressed.  

What’s in the final budget:
Transport for London’s (TfL) will continue to support the congestion reduction and active travel measures, such as walking and cycling. In addition, from the Mayor’s own budget (referred to as the GLA:Mayor budget)  funding will be provided within the ‘Green New Deal’ recovery mission. This will enable City Hall to support local projects promoting green infrastructure, climate resilience and healthy streets. There will also be funding to deliver the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in October 2021 and other key policies to monitor and reduce air pollution. 

Our economy
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on our city’s economy, and you support monitoring public expenditure and moves to overcome unemployment. However, how this is done was debated: some of you support a return to London’s economy ‘how it was’, including investment in the construction industry (especially whilst we are still in the process of recovery), whereas others believe we should be using this opportunity to move towards a Green economy. You’re keen to see investments in high streets, as the pandemic showed the importance of your local area. You feel it is crucial, however, that investment is aimed at those high streets most in need – including in outer boroughs. 

What’s in the final budget:
In order to deal with rising levels of unemployment, there is significant funding (£211m) allocated to the ‘Helping Londoners into Good Work’ mission for skills development and access to jobs, including almost £203 million through the Adult Education Budget. And to help deliver exiting new uses for high streets in every London Borough, there is an allocation of £7.1m. 

Inequalities
Inequality and poverty have increased since COVID-19 and you agree this needs to be a key focus in London’s recovery. Whilst you were positive about ‘A New Deal for Young People’, and ‘Building Strong Communities’, there are unanswered questions as to how these missions will be practically implemented: how will the City Hall ensure the most vulnerable do not slip through the gaps? 

What’s in the budget:
London’s recovery programme, around which the budget is structured, recognises the importance of reversing poverty and the disparate impacts of the pandemic on different communities. This will be most directly addressed through the missions on ‘Building Stronger Communities’ (£93.8m) and ‘Robust Safety Net’ (£17.4m).   

What’s next?
The overall GLA Group budget was approved by the Mayor and the London Assembly on 25 February. In the coming weeks, the individual bodies which together comprise the GLA Group will publish more detail information on their final budget plans for the financial year beginning in April 2021. 

Your involvement in London’s recovery isn’t over and will remain a big focus on Talk London this year. Have a look at our new hub on the recovery missions for all the latest updates and developments from the mission teams, as well as ways to get involved. 

Thanks again for taking part!