Andrew Dismore

future role of SNBs and ward panels

Question No: 2016/4876

Andrew Dismore

How do you see the future role of SNBs and ward panels?

Written response from the Mayor

In my draft Police and Crime Plan, I recognise and value the contribution of community members to local policing and to helping to ensure that Londoners can have confidence that the MPS is responding to community needs.  I make clear that MOPAC will continue to support Safer Neighbourhood Boards.

 

Ward Panels will remain an important part of local policing.  The increase in dedicated ward officers (DWOs) and the commitment to PCSOs means an effective ward panel will continue to be a valuable asset that enables the police to listen and respond to community concerns.

 

In line with my commitment to real neighbourhood policing I expect to see Neighbourhood Police Teams continue their efforts to make all ward panels as representative as possible by getting to know their communities and using social media to engage those not represented at ward panels; the introduction of the MPS ‘Digital Neighbourhoods’ website in spring 2017 will assist these efforts.

Diving in Barnet

Question No: 2017/0208

Andrew Dismore

At its last Council meeting, Barnet Council suggested that instead of them funding the community demand for a diving pool at the to be refurbished Copthall centre, you should pay for it, or make a contribution  towards it, as Mayor. Have you had such an approach from the Council; do you have powers to meet such a payment; and what is your opinion of their approach?

Written response from the Mayor

Barnet Council is responsible for the decision it has taken regarding diving at the Copthall Centre and must be accountable for that decision. I do not have funding to build a new diving facility in Barnet and it would have been advisable for the Council to have checked that before taking its decision , otherwise there is a danger of raising false hope among local people.

 

However, I am happy to see what can be done to support diving in the area and have agreed that staff from the GLA Sport Team meet the Council and Sport England to see what steps can be taken with this in mind.

 

 

Security of London’s electricity supply

Question No: 2017/0209

Andrew Dismore

A report called Electric Shock: Will The Christmas Lights Go Out Next Winter? has been published by the British Infrastructure Group (BIG) of MPs , which states that the UK could be facing nationwide blackouts next winter unless radical changes are made to the UK’s electricity network. They say, prices have been allowed to shoot upwards and capacity margins slashed, which are now “so tight that National Grid’s emergency power deals have become the norm”. Are you satisfied about the security of London’s electricity supply?

Written response from the Mayor

It is important to me that that London’s electricity supplies remain secure. Recent reviews of power station generating capacity for winter 2017/18 forecast a historically low generation margin. National Grid is expected to call upon Supplemental Balancing Reserve, a service where generators are kept on standby outside the market, and demand side measures to secure the necessary electricity supplies. This situation is not expected to reoccur in future winters as new power generation capacity is being built as a result of National Grid’s Capacity Market incentive. I have asked my officers to closely monitor the situation.

 

 

 

 

Restaurant chains and rates rise and Brexit

Question No: 2017/0210

Andrew Dismore

In a letter to the Evening Standard, chief executives of London’s most popular restaurant chains have demanded that the Prime Minister ease the burdens caused by rising business rates, taxes and the weak pound. They say London’s restaurant chains are being squeezed as never before and need some respite, particularly from the huge hike in business rates.  Will you support them in their call for help?

Written response from the Mayor

I appreciate the challenges posed by business rates, taxes and the weak pound on restaurant chains as well as other businesses in London. As a result of the 2017 revaluation business rates bills in London will increase by around £1 billion or 11% – the only English region seeing an increase.

I, alongside other arms of London Government and London business, campaigned to get the Government to improve the transitional relief scheme offered to business ratepayers and was successful in achieving this: the cap on bill increases for large ratepayers went from 45% to 42% in 2017-18 with a bigger reduction on the cap in 2018-19 from 50% to 32%. These changes – albeit limited – will save London businesses around £75 million over the next two years.

 

My efforts have reduced the burden on London business that could have materialised; however, the Government’s transitional relief scheme which caps maximum increases in actual bills next year at 42% and 130% over the next 3 years for larger ratepayers is still very unfair and aggressive.

 

In order to ensure this is never repeated again we need full devolution of the administration of business rates to London including local control of revaluations and a separate London arm of the Valuation Office. Such devolved arrangements already operate successfully in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

I reconvened the independent London Finance Commission last year to assess the tax powers London needs to support economic growth across the capital and to call on Government to devolve the powers to London that are needed to bring an end to events like this huge increase on London ratepayer’s bills. The Commission will report later this month.

 

 

 

Scotland, London and Brexit

Question No: 2017/0211

Andrew Dismore

The Scottish Government has published a “Scotland’s Place in Europe” document, the fundamental ask of which is for Scotland to remain a full member of the European single market and the customs union.  Will you consider publishing a similar document for London?

Written response from the Mayor

I have been clear that in the aftermath of Brexit, it is crucial that London retains privileged access to the single market and that London businesses can still access the skilled workforce they need to grow.

 

I am engaged in monthly meetings with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, in which I am ensuring the Government fully understands the needs of London’s economy in the lead up to and eventual exit from the EU.

 

This is a positive and useful suggestion that I will discuss further with officers.

 

 

 

Your expert panel on best Brexit deal for capital

Question No: 2017/0212

Andrew Dismore

It is welcome that you have appointed a number of senior business and other figures to advise you on Brexit. Will you be publishing a record of their advice to you as negotiations progress?

Written response from the Mayor

I have convened the Brexit Advisory panel as a virtual, on call resource to provide insight into the economic sectors and areas of policy for which they are well positioned to give advice. The group’s private counsel will be treated the same as the representations I have received from businesses leaders since my election and will not be published.

 

 

 

Apprenticeships

Question No: 2017/0213

Andrew Dismore

According to a survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over a third of businesses in London are put off by the cost of apprenticeships. What can be done about this?

Written response from the Mayor

My Skills for Londoners task force will have the responsibility for setting the strategic direction for future GLA apprenticeship interventions including deciding the approach for tackling the difficult challenge of encouraging smaller, non-levy paying employers to recruit apprentices.

 

I continue to lobby central government for the unspent levy raised by London’s employers to be ring-fenced for the benefit of London.  Furthermore, I am asking for a proportion of this funding to be devolved to London government to be used for wider apprenticeship creation / promotion interventions.

 

 

 

HS2

Question No: 2017/0214

Andrew Dismore

Do you think it was appropriate for HS2 to engage in large scale noisy demolition work in Euston on Christmas Day?

Written response from the Mayor

I understand that when major projects such as HS2 need to undertake works that affect existing transport infrastructure, these works are generally planned to take place in periods when fewer or no people are travelling such as on Christmas Day. However, HS2 need to take very seriously their responsibility to minimise the impact of their works on local residents and businesses and in circumstances where large-scale and noisy works are unavoidable, HS2 must offer suitable and appropriate mitigation measures to all those affected.

 

 

 

Impact of HS2 on Euston

Question No: 2017/0215

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4854:

Further to Question No: 2016/4380:

In August you wrote a very welcome letter to the Secretary of State for Transport about the impact of HS2 on Euston setting out your concerns on behalf of residents after you met with local representatives. Details of this appeared in the Evening Standard last month. Have you received a reply yet; and if so, will you publish it; and if not what are you doing to press for a reply?

Your response being:

The Secretary of State responded to my letter on 10 October, stating that he shares my desire to maximise the opportunity HS2 presents locally and wants to see a comprehensive redevelopment of Euston.

His response also recognises that it is critical to mitigate the impacts of construction on people living and working around the Euston area. Whilst the SoS’s response provides some reassurance, I will continue to push for a better outcome at Euston to reduce the impacts of HS2 and protect peoples quality of life and livelihoods.

Will you now publish the Secretary of State’s letter of 10th October?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill [1]

Question No: 2017/0216

Andrew Dismore

The House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill has recommended improved compensation arrangements, in recognition that Camden is a special case:

“We make a strong recommendation, therefore, that those households in Camden, and any in Hillingdon and Birmingham, that are so threatened by construction noise as to be entitled to noise insulation, should be treated in the same way as if they were within 120m of the line of route in an area where the Rural Support Zone (RSZ) applies.” ([215]).

In particular that

(i) Owner-occupiers should be entitled to participate in the Voluntary Purchase Scheme. This is the right to require the government to acquire the property at the unblighted price.

(ii) Owner-occupiers should also benefit from the Cash Option. This is 10% of the unblighted value with a minimum of £30k and a maximum of £100k. The SC considers that this would be the preferred option. The SC does not recommend that the cash limits should be raised because of high unblighted market values in parts of Camden. Thus the same option would apply to Park Village East as to right-to-buy owners on the Regent’s Park Estate and the Ampthill Square Estate.

(iii) Residential tenants who do not qualify as owner-occupiers should be entitled to a “lump sum of £10k”.

Will you lobby the Government on behalf of Camden and Hillingdon residents to ensure that these recommendations are accepted?

Written response from the Mayor

I have asked my officials at the GLA to follow this up with the Department for Transport with a view to making sure that the recommendations from the House of Lords Select Committee are adopted in the HS2 Bill.

 

 

 

House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill [2]

Question No: 2017/0217

Andrew Dismore

The House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill has said:

“We agree with these petitioners as to their main aspiration” (i.e. the comprehensive development of the station). “The new station, which will eventually emerge after so much expenditure of public funds and so much misery endured by Camden residents, ought to be a world-classrailway station, and the splitting of its design into two different operations seems unlikely to assist in the achievement of that objective. We earnestly urge the Secretary of State to ensure that funding is provided for the second planning stage to proceed as soon as possible. But although HS2 Ltd and Network Rail are both in the public sector, they have different managements, different business plans, and different budgetary restraints. We do not feel able to direct, rather than to exhort…”

Will you lobby the Government to ensure that these proposals are accepted?

Written response from the Mayor

My position regarding the need for an integrated and comprehensive world-class railway station at Euston, which includes provision for Crossrail 2, is unchanged. I will continue to make this point to Government at every available opportunity.

 

 

House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill [3]

Question No: 2017/0218

Andrew Dismore

The House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill recommended removing clause 48(1)-(3) from the HS2 Bill, which would give HS2 Ltd unnecessary powers to compulsory purchase land for regeneration purposes. Camden Council petitioned on this route-wide issue on behalf of 10 other local authorities, and this will also benefit local authorities in Phase 2 of the scheme, announced last month.

Will you lobby the Government to ensure that this recommendation is accepted?

Written response from the Mayor

I recognise that the HS2 project has the potential to have a transformational impact on the areas in and around Euston. However, this transformation must take place in the context of both the London and Euston Area Plans. I have asked my officials at the GLA to follow up this particular point with the Department for Transport.

 

 

House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill and CS11

Question No: 2017/0219

Andrew Dismore

As the House of Lords Select Committee on the HS2 Bill has raised no objection to HS2’s plan to base their lorry park in the Regents Park outer circle it can now be assumed that this will go ahead. In the circumstances, will you ask TfL to review their proposals for CS11 and the implications of the fact that hundreds of HS2 lorries daily are likely to be using Finchley Road and the routes into and through the park roads?

Written response from the Mayor

As announced before Christmas, subject to formal processes and approvals, TfL aims to start construction of CS11 at Swiss Cottage this autumn.

 

However, TfL will do further work on the proposals for Regent’s Park before deciding a way forward for this section of the route. The information shared by HS2 with TfL so far is neither finalised, nor sufficiently detailed to be used by TfL in traffic modelling or design work for CS11.

 

I am aware of the amount of concern among residents about the impacts of the construction of HS2. HS2 will be expected to adhere with the roadworks permitting and approval procedures TfL has in place to manage complex works affecting London’s roads. TfL’s role is to make sure these works are managed as effectively as possible to minimise disruption. TfL will work closely with HS2 and to ensure that the schemes are managed to reduce disruption.

 

 

Step free programme for tube stations

Question No: 2017/0220

Andrew Dismore

You recently announced an expansion of the step free programme for tube stations. Are Mill Hill East and West Hampstead Jubilee line under consideration for this programme?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to 2017/0004. Mill Hill East and West Hampstead Tube stations will be considered as part of this review.

 

 

 

Mill Hill Circus

Question No: 2017/0221

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made with the scheme to improve Mill Hill Circus?

Written response from the Mayor

TfL is progressing with acquiring the land required for planned improvements at Mill Hill Circus. The London Borough of Barnet has formally registered the land under its ownership with the Land Registry and will transfer the land to TfL before public consultation on the planned changes takes place, due during the first half of this year.

 

 

USA Embassy and the congestion charge

Question No: 2017/0222

Andrew Dismore

The USA embassy has consistently refused to pay its congestion charge bill. What is the total now due; and as there is a new President in the USA will you take the opportunity to raise this matter with him, and send him the bill?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

Archway buses

Question No: 2017/0223

Andrew Dismore

Archway is an important transport hub for residents of Barnet and Camden and other neighbouring boroughs who will have to put up with worse traffic and poorer bus connectivity if TfL’s scheme goes ahead. Of the large total of 818 responses, a massive 75% were against TfL’s scheme. Yet TfL are ignoring residents’ and commuters’ objections. What was the point in consulting when TfL are not prepared to listen to an answer they didn’t want to hear; and will you now review the scheme in light of the overwhelming opposition to it?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

Archway Gyratory [1]

Question No: 2017/0224

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4889

Do you agree that a good definition of Consultation might be:

“let people know what they are proposing and why, give them a chance to comment, and conscientiously take into account their responses with an open mind before deciding whether or not to do what was proposed.”

That being the case, what was the point of the public consultation on the proposals for the Archway Gyratory scheme, if TfL have decided to ignore what the public say? Of the 818 respondents, 75% disagreed with the proposal. How is this “conscientiously taking into account responses with an open mind before deciding whether or not to do what was proposed”?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

Archway Gyratory [2]

Question No: 2017/0225

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4890

TfL’s proposals for the Archway Gyratory include the removal of bus stops D and E. These stops together are an important interchange for passengers travelling in from Central London to outer London. To separate them will lead to more buses being missed and more pedestrian movement. Given that this scheme is opposed by 75% of consultation respondents, will you do the sensible thing and abandon this plan?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my answer to MQ 2016/4570 and 4890.

 

 

 

High salaries at TfL

Question No: 2017/0226

Andrew Dismore

How many people are employed by TfL at a salary of over £100,000?

Written response from the Mayor

As part of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) commitment to transparency, it publishes information on staff remuneration in its annual report:

 

http://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-annual-report-2015-16.pdf

TfL competes with the private and public sector for highly-skilled and experienced people across a range of disciplines including engineering, technology and property development, and the pay of its senior team is significantly lower than in comparable organisations.

However, at my request, TfL is carrying out a comprehensive review of its organisation, which is considering reducing management layers, merging functions, such as engineering, to eliminate duplication, and reducing reliance on agency staff. A number of senior managers have already left TfL, saving £40m over the next five years.

 

As of 11 January, there are 170 employees who have a full time equivalent salary of £100,000 or above. This represents a 14 per cent reduction from April last year, when there were 198 employees who had a full time equivalent salary of £100,000 or above.

 

I now personally sign off any new appointments over £100,000 per annum, to ensure that salaries of this magnitude represent good value for public money.

 

 

 

track maintenance north of East Finchley station

Question No: 2017/0227

Andrew Dismore

Since March of 2016 residents have suffered from a noise problem arising from overnight track maintenance just north of East Finchley station. They have suffered an unprecedented 13 nights broken sleep due to hammering and drilling on this track generally starting at 2 a.m. and lasting till 4 a.m. The work seems to concentrate on the central track – this is neither the northbound nor the southbound track, but a rarely-used track used to turn the trains around. TFL has made no attempt to give residents notice of this work or tell them when it is scheduled to be completed. One resident emailed TFL’s Freedom of Information office (foi@tfl.gov.uk) on 15th November to try to find out when the work is due to finish, but they have not bothered to reply. Will you look into the issue and give a proper reply as to what has been going on, when this will stop and ensure fair warning is given to residents?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

Buses on Oxford Street

Question No: 2017/0228

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4844

If the Elizabeth Line, when open, is being used as an excuse to cut bus routes that use Oxford St, will bus passengers be able to travel on the Elizabeth Line for free for the length of Oxford St, to pick up another bus at the other end of Oxford Street?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4844.

 

 

CS11 [1]

Question No: 2017/0229

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4855

Further to Question No: 2016/4391

TfL have had no stakeholder meetings in Camden Town concerning CS11 even though the proposals have an impact there as well as in Swiss Cottage, as there is an issue about diversionary traffic heading onto residential streets to the east of Regents Park when Albany Street and Prince Albert Road become the main alternative route to the outer circle for traffic in peak hours (because of the shutting of gates into the park for CS11). These two roads are also affected by HS2 major utility works and are the primary HGV routes for their lorry holding area in the zoo car park, which will then journey to the main site compound and work sites on Hampstead Road, bringing under present plans one HGV every three minutes for ten hours a day on Albany Street for several years.  Will you now arrange for a stakeholder consultation meeting in Camden Town over CS11 as soon as possible?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply as this has now been outstanding for some time?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQs 2016/ 4391 and 4855.

 

 

CS11 [2]

Question No: 2017/0230

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4856

I am informed in the context of CS11, TfL does not count individual petition signatories in the overall figures of supporters or opponents of a scheme as part of its consultation because TfL say they ‘need to be certain that all respondents have had the opportunity to read and understand the detail of TfL’s consultation documents, which can be difficult to verify in the case of petition signatories.’ How do TfL ‘make themselves certain’ of this in respect of other responses?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4856.

 

 

children being issued with penalty fares

Question No: 2017/0231

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4858

Do you share the concern at the number of children being issued with penalty fares by TfL inspectors because they have forgotten their Oyster ZIP cards on bus journeys to and from school? Of course, inspectors have an important job to do ensuring that fare evasion is tackled as the costs of such evasion are borne by those who do pay, but for a child on their way to or from school within the Oyster ZIP card bus area there cannot be any question of a revenue loss to TfL given that the Oyster ZIP card provides for free bus travel and a child in school uniform is clearly resident in the London area and is prima facie entitled to such free travel.  Nevertheless, given that children cannot be expected to have the same responsibility as adults and do not have the same financial resources do you agree that it appears draconian for TfL to levy the same penalties on children for not having a valid Oyster card with them as it does for adults?  Is this not  especially so given that there is now no mechanism by which children can pay by other means if they suddenly find they have lost their Oyster ZIP card ,whereas a high proportion of adults will have a cashless payment card they can use which  cannot be assumed for children?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4858.

 

 

Key worker housing [1]

Question No: 2017/0232

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made with identifying GLA family property for use as emergency service key worker housing?

Written response from the Mayor

Discussions are ongoing within the GLA family to identify land and assets that may be used to support my objectives on housing.

 

 

 

Key worker housing [2]

Question No: 2017/0233

Andrew Dismore

What progress is being made with plans to use the former Clerkenwell Fire Station building and the empty cottages behind West Hampstead Fire Station as emergency service key worker housing?

Written response from the Mayor

The disposal process for these sites was suspended in the summer of 2016 so that LFEPA could take the opportunity to do some detailed work with City Hall and others in the GLA Group on how they might contribute to my housing agenda.

 

This work is ongoing with the expectation that the outcome is the subject of a future LFEPA report.

 

 

 

Gallantry awards [1]

Question No: 2017/0234

Andrew Dismore

Over the last 5 years, how many London firefighters have a) been recommended for and b) awarded national gallantry awards or honours in recognition of particular acts of bravery?

Written response from the Mayor

Over the last five years, 11 London firefighters have been recommended for national gallantry awards or honours in recognition of particular acts of bravery and three have been awarded them.

 

These awards arrange from CPR lifesaving actions, to firefighter of the year.

 

Internally approximately 400 LFB staff have been awarded commendations for a range of operationally related activities.

 

 

 

Gallantry awards [2]

Question No: 2017/0235

Andrew Dismore

Over the last 5 years, how many London police officers have a) been recommended for and b) awarded national gallantry awards or honours in recognition of particular acts of bravery?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

College of Policing proposals

Question No: 2017/0236

Andrew Dismore

What is your opinion of the College of Policing proposals that all new police officers in England and Wales will have to be educated to degree level from next year?

Written response from the Mayor

It is the role of the College of Policing (CoP) to set the professional standards for police officers in England and Wales.

 

The nature of policing has changed significantly over the years and forces must continue to modernise. Policing is currently highly unusual in that there is no standard level of education and nor are there any externally recognised qualifications for the skills that officers develop.

 

Police officers perform a vital and challenging role and it is right that they are properly trained and have the opportunity to have that training formally recognised through accreditation.

 

 

 

‘One Met’ model

Question No: 2017/0237

Andrew Dismore

Where boroughs have merged commands, will each borough be able to set its own priorities, which may be different from those of other boroughs in the merged command?

Written response from the Mayor

Yes. The priorities will be set at the borough level, not by merged command level. This is key to my priority of restoring real neighbourhood policing.

 

It also responds to requests from boroughs and other partners to deliver performance measures that bring together local solutions to local problems whilst ensuring focus on high harm issues that affect all of London at a pan-London level.

 

 

 

trial of ‘spit hoods’

Question No: 2017/0238

Andrew Dismore

Did you agree to the Met carrying out the three-month trial for the use of “spit hoods”?

Written response from the Mayor

Spit guards are a nationally approved tactical option and were introduced to the National Personal Safety Manual in 2006, which is maintained by the National Police Chiefs Council.

 

The MPS must balance its duty of care to the public against that for their officers, and I have sought to ensure the MPS is transparent about its plans and effectively pilots the use of spit guards before any roll out is considered.

 

 

 

Homophobia in the police

Question No: 2017/0239

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4845

What are you doing to tackle homophobia in the police?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4845.

 

 

DBS Checks [1]

Question No: 2017/0240

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4867

How many Enhanced DBS Checks are outstanding with the Met?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4867.

 

 

DBS Checks [2]

Question No: 2017/0241

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4873

As delays in completing Enhanced DBS Checks can result in people losing job offers, or being out of work for far longer, or charity volunteers losing interest as a result of the delays, what are you doing to speed up the process?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4873.

 

 

 

Met‘s public website

Question No: 2017/0242

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4875

Part of the Met’s public website was disrupted as thousands of masked protesters converged on central London in early November for the Million Mask March organised by hacking group Anonymous. What was the cause of this and what is being done to prevent it in future?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4875.

 

 

 

future role of SNBs and ward panels

Question No: 2017/0243

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4876

How do you see the future role of SNBs and ward panels?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4876.

 

 

 

SNB websites and publicity

Question No: 2017/0244

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4877

Will MOPAC give consideration to funding and assistance for SNB websites and publicity for their public meetings; and if not, why not?

Your response being:

‘Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly’

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4877.

 

 

 

Stop and search data and statistics

Question No: 2017/0245

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4878

Stop and search data and statistics are not being provided to SNBs monthly as before, apparently due to a new system: when will this be introduced and when will the provision of such data be resumed?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4878.

 

 

 

Barnet Community Transport’s Rolling Base

Question No: 2017/0246

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4879

Are you aware of the excellent and cost effective youth engagement work carried out by Barnet Community Transport’s Rolling Base, currently funded by MOPAC?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4879.

 

 

 

Merger of borough BCUs

Question No: 2017/0247

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4880

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is quoted as saying, in respect of the decision to pilot the merger of borough BCUs:

“Further  (my emphasis) evaluation and consultation will follow, after which and alongside our new Police and Crime Plan, decisions will be taken on the best way to deliver our commitment to real neighbourhood policing.”

What evaluation, and what consultation and with whom, was carried out before the decision to pilot the merger in Barnet and Islington?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to MQ 2016/4880.

 

 

 

Sexual misconduct inquiries into police

Question No: 2017/0248

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4882

Further to Question No: 2016/4395

‘The Times’ has established that there are at least 156 live sexual misconduct inquiries into police in England, Wales and Scotland. The figure includes complaints made by colleagues as well as reports by victims and witnesses, although the majority of cases are in the latter category. The true figure is likely to be higher since only a quarter of 44 forces would acknowledge live cases. How many of these are in the Met.?

Your response being:

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly

Will you now provide a substantive reply as this has been outstanding for some time?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

 

West Ham policing costs

Question No: 2017/0249

Andrew Dismore

What was the total cost of the policing operation for the West Ham vs Manchester United match on 2nd January; and how much of the cost do you expect to recoup from a) West Ham and b) the Stadium operators?

Written response from the Mayor

The total cost of the Policing operation was £77,592.  Only London Stadium 185 is responsible for policing costs as the stadium operator.  The MPS will recoup £35,419.54 from London Stadium 185.

 

 

 

Fraud and other cyber crime

Question No: 2017/0250

Andrew Dismore

Further to Question No: 2016/4881

What steps are being taken to record and collate statistics of the extent of fraud and other cyber crime on a borough level and publish such data?

Your response being:

‘Since April 2013, fraud offences have been recorded by Action Fraud (the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre) rather than by police forces.

The Home Office publishes a number of quarterly fraud reports using data provided by Action Fraud and other organisations that compile fraud data such as Cifas and Financial Fraud Action UK. These data are normally provided on a national basis however some data is available at London level. Each of these organisations from time to time publish reports relating to data that they hold.

New questions on fraud and computer misuse were added to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) in October 2015 and were initially included as experimental statistics. They were fully incorporated in September 2016.

No data are reported on a borough level in London.’

Will you now provide such data as is available on London; and given the seriousness of the growth of this crime, do you not think it would be helpful to have data as to the scale and number of offences in London published regularly, at the least to remind Londoners of the need to be on their guard?

Written response from the Mayor

In addition to the previous response, the City of London Police produces a Fraud and Cyber Crime Profile for the MPS force area.

 

These profiles provide an overview of the fraud and cyber landscape in London, identifying the extent of harm and nature of offending.

 

The data is marked as protected as it contains intelligence relating to these offences.

 

Londoners should always be vigilant as fraud and cyber crime is an increasing problem. They can ensure they are aware of recent scams by visiting the public area of the National Cyber Security Centre website – https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/articles/public.

 

 

 

Senior officers’ perquisites

Question No: 2017/0251

Andrew Dismore

Do any senior officers receive any assistance with housing in London: and do any senior officers receive a clothing allowance towards their uniforms or otherwise; and if so in both categories, what is the value in total of these?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

 

 

North Finchley bus station

Question No: 2017/0252

Andrew Dismore

Residents have written to me regarding the poor state of North Finchley bus station, with hazard tape across doors, poor levels of cleanliness and a lack of countdown timers at this important local terminus, serving a number of routes. Is it acceptable to you or will you ensure that the doors are repaired properly, that the bus station is kept tidy and work on installing countdown timers as a matter of urgency?

Written response from the Mayor

Thank you for raising this issue. North Finchley Bus Station does not currently meet the high standards set by TfL and me. Arrangements have already been made to rectify faults with the doors and to explore upgrading them to a more reliable design. TfL has also arranged a deep clean of the area and will work with the landlords in an attempt to secure their agreement to other measures which would improve the passenger experience, including the installation of a countdown timer.

 

 

 

Camden Street

Question No: 2017/0253

Andrew Dismore

The lack of pedestrian crossing on the east side of the Camden St/Camden Rd junction is proving very difficult for the school commute for children and their families from Hawley and St Martin’s Primary Schools. Will you ensure that officers from TfL actively propose improvements to pedestrian crossings as part of their ongoing review of traffic flow in the area?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.