Andrew Dismore

Northern Line noise (1)

Question No: 2018/1164

Andrew Dismore

I am getting increasing numbers of complaints from residents about noise from the Northern Line due to the relaid track and wear on the rails caused by automation. TfL are taking far too long to respond to these complaints, and even worse are telling residents that there is nothing that can be done and in effect the residents have to put up with it. Do you think this is fair; and if not will you get a grip on this problem and sort it out?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Northern Line noise (2)

Question No: 2018/1165

Andrew Dismore

It is becoming apparent that the installation of noise damping pads on Northern Line track is not working. Homes near Mornington Crescent, for example, have seen noise levels increase to even more unacceptable levels. What will you do about it?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Northern Line noise (3)

Question No: 2018/1166

Andrew Dismore

Track corrugation in Northern Line tunnels is getting worse due to automated train operation causing braking at exactly the same points near stations, increasing noise nuisance. What will you do about it?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Private hire drivers: suspensions and revocations of licences.

Question No: 2018/1167

Andrew Dismore

An issue that is causing a great deal of concern to private hire drivers, is the way TfL is imposing suspensions and revocations of licences with no respect for natural justice and no hearing or right to submit a written response to an allegation. To have a suspension lifted or revocation overturned, drivers have to pay a court fee of £250.00 for the privilege. Do you consider it is acceptable for TfL to suspend drivers’ licences before any investigation takes place, leaving them without a salary and only having any subsequent appeal heard in a Magistrates Court; and if not, will you ensure revised procedures are put in place to enable drivers to have a fair hearing first?

Written response from the Mayor

Transport for London’s (TfL) primary concern is public safety. Examples of where TfL may suspend or revoke a private hire driver’s licence include: where it receives details of a criminal conviction; it is not satisfied that the driver is fit and proper for any other reason; or if the driver has failed to comply with a licence condition or statutory obligation.

In most cases, drivers are given the opportunity to explain themselves before a final decision is taken.  Only in the most serious cases would TfL immediately revoke a licence without giving a driver this opportunity, in which case a driver would need to appeal to a magistrates’ court.

Any such decision is not taken lightly and all available evidence and information is taken into account.

 

River safety

Question No: 2018/1168

Andrew Dismore

Whilst the London Resilience Forum deals with the immediate operation and response to river incident high risks, do you agree that boroughs need to engage in day to day proactive river safety such as river side and bank design specifically linked to preventing self-harm; public rescue equipment; and access and egress to the foreshore, through their local risks assessments and managed via their Community Safety Partnerships?

Written response from the Mayor

The London Resilience Partnership’s coordination arrangements are the basis of a multi-agency response to an incident on the River Thames. The Thames Resilience Panel offers an opportunity for members of the resilience partnership with responsibility towards the river to share information. In order to reduce the number of accidental and deliberate drownings in London, it is essential that water safety requirements are addressed through a multi-agency, and multi-level approach. Local boroughs need to determine which partnership forum this issue best sits with and I would encourage them to do so.

At a pan-London level, there are partnership boards that aim to reduce risk, for example the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum, which is chaired by HM Coastguard. This is also being implemented on a wider basis through the London Water Safety Forum which is chaired by the RNLI. London Fire Brigade is represented on both groups and also leads on a range of drowning prevention and water safety activities and projects to increase safety throughout London.

 

CS11 and local major developments

Question No: 2018/1169

Andrew Dismore

I have been receiving a lot of correspondence about the proposed CS11 and its likely impact on the local community, given major construction developments in the area. Where do you consider the construction traffic flows will go; and will you give a progress report on the CS11 scheme?

Written response from the Mayor

 Construction for CS11 will begin at Swiss Cottage in July, and Transport for London (TfL) will write to all affected residents and businesses in advance of the start date.

TfL has been working closely with stakeholders, including the London Borough of Camden, HS2 Ltd and the developers of 100 Avenue Road among others, to coordinate works and minimise disruption to the local community.

There is expected to be a low number of construction vehicles relating to the CS11 works in operation each day and these will be routed via main roads, primarily outside peak travelling hours.

 

Unreliable 13 bus

Question No: 2018/1170

Andrew Dismore

I continue to get correspondence from residents about their latest bad experiences with the unreliable 13 bus, despite assurances from TfL that they are dealing with it. It is now over a year since the current operator took over the route, and this operator seems to be incapable of providing an efficient and reliable service. Will you look into this and get this service sorted out once and for all?

Written response from the Mayor

TfL is aware of complaints about the 13 bus and the operator has put in place an action plan to improve the reliability of the service.

This has included support for drivers from managers along the route and creation of a new post of business operations manager to monitor customer experience.

The latest assessments have shown an improvement in performance in the first two weeks of April. Performance levels did drop in the second half of the month, partly as a result of disruption caused by the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and the impact of work at Baker Street and Henlys Corner.

TfL will continue to monitor the service closely to ensure standards continue to rise.

 

Restaurant tips

Question No: 2018/1171

Andrew Dismore

TGI Friday’s has faced the first strike over tips in the UK in an escalation of a row between waiters and the restaurant chain. Do you think it is wrong for restaurants in London not to distribute tips in full to staff; and do you agree that tips should not be used to subsidise low pay?

Written response from the Mayor

Tips or gratuities should always be passed on by employers to staff in full, and the use of tips to subsidise low pay (for example, to take an employee or worker over the National Minimum/Living Wage threshold) is entirely wrong and unacceptable.

Tackling low pay is the key way of reducing in-work poverty across London. I want to make London a Living Wage city, in which all workers are paid fairly: a real London Living Wage for every working Londoner. My Good Work Standard will encourage and support employers to implement the very best work practices, including paying their staff the London Living Wage.

 

 Legal aid and advice organisations

Question No: 2018/1172

Andrew Dismore

Workers in legal aid and advice organisations are at breaking point according to a survey undertaken by their union at over 30 Advice Centres, Law Centres and Citizens Advice Bureaux, which found that over three quarters (77 per cent) of staff reported an increase in their workload because of increased demand and cuts in staff. 35 per cent of organisations’ volunteers are increasingly required to undertake work previously performed by paid staff. What do you think needs to be done to help London’s advice services?

Written response from the Mayor

 Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Business rates in London

Question No: 2018/1173

Andrew Dismore

This April business rates increased and according to the Federation of Small Businesses, many small businesses in London will have seen their business rates increase upwards of 20 per cent. What support are you providing to small businesses to help them to stay in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Business rates are affecting London small businesses in different ways, dependent upon a range of factors like geography, sector or the type of office they rent.

Through the London Growth Hub I am funding a range of projects that provide advice and guidance to small businesses to ensure their business remain in London.

The London Enterprise Action Partnership (LEAP), which I chair, has commissioned the Workspace Board to do research to identify how small businesses based in shared offices are being affected by the revaluation and identify recommendations on how it can be mitigated.

I continue to lobby Government on key issues within its control that affect SMEs, including Business Rates. In the long term a more radical reform of the business rates system is needed to introduce a separate devolved revaluation system for London which reflects its higher property rents. I am pushing for the administration of business rates to be fully devolved to London government prior to the revaluation in 2021 similar to the arrangements already in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We cannot allow the huge rises seen by London firms last April to be repeated again – and this could be avoided if the Government fully devolved decisions over business rates to London Government.

 

ESOL in London

Question No: 2018/1174

Andrew Dismore

What progress has been made addressing the barriers to ESOL training since your report ‘Mapping ESOL Provision in Greater London’?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Zero-hour contracts (1)

Question No: 2018/1175

Andrew Dismore

The number of zero-hour contracts in London has increased from 118,000 at the end of 2016 to 121,000 by the end of 2017, despite the declining overall figure for the UK. What do you think is driving this increase?

Written response from the Mayor

According to the GLA Economic Evidence Base 2016 the numbers of Londoners on zero hours contracts in 2015 was five times higher than in 2008 at the start of the recession. However zero hours contracts still represent a relatively small proportion of all jobs in London while their prevalence in London is also lower than nationally. Further over the years 2016-17 both London and the UK saw a growth in employment.

Four in ten Londoners working on zero-hour contracts want to work more hours. And while for some worker the flexibility that zero-hours contracts offer can be a benefit, , too often this practice is used exploitatively.

 

Zero-hour contracts (2)

Question No: 2018/1176

Andrew Dismore

There are often negative news stories, related to workers’ rights, about employers that use zero-hour contracts. How will you encourage employers of zero-hour contracts to sign up to your Good Work Standard?

Written response from the Mayor

 My Good Work Standard is an initiative to recognise and encourage employers of all sizes and types to implement the very best employment standards by improving pay and working conditions for all people. The exploitative use of zero-hours contracts will not be compatible with my Good Work Standard. Where zero-hours contracts are in use they should be used responsibly and to offer flexibility for both the employer and the worker.

 

 Apprenticeships

Question No: 2018/1177

Andrew Dismore

The Government’s approach to apprenticeships does not appear to be working in London as many businesses are not making full use of the Apprenticeship Levy or are using the funding for apprenticeships in sectors that offer little progression and low-pay. What action needs to be taken to improve apprenticeships policy to ensure London has the skills that it requires?

Written response from the Mayor

 Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Tate Collective

Question No: 2018/1178

Andrew Dismore

Do you welcome the Tate’s new scheme to reduce the price of exhibition tickets for young people aged between 16 and 25, and what discussions is your Deputy Mayor for Culture having with other London institutions to facilitate visits from young adults?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Customs Union

Question No: 2018/1179

Andrew Dismore

Following the Government’s recent reiteration that they do not intend to remain in the Customs Union, how are you keeping pressure on the Government to persuade them that remaining in the Customs Union will be beneficial for London’s economy?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Employment in the culture sector

Question No: 2018/1180

Andrew Dismore

Low pay and poor working conditions are common in the cultural industry. How will the Mayor ensure that the organisations he works with through his Culture Strategy comply with the aspirations set out in the Good Work Standard, for example by paying the London Living Wage?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Fire deaths

Question No: 2018/1181

Andrew Dismore

How many deaths from fire in London have there been this calendar year so far; and how many were there in the similar period last year?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

  

Fire safety post Grenfell

Question No: 2018/1182

Andrew Dismore

In an open letter, a number of leading fire safety experts and building industry bodies have urged the Government to introduce immediate changes to standards without waiting for the Grenfell Fire inquiry to conclude, calling for an immediate change in the law requiring all high-rise and high-risk buildings to be fitted with sprinklers, that only non-combustible cladding and insulation be installed on tower blocks, and for all new buildings to be required to have alternative escape routes: do you support their calls?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Policing at West Ham matches 1

Question No: 2018/1183

Andrew Dismore

Who is paying for the extra stewarding and policing at West Ham home games?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

policing at West Ham matches 2

Question No: 2018/1184

Andrew Dismore

What was the cost to the taxpayer of the policing of the West Ham vs Burnley match?

Written response from the Mayor

 Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (1)

Question No: 2018/1185

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with central Government to conduct a comprehensive national survey to assess financial inclusion and gather evidence to better understand the scale of the problem in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (2)

Question No: 2018/1186

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with London boroughs about financial inclusion to share their learning and best practice?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (3)

Question No: 2018/1187

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with education providers and the technology sector to explore options for improving the financial health of Londoners?

Written response from the Mayor

Deputy Mayor Rajesh Agrawal met with Innovate Finance to discuss technology and how fintech can support the financial health of Londoners.

Officers continue to liaise with the tech and fintech sector to identify how new technologies can improve the ability of Londoners to manage their own money.

Later this year the Mayor’s TechInvest programme will explore running an event focusing on supporting impactful fintech firms to get investment and to scale their solutions.

I also am currently finalising plans for a summit at City Hall that would bring together local authorities, education providers, banks, charities and technology companies to identify how City Hall can best support partners in addressing these challenges.

 

Financial inclusion (4)

Question No: 2018/1188

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, when do you expect to carry out a survey of young Londoners to assess the level of financial inclusion in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2018/0955

 

Financial inclusion (5)

Question No: 2018/1189

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with the LEAP to explore both the need and potential for asking the Government to extend the operating hours of National Business Support Helpline?

Written response from the Mayor

 Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

  

Financial inclusion (6)

Question No: 2018/1190

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with credit unions in London to promote the awareness and take-up of affordable credit products and debt advice services in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (7)

Question No: 2018/1191

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what work is your Chief Digital Officer and your Smart London Board undertaking to improve digital connectivity in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (8)

Question No: 2018/1192

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’, what discussions have you had with leading cash machine networks to encourage them to share their data and assist in mapping of their provision in London?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.

 

Financial inclusion (9)

Question No: 2018/1193

Andrew Dismore

Further to your response to the Economy Committee’s report ‘Short changed- the financial health of Londoners’ what action are you taking as Mayor of London to collect the data on the number of vulnerable Londoners, for example victims of domestic abuse or people with disabilities, who might not have access to a bank account?

Written response from the Mayor

Officers are drafting a response which will be sent shortly.