Andrew Dismore AM backs the Mayor’s Draft Budget
Local London Assembly Member, Andrew Dismore AM, gave his backing to the Mayor of London’s Draft Budget yesterday (Wednesday 29th January) in a bid to support policing, the delivery of affordable homes, the expanded Ultra-Low Emission Zone and other vital public services in the capital.
Yesterday, (Wednesday) the Mayor told the London Assembly that he would raise the policing precept of Council Tax by 22 pence a week. This is expected to raise an additional £15.7 million for crime reduction and provide fast-track funding for 600 police officers for the next financial year. This comes after City Hall investment saw police officer numbers increase to above 31,000 for the first time since 2017.
The Draft Budget also aims to continue the delivery of record levels of affordable homes, and includes support for plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone to the North and South Circulars.
Mr Dismore also used yesterday’s meeting to reject an amendment to the draft budget from the Conservative and the Green Groups. The Conservative amendment would see the scrapping of hundreds of job posts at City Hall to put more money into the policing budget, which Mr Dismore said would undermine the delivery of key projects such as affordable housing. Their amendment also advocates cutting the non-policing element of council tax, which Mr Dismore said would threaten vital funding for the London Fire Brigade.
Meanwhile, the Green amendment advocated taking money from the Mayor’s Strategic Investment Fund, which Sadiq Khan said he has set aside for no-deal contingency planning and boosting economic growth. Their decision to vote against the Draft Budget also saw them reject proposals for big public health and environmental interventions such as the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
The Green, Conservative and Brexit Alliance Groups, alongside the Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Caroline Pigeon, all voted against the Mayor’s Draft Budget.
Local London Assembly Member, Andrew Dismore AM, said:
“This draft Budget prioritises tackling violent crime, tackling climate change, and tackling the housing crisis. It prioritises protecting the public services Londoners hold dear. It has my full backing.
“It beggars belief that anyone would support the removal of vital funding for the London Fire Brigade, for the delivery of affordable homes, and the delivery of serious public health interventions. There was not a chance in hell I could support those amendments”.
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