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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Liberal Democrat alternative 2012/13 GLA budget
January 28, 2012 10:57 AM
• [Jan 25] Mike Tuffrey* writes: AFTER four years at City Hall the Mayor has frozen his budget precept for the fourth year in a row. Sounds impressive? Well, actually it is not.
For the last two years all local authorities have been given a central government grant to freeze the council tax, so credit is due to the national government, not Boris Johnson . .
In a detailed amendment to the Mayor of London's draft Budget the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group plans to use savings obtained to ensure frontline services are protected whilst delivering a cut of 3.2 % in the GLA's share of Council Tax bills, giving average London households £10 back. The specific proposals include:
• A better and fairer fares package, including a One Hour Bus Ticket, the introduction of part-weekly Travelcards, the reintroduction of a one-day Zone 2 - 6 Travelcard and a lower 'early bird' fare for tube, DLR and TfL rail;
• The reinstatement of 150 sergeant posts that have been removed from Safer Neighbourhood Teams across London;
• Action to start switching all of London's bus fleet to electric buses by 2020, helping to clean up air pollution alongside a new Clean Air Zone for the area where ill health from air pollution is most severe;
• Improvement work on London's most dangerous junctions and all junctions on the existing Cycle Superhighways, combined with more cycle training and the rollout of safety mirrors;
• Action to tackle rogue landlords and establish minimum standards for private rented housing.
When most Londoners are struggling with zero pay rises and increased household costs, it is wrong that the Mayor is not helping them in these tough economic times. Our transport proposals would make cycling and walking safer, drive forward a big switch to electric buses and help support the growth of river transport. Most importantly our fare proposals provide a real helping hand to London's lowest paid workers who struggle so much with the high cost of travel brought in by this Mayor.
* Lib Dem spokesperson on Finance, London Assembly
• Liberal Democrat alternative 2012/13 GLA budget [Tuffrey, Mayorwatch Jan 25]
• The Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group alternative budget for 2012 - 2013
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