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Comment: City Hall cuts
Evening Standard22 Jul 2008
London taxpayers will be pleased to see that the new Mayor is to cut his £79 million budget by 15 per cent, which should have a small but welcome effect on the precept paid to City Hall out of council tax bills. The Mayor's tax take rose inexorably under Ken Livingstone, and with it the cost of running City Hall. Meanwhile, millions of pounds in central government funding was squandered by the London Development Agency in grants of dubious value.
So Mr Johnson's move marks a break with the past and provides some reassurance that he will stick to his manifesto promises to give value for money. The budget framework, which requires Assembly approval and excludes the Olympics element, implies increases at below the rate of inflation until 2011-12.
What really matters, however, is not how much Mr Johnson spends but how wisely he does so. The Met must not be allowed to use the below-inflation increase it will receive for failing to deliver improving performance on crime. Mr Johnson insists that he will continue to require the police to focus above all on youth crime. It would certainly be a mistake, as well as a betrayal of some dedicated community leaders, not to increase spending on youth projects that can help steer teenagers away from gang membership. Mr Johnson has told us how much he admires the best of these. Now he needs to show us a plan for spreading this work into every borough where it is needed.
Reader views (3)
As long as the economy is doing badly, below-inflation increases in the Met's budget are a good thing.
If you don't do this, then you'll get the spiral of inflation we saw in the 70s- inflation increases, so prices increase, so people want more pay, but increasing pay puts more money out there and increases inflation even further.
I agree with those who say that this policy should not mean police don't get the funding they need. But if this is done reasonably and sensibly, Boris' plan will help the economy and the taxpayer without affecting the police's performance.
- Duncan Schofield, Harrow, London, UK, 22/07/2008 21:31
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"The Met must not be allowed to use the below-inflation increase it will receive for failing to deliver improving performance on crime."
No its not an excuse but how can that help? its irresponsible when we have a crime epidemic on our hands to cut the police budget. This decision is not in Londoners best interests at all, how can an all ready stretched police force be expected to do its job better with less money? Its naive and short sighted.
- Sean Kirwin, London, 22/07/2008 14:42
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"London taxpayers will be pleased to see that the new Mayor is to cut his £79 million budget by 15 per cent, which should have a small but welcome effect on the precept paid to City Hall out of council tax bills."
What is it, three pee a week?
I, as a London taxpayer who you claim to speak for, won't be pleased if cuts mean worsening services and increasing crime as demonstrated on a national scale during the last Tory regime.
- Dave, London, 22/07/2008 13:38
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