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The Boris Audit - pledges and actions
24 Apr 2009Policing
Pledge: A more visible police presence on buses, trains and at transport terminals.
Action: Funded 440 extra PCSOs to patrol buses and stations mostly in outer boroughs including Walthamstow and Romford town centres and Ilford station in Redbridge. Currently 19 teams of seven officers are in place. Four more teams due this month with a "full roll-out" by June. Mayor also funded 50 extra British Transport Police to patrol stations in outer London and has said he wants 10,000 special constables volunteering in London by 2012.
Pledge: More stop and search operations.
Action: Supported the controversial Operation Blunt 2 launched in May which has seen more than 4,300 knives taken off streets and more than 7,500 arrests.
Pledge: Chair the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Action: Did so in October as soon as he was legally able and almost immediately exerted authority by removing the Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, from his position. More recently he has been dogged by the loss of another high profile officer -Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick - after he was pictured with confidential documents on show.
Pledge: Provide long-term funding to set up three new rape crisis centres.
Action: Critics say has allocated only half the sum needed: only £233,000 has been allocated each year for the next three years with an extra £100,000 this year. Mayor's office continues to say centres will go ahead.
Pledge: Reduce anti-social behaviour on public transport.
Action: Banned alcohol on Tubes, buses and the DLR. Impossible to measure the effect of this as staff do not keep records of how many people break rules. No action so far on plan to confiscate Travelcards from "anti-social" youths.
Transport
Pledge: Scrap bendy buses and commission a new Routemaster.
Action: Has been accused of backtracking. So far only the bendy buses on routes 507 from Waterloo to Victoria and 521 from Waterloo to London Bridge are to be replaced by shorter single deckers in the summer. The 38 from Victoria to Clapton will be replaced with a double decker in the autumn and other contracts reviewed as they end. Mayor was also forced to admit the new Routemaster was "aspirational" but contract now expected to be awarded by the end of this year. Due on the roads by 2011.
Pledge: Consult on congestion charge and uphold result.
Action: Announced the extension would be scrapped following a public consultation. But the abolition will lead to a loss of up to £70 million a year for Transport for London. Another consultation will be needed before the charge goes, so it cannot be formally scrapped until next year.
Pledge: Decrease congestion by rephasing traffic lights.
Action: Work has already begun to review London's 6,000 traffic lights at the rate of 1,000 a year. Could lead to increased waits at red lights for pedestrians. Since July timings have already been altered at 150 sites across London.
Pledge: Introduce cycle-hire scheme.
Action: Has promised to introduce 6,000 public hire bikes across Zone 1 by next year, in a scheme similar to the Vélib system in Paris. Sources say it has run into trouble after a lack of interest from operators and Network Rail's reluctance to allow docking stations on its premises, however City Hall is on the verge of applying for planning permission for docking sites.
Pledge: "Get tough" with utility companies over roadworks.
Action: Utility companies including Thames Water and National Grid have signed up for a voluntary permit scheme to cut down on the time being taken for roadworks, which means firms working in London will have to provide information boards when they dig up the roads and work outside peak hours where possible.
Pledge: Expand river transport.
Oyster cards will be accepted on the Thames Clipper river services by November and four more boats are planned in the morning and afternoon rush hours running from London Bridge to Canary Wharf. Extra services will also be put on during the Olympics.
Pledge: Support Crossrail.
Action: Insisted it must go ahead at all costs, as well as Jubilee line upgrade. But projects such as Thames Gateway Bridge, Greenwich Waterfront Transit and expansion of the DLR to Dagenham Docks have all been dropped due to lack of funds.
Business
Pledge: "Champion" London as a place to do business and attract new investment.
Action: Made a big show of selling the city at the "Mipim" property fair in Cannes by promising free office space for foreign businesses. They will be offered 60 free desk spaces normally costing £150,000 by service firm Avanta, with the hope they will then rent more space with the same company. Launched £1 million advertising and events campaign with Ryanair, Superbreaks and EasyJet to attract visitors.
Pledge: Implement measures to help small businesses.
Action: Launched a £3 billion economic recovery plan including the Greater London Authority paying bills to businesses in 10 days instead of 30, also froze part of council tax. Announced £29 million in public money to create 1,100 jobs and "support" 11,000 small businesses in London.
Pledge: Hold biannual summits with key players from across business community.
Action: Launched his International Business Advisory Council but embarrassingly it was revealed the chairman Sir Martin Sorrell, was moving part of his communications agency, the WPP Group, to Ireland for tax purposes.
Reader views (1)
Well done Boris..keep it up..Please stand as the next tory Prime minister.
- Phil Johnson, Fareham Hants, 24/04/2009 17:51
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