Item 4 London Assembly MQT – 9 September 2009 Thirteenth Mayor’s Report to the Assembly

This is my Thirteenth report to the Assembly, fulfilling my duty under Section 45 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. It covers the period 2 July to 26 August 2009.

Executive Summary

Cycle Fridays

A series of bike convoys led by experienced riders will be on hand to guide novice commuter cyclists into central London each Friday in a new initiative dubbed ‘Cycle Fridays’.

Doubling of rape crisis provision

On 3 August, I announced the doubling of rape crisis provision in the capital with proposals to open a new rape crisis centre and additional funding for the existing Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Croydon.

£12m boost for affordable childcare in London announced

A key part of my Economic Recovery Action Plan for London, the £12m will help more than 2,000 low-income families across 10 London boroughs access job opportunities by providing parents with low-cost, flexible childcare over the next two years.

New employment website for London's graduates

Since its launch on 21 July, the site has had 4,000 visits and nearly 22,000 pages have been viewed. It has been welcomed by students across London and the UK, as well as by business groups and London firms looking to recruit talented graduates.

Equal Life Chances for All

On 30 July, I launched Equal Life Chances for All, my new equality framework which heralds a new approach to equality and inclusion in London, relevant for 21st century urban living.

Plans for over 750 new east London homes

On 2 July, I approved plans that will see over 750 new homes, plus commercial and leisure facilities, built next to the Thames Barrier in Newham. The proposed development -‘Barrier Park East’ - will transform this former industrial site into a vibrant east London neighbourhood, bringing new life to a long neglected corner of the capital.

1 Section 60 Response

Response to the London Assembly on its Section 60 request on GLA group environment spend

Given that all the recommendations bar two in the Assembly’s scrutiny report on GLA group environment spend are predicated on my re-introducing an annual report detailing such expenditure, I am providing a composite response which tackles all those recommendations together. At the end of this response I comment on the other two recommendations – one of which relates to the LDA environment programme and the other to GLA staff numbers.

The decision I took last year to discontinue the annual report on environment spend was based on a desire to mainstream environmental expenditure within the GLA group and not to treat environmental programmes in isolation from all other programmes – programmes which could be regarded as the GLA group’s “core business”. This was precisely because I wish to see all programmes contribute to environmental improvements and not just those labelled as “environmental”.

I am sure the Assembly appreciates that much of the work of TfL and the LDA contributes to making environmental improvements to London. I would not want to be seen to somehow restrict those efforts just to certain programmes. For example, so much of TfL’s work – and a high proportion of its budget – is dedicated to achieving a modal shift in transport use in the capital. Much of this work would not normally be classified as directly environmental spend although its impact does bring about huge environmental improvements.

I would of course welcome the Assembly’s views on the sort of key performance indicators that should be included in our future monitoring work. I know we all agree that the main measure should always be CO2 emission reductions (and the value for money associated with achieving them) it would be beneficial to open up a dialogue about what should be tracked beyond that.

You will be aware that my environment direction of travel statement has recently been released and that it commits the Mayoralty to reporting on progress made in achieving environmental objectives. We are all acutely aware that we are entering an era of austerity in public finance. The statement therefore seeks to pinpoint those areas in which we can get greatest return on our investment. You will not be surprised to hear that my environment adviser and I are absolutely focused on those areas in which we can make the biggest difference and our work with the LDA on its energy programmes testifies to that commitment and is a critically important workstream going forward.

Finally, I would like to address the two recommendations that do not involve re-introducing an annual report on environmental spend:

• On the LDA environment programme, we are making strenuous efforts to ensure that the LDA environmental budget is not only fully spent but that there is a staffing capacity in place to deliver the programme to greatest effect. A recruitment exercise has been conducted for certain key environment posts at the LDA and that will provide the capacity required. • On the GLA environment team, Assembly Members will be aware that the restructuring proposals were revised by the Chief Executive to take account of the comments that both they and I fed in to the consultation process. The Director of Development & Environment is leading on getting the new team in place and I am confident that it will emerge in the autumn better equipped for future challenges.

2 Policing and Community Safety

Doubling of rape crisis provision in London

On 3 August, I announced the doubling of rape crisis provision in the capital with proposals to open a new rape crisis centre and additional funding for the existing Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Croydon.

I will make £375,000 available over the next three years to part-fund a new rape crisis centre in West London in conjunction with Ealing Council, the final location for this centre will be announced later. Croydon's rape crisis centre will receive £260,000 to expand its helpline and increase prevention work with young people.

This enhances coverage in the south of London and establishes a service in the west and marks further progress on my commitment to increase the total number of centers for rape crisis provision from one to four. Work continues to identify suitable provision for the north and east.

Consultation on ‘The Way Forward’

The consultation for ‘The Way Forward: A call for action to end violence against women’ closed on 20 July and work is currently underway to review the feedback from the responses received. The views received on the overall document and individual objectives within it will be looked at. We will consider feedback on any omissions from the document on other areas, which needed to be included within the strategy and identify assistance from the groups to gather existing good practice and offers of assistance for any of the proposals. A summary consultation report will be available by early October.

The consultation attracted a total of 407 responses. 355 were from the online survey and 5 focus groups sessions. An additional 52 written responses were received from individuals, practitioners and partner organisations. Findings from this report will inform the long-term strategy to eradicate violence against women, which will be launched in autumn.

Mobile phone operators asked to 'hang up on prostitution'

On 18 August, my Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse, called on all major mobile phone operators to work with my office, the police and voluntary groups to help crack down on prostitution and human trafficking ahead of the London 2012 Games.

Criminal gangs who control prostitution in the capital often advertise their services using cards, containing mobile phone numbers, placed in phone boxes across central London. I want to see an agreement reached between mobile phone operators and the police that would see these numbers taken out of use as soon as they are identified, cutting off a key source of income for these gangs.

Major sporting events are often linked to an upsurge in demand for prostitution, which in turn fuels human trafficking. At the Athens Olympics the number of known human trafficking victims almost doubled and I have made tackling prostitution and trafficking ahead of 2012 a key part of my violence against women strategy, ‘The Way Forward’, launched for consultation in April 2009.

3 Transport

Commuters swap to bikes for Cycle Fridays

A series of bike convoys led by experienced riders will be on hand to guide novice commuter cyclists into central London each Friday in a new Transport for London and GLA initiative dubbed ‘Cycle Fridays’.

For eight weeks the rides will depart at 8am from six different locations around the capital, providing a useful service for riders who need a little extra support to start cycling to work. The first Cycle Friday will take place on Friday 14 August, and will continue every Friday until 2 October.

Those joining the rides will be greeted by ride marshals from the London Cycling Campaign and will be given a basic bike check and relevant TfL cycle maps before getting on the road. Additional drop-off points can be agreed so that riders can get as close to their destination as possible.

The initiative is part of a summer of cycling in capital, designed to boost the numbers going by bike. There has been a nine per cent increase in those pedalling on London’s major roads over the last year, but TfL and I are seeking to go further – aiming at a 400 per cent increase by 2025.

First bendy buses meet their Waterloo

On 24 July, my election pledge to banish bendy buses from the capital took a big step forwards as the articulated juggernauts completed their final day of service on Route 507. Bendy buses on other routes are on borrowed time and I can confirm they will all have gone by 2011 four years early.

Nine bendy buses running the Waterloo to Victoria route are the first to be replaced with fifteen brand new, 12m single deck buses drafted in to run the route 507 services. It is the first time a weekend service has been run on the route. The new buses will also run more frequently than their predecessors. At peak times the frequency of route 507 will increase from a bus every five minutes (12 buses per hour) to one every three to four minutes (18 buses per hour).

In addition, the new buses on route 507 are greener than their predecessors. They meet EEV standards, which means they emit less C02, NOx and particulates than the previous buses.

Business Levy prospectus

On 30 July, I announced the publication of an initial prospectus outlining for businesses my proposal to introduce a levy on larger businesses to help fund Crossrail.

A Business Rates Supplement (BRS) of 2p will apply to business properties with a rateable value of more than £50,000. The measure, to be introduced from April 2010, will be limited to an estimated one in five of London's business premises, and some categories of ratepayer such as charities and sports clubs or property will be entitled to full or partial exemption.

Construction for Crossrail is now underway, and when completed will relieve pressure on the Tube network and increase rail-based transport capacity by 10 per cent. It will deliver a significant economic benefit of at least £20bn to the UK economy following the start of services in 2017, and will provide benefits across all London boroughs and a lasting skills and jobs legacy.

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Despite the economic climate it is essential that we do not allow our investment in the future to falter. Crossrail is essential to the London and UK economy, and will deliver a revitalised transport system capable of meeting demand, new stations, regenerated areas, and thousands of new jobs. Through this levy, larger London businesses will be playing their part in ensuring London a future from which they, and all Londoners, will benefit.

TfL’s new Travel Tool

Since 20 July, Londoners and visitors walking through Piccadilly Circus have been able to get the latest information on their Tube journeys by glancing at the world-famous ‘Coca-Cola’ Piccadilly Sign. The partnership between TfL and Coca-Cola Great Britain is initially for 12 months and if successful will be extended.

This move complements TfL’s extensive range of online Travel Tools which include the TfL website with its travel information status board and free text and email alerts – which are aimed at providing Londoners and visitors with the latest Tube travel information to help them work out the quickest journey from A to B.

The billboard screen which is run on 100% certified green electricity will display Tube travel updates by running a live ticker alongside a ‘Bus’ and ‘Tube sequence, at the bottom of the ‘Coca-Cola’ Piccadilly Sign. The information will run every 5 minutes from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and is targeted at the 1.1 million people who pass through Piccadilly Circus during the course of the week.

First new Victoria line train begin running

On 24 July, London Underground began running the first of the new Victoria line trains on passengers services. The current Victoria line trains have been operating for 40 years and carry close to 200 million passengers per year. The upgrade of the Victoria line is vital to renew the old assets and increase capacity to keep up with the growth of customer demand, forecast to be up over 15 percent on today by 2025.

The new trains are part of the Victoria line upgrade which, along with new track and signalling, offering customers a smoother, more comfortable ride, with more frequent trains, a reduction in journey times and nearly 20 per cent more capacity.

The new Victoria Line trains feature in-carriage CCTV, improved wheelchair access, better ventilation, and improved visual and audio customer information systems. Initially the new trains will run towards the very end of the day and will gradually roll out into full passenger service in the autumn, when further new trains will start to be delivered.

London Underground is delivering the biggest investment programme in generations. The challenge is to upgrade the Tube whilst at the same time keeping the service running for the millions who depend on it every day. Demand for the Tube is close to record levels with over a billion passenger journeys each year. When completed, the investment programme will deliver nearly 30 percent extra capacity across the Tube network.

London Cycle Hire scheme operator announced

On 12 August, Transport for London announced that Serco had secured the contract to set up and operate the London Cycle Hire scheme, which will launch in summer 2010.

5 More than a quarter of the 400 cycle docking station sites, where people will pick up and drop off the cycle hire bikes, have now received planning permission. The scheme will launch with 6,000 hire bicycles based in the nine London boroughs and several Royal Parks that make up London’s zone one travel area, and are expected to generate around 40,000 extra cycle trips a day in central London.

The London Cycle Hire scheme will be based on, but not identical to, the award-winning Canadian cycle hire scheme, Bixi, which launched in Montreal earlier this year. A simple to use payment system will support the London Cycle Hire scheme.

New Tube signalling contract

On 16 July, London Underground issued an invitation to tender for the re-signalling programme for the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines (Sub-Surface lines). Responses are due back in by Friday 18 December. This contract will form the single biggest piece of work on the Tube as London Underground continues its largest investment programme since the Second World War.

The new signalling, when coupled with a fleet of 191 new air-conditioned walk-through trains, will mean customers can travel more quickly and frequently on the District, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines, delivering nearly 50 per cent increase in capacity.

Following the collapse of Metronet in 2007 LU decided to re-tender the contract as the original contract placed by Metronet did not provide the best technical solution or the best value for money. Since Metronet’s transfer to LU around £2.5billion has been saved through the renegotiation of contracts, revising the upgrade programme, better procurement and operational efficiencies.

Overground trains with an Underground twist

On 13 July, I joined Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner, at Willesden Junction Station to unveil the first of 54 new trains that will be rolled out across the whole of TfL’s London Overground network. The arrival of the new trains is a crucial stage in TfL’s ambitious plans to build London Overground into an orbital railway around the capital by 2012.

The fleet will be similar to Tube trains, with more flip-down seats, giving more standing room to allow for hop-on, hop-off journeys, reflecting the type of short trips most passengers make on the network.

As well as air conditioning, the trains will also feature driver-monitored CCTV, improving security for passengers, and state-of-the-art information displays and announcements. The new trains, which will be three-carriages long, will be able to carry almost 500 people, which is an eight per cent increase compared to the outgoing trains. When Overground platforms are extended in 2011 to cater for trains four-carriages long, the trains will be able to carry almost 700 people each – almost 50 per cent more passengers than now.

London Permit Scheme application

On 22 July, as part of my commitment to smoothing traffic flow in the Capital, Transport for London submitted to the Department for Transport its application for a new London Permit Scheme. The permit scheme, which is also being submitted by 18 London boroughs, aims to regulate street works and will help to ensure that any company that wants to dig up London roads agrees to conditions and timing that limit the consequential disruption suffered by Londoners

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It is estimated there are around one million holes dug in London’s roads each year, with little or no regulation. I am already working with the utility companies to improve the situation, including persuading Thames Water and two other utility companies to plate over works trenches when they are not in use.

The scheme could be in place before the end of this year, and will ensure that street works are undertaken as quickly as possible and at the same time as other necessary works at the location, wherever practical.

Response to London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee report on fares

On 10 July Transport for London published its response to the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee’s report on fares, stating that fares will remain affordable and that billions will continue to be invested to improve transport in London.

The report looked at the potential level of TfL’s fares for 2010 and in subsequent years. It expressed the opinion that TfL would be facing a shortfall of £112m this year due to lower than projected fares revenue. However, this is not a new projection and the £112m was taken in to account when TfL’s budget for 2009/10 was published earlier this year. We therefore do not recognise the Assembly’s range of numbers.

All Londoners and commuters know that it is vital that we continue to invest in our transport network. That’s why we are investing huge sums to improve transport services while delivering clear value for money.

I have made a commitment to ensure that fares remain fair and affordable very clear. Indeed, action has already been taken to extend the availability of half-price fares to those Londoners on income support and jobseekers allowance and have made the Freedom Pass usable 24 hours a day.

Every organisation has to deal with changing economic conditions. But it is unrealistic to predict that the economic climate will remain stationary until 2018. Therefore it is inappropriate to propose options based on that assumption. Every year all the relevant factors are reviewed before a decision it taken on ensuring a fair and affordable fares structure.

I will make a decision later this year that seeks to ensure fares remain affordable and which safeguards vital investment in London's transport infrastructure and services.

Victoria Tube station upgrade gains planning approval

On 30 July the proposed Victoria Station Upgrade project was given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State for Transport.

When completed the £695 million upgrade, which forms part of TfL’s Investment Programme will see the size of station increase by about 50 percent with a new ticket hall, lifts and additional escalators to ease congestion, and step-free access from street level to all platforms and for interchange.

Victoria Station is the gateway to central London, used by more than 80 million passengers each year, and for a long time it has been creaking under pressure from the sheer number who use it every day. This key upgrade will transform the experience for those using the station - making life easier and more convenient. It exemplifies our commitment to invest in our future to ensure our infrastructure can meet the needs of the 21st century.

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Subject to the TfL Board approving funding for the project in the Autumn, construction can start in 2010, taking about seven years to complete.

TfL premieres new film to improve cycle safety

On 16 July. Transport for London rolled out a new cycle safety training film aimed at reducing the number of cyclists killed and seriously injured in the Capital.

The five minute film, available online at www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling was sent to thousands of cyclists and is designed to help cyclists and lorry drivers navigate London´s busy roads – and each other – safely. It shows from both the cyclists and drivers points of view a series of essential rules that will help them to look out for each other on the roads.

To further assist in making cycling safer, TfL is funding cycle training courses in boroughs across London. These are tailored to each person’s needs, and will teach them how to deal with a wide range of traffic conditions – including how to behave around goods vehicles.

I want Londoners to be excited about our cycle revolution and to feel 100 per cent confident about getting on their bikes. It is crucial that lorry drivers and cyclists look out for one another on our streets and behave in a way that keeps them safe.

East London River Crossings

On 10 July, TfL published its review of potential East London river crossings projects as part of a study into the potential for future crossings over the Thames. The review specifically recommends that further work be undertaken to look at improvements to passenger ferry services, a pedestrian and cycle bridge between North Greenwich and Canary Wharf; and a tunnel or bridge crossing at Silvertown.

It also recommended consideration of a new vehicle ferry crossing at Gallions Reach with the potential to upgrade to a fixed link and options to upgrade the Woolwich Ferry. The next stage of feasibility studies will be carried out in time to inform my new Transport Strategy which will be published for public consultation later this year.

Anybody who has ever tried to cross the Thames in East London will be aware of the lack of crossings and the congestion this causes. The residents and businesses in this part of London deserve better and I am absolutely determined to deliver the improvements they require.

TfL and Croydon Council join forces to make Croydon’s buses even safer

Since 22 July, bus passengers in Croydon have been seeing an increase in the number of uniformed officers on their journeys, following Transport for London’s equipping the borough’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers with passes to use the buses when on their patrols.

The passes have initially been given to 14 Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and four additional Croydon Council staff, on a twelve month trial basis and will allow them to travel around Croydon as part of their patrols. They will also join the Safer Transport Teams on specific transport safety schemes. This joint initiative will allow TfL and Croydon Council to work together to deploy resources in the best possible way across the borough and its transport network.

8 Presentation of Tube Lines’ Beacon Award

On 30 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, made a Beacon Award presentation to the Tube Lines Emergency Response Unit in Acton and congratulated the Unit on their Award on my behalf.

The Beacon Award scheme was introduced in 2006 by Tube Lines and is based on the Considerate Contractors Scheme but demands even higher standards due to the potentially hazardous rail environment. Excellence needs to be attained on the following areas to receive an award – safety; environment; cleanliness; consideration; management and values and special requirements.

New card for people with hidden disabilities

On 18 August, Transport for London began calling for volunteers with hidden disabilities to trial a new Travel Support Card to be used on the Tube, buses, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground and London Tramlink this autumn.

The credit card sized Travel Support card is designed for people with disabilities that can’t be seen, to give them greater confidence to ask for help if they need it. Showing the card will alert members of staff that the passenger may need extra support, and should help give people with disabilities more confidence in asking for help.

TfL announces sale of East Thames Buses

On 29 July, Transport for London announced its decision to sell East Thames Buses (ETB) to London General Transport Services Limited, part of the Go Ahead Group. All employees working for ETB will be transferred to London General on the same contractual terms.

The transfer of ETB by TfL to the private sector will save TfL more than £30 million over the next nine years, through the sale of assets and reduced operating costs, thus providing significantly better value for money for fare and taxpayers.

It is expected the ETB operations will transfer to London General in early September. All ETB bus routes will continue to operate as normal and all affected employees are being consulted and will be transferred according to the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, maintaining their current contractual terms.

Gallows Corner flyover opens five weeks early

On 22 July Transport for London announced the reopening of Gallows Corner flyover on the A12 to two-way traffic - almost five weeks ahead of the original completion date of the end of August and on budget. The final phase of the year long maintenance project, which was the installation of safety railings, was completed a month earlier than expected.

Transport for London and Havering Council worked hard to minimise disruption and work was carried out seven days a week in order to restore the flyover as quickly as possible.

These essential safety works will have significantly extended the life of the flyover, which was built as a temporary structure in the 1970s, and will minimise the need for any further large scale maintenance for at least a decade.

9 A new foot and cycle bridge for Hounslow

On 20 July, Transport for London and the London Borough of Hounslow unveiled a new foot and cycle bridge that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the railway at Bedfont Road in Hounslow in greater safety.

This brand new shared-use bridge, built alongside the existing road bridge with £950,000 from TfL, will make it safer and easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel between Bedfont and Feltham, west of the borough. There is currently no path for pedestrians on the existing bridge and cyclists share the narrow road with other traffic.

Crossrail update

On 3 July, Crossrail announced the appointment of Martin Buck as Crossrail's Commercial Director with the responsibility of developing and implementing Crossrail's commercial and procurement strategies and processes and will lead negotiations of all future major Crossrail commercial contracts.

Crossrail recently passed the halfway point in the issuing of the latest batch of contracts for detailed design services.

TfL prosecutes scaffolding company for risking safety of road users

In July, Transport for London successfully prosecuted Gama Scaffoldings Ltd at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court, for offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The offence took place on St Thomas Street by London Bridge Station on 5 December last year when Gama Scaffoldings removed and tampered with essential temporary road safety signs, barriers and cones which had been placed on the street by Thames Water.

Gama Scaffoldings was also found to have parked two of its own lorries in the path of traffic, causing unnecessary disruption and delays, and forcing drivers into the area reserved for Thames Water’s workers. Gama Scaffoldings staff had moved the safety cones and barriers placed by Thames Water and closed off the footpath. Pedestrians were also forced into the road as the footpath had been blocked.

TfL enforcement officers were called to the scene on the same day and made the site safe by re-positioning the cones and signs. The officers also took photographs at the scene which were presented in court last week.

Gama Scaffoldings representatives failed to turn up to court and the matter was proved in their absence. The court found Gama Scaffoldings guilty and fined them the sum of £3,500 and an additional £400 in costs to TfL.

Congestion Charging Appeals

I have approved the commencement of a competitive procurement exercise to re-let the contract for the provision of appeals services to the central London Congestion Charging Scheme and the Low Emission Zone for a period of 5 years with the right to extend for a further two years at an estimated value of £10.5million.

I have delegated powers to the Executive Director of Development and Environment, to approve the award of any contract to be let following evaluation to the bidder submitting the most economically advantageous tender.

10 Crossrail's first Visitor Centre opens

On 16 July Crossrail's first visitor centre opened near Tottenham Court Road. The new centre will be a one-stop shop for information about the Crossrail project and London Underground's redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road Tube station.

The visitor centre will enable local residents, businesses and anyone interested in the Crossrail project to get further information or have their queries answered by Crossrail staff. The Tottenham Court Road area was chosen as the location for the first visitor centre as the works here are the furthest advanced and it is the most complex Crossrail worksite in central London. As construction progresses further centres will open along the route, helping to ensure that people are kept informed.

TfL Transfer Scheme 2009

I have approved the Transport for London (East London Line) Transfer Scheme 2009, subject to the making of a Confirmation Order by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Economic and Business Policy

£12m boost for affordable childcare in London

On 6 August, I announced a new £12m programme to boost affordable childcare in the capital and help unemployed parents back to work. A key part of my Economic Recovery Action Plan for London, the £12m will help more than 2,000 low-income families across 10 London boroughs access job opportunities by providing parents with low-cost, flexible childcare over the next two years.

Londoners pay, on average, 25 per cent more for childcare than parents living elsewhere in England. Research has shown that the high cost of childcare in the capital is a significant barrier for parents from low-income families, particularly mothers, wanting to return to or enter into employment.

New employment website for London's graduates

On 10 August, I announced a major extension to my graduate employment website by posting over 250 work opportunities on the site’s own newly created jobs board.

This follows the highly successful launch of the site last month, which has generated great interest, not just from London’s graduate community, but also from potential employers with a wide range of work opportunities to advertise. Even ahead of the jobs board launch a number of employers have approached The Careers Group, University of London, who administer the site on my behalf, asking to have their jobs posted on the site. The addition of the jobs board not only satisfies this demand, but is part of my longer term plans to expand the site to offer more help, both to graduates, and to other groups of Londoners looking for work and training opportunities.

The jobs board will allow graduates to search for jobs across London. Current highlights include a three-year marketing fellowship with the WPP group of companies, an internship with the Royal Society of Arts, software developer opportunities with Orbis Technology, and a deputy economist position at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

11 Since its launch on 21 July, the site has had 4,000 visits and nearly 22,000 pages have been viewed. It has been welcomed by students across London and the UK, as well as by business groups and London firms looking to recruit talented graduates.

Rising to the challenge

On 9 July, more than 300 leading business people, policy makers and commentators debated the key issues facing London's economy at “Rising to the Challenge”, my conference on London's economic future.

The purpose of the conference, one of the capital's premier business events in 2009, was to bring together key business people to discuss how London can rise to multiple and multifaceted challenges and to galvanise the capital's economy as we emerge from recession and prepare for the upturn. I was joined by a number of key speakers at the event including:

• Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State Business, Innovation and Skills • George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer • Sir Stuart Rose, Executive Chairman, Marks & Spencer • Ian Livingston, Chief Executive, BT, and • Baroness Jo Valentine, Chief Executive, London First.

The conference included a series of seminars focused on different aspects of London's economy and current and future challenges and opportunities. The conclusions will feed into the ongoing review of my Economic Development Strategy for London on which a pre- consultation document, Rising to the Challenge, was published in May.

Keeping London Working

In July, the London Development Agency increased its support for small businesses and job seekers in the capital with the release of a new online guide to help them meet the challenges of the current economic downturn.

The guide – a response to my Economic Recovery Action Plan - gives Londoners easy access to the key contacts they need to boost their prospects – whether a business owner is facing difficulty or an individual’s job is at risk. It is part of the successful “Keeping London Working” campaign that has included the distribution of leaflets on jobs and skills development opportunities to half a million homes and businesses across the capital since December.

I am working to help Londoners and business through this recession. The starting point is to make sure everyone has access to information on all the help and advice that is on offer. This latest guide demonstrates that there is no let up in our efforts to ensure there is up to the minute information on all new initiatives we are launching. Whether you are looking for work or training, or have a business problem, this guide should become a crucial part of your armoury in surviving the current downturn.

Town centres are vital to London's future prosperity

On 22 July, I pledged to put London’s town centres at the heart of my plans to beat the recession and ensure the capital remains one step ahead of its financial rivals at home and abroad.

Acting on the key recommendation of his Outer London Commission, I have rejected the idea of developing several economic ‘super hubs’. Instead, I plan to target resources at town centres across London, helping them to thrive and attract new business. Which is, according to the

12 Commission’s interim conclusions, the best way to realise outer London’s economic potential and contribute towards the capital’s continued position as the powerhouse of the UK economy.

KiosKiosk

On 2 July, I joined designer and founder of Red or Dead, Wayne Hemingway, to launch an innovative pop-up shop offering rent-free retail space for budding creative entrepreneurs in central London over the next two months.

The ‘KiosKiosK’ - created by HemingwayDesign – is providing rent-free space for people with creative products to sell, helping new businesses with great ideas to get a step-up on the ladder to success in tough economic times. Dozens of fledging creative businesses will sell their wares over the coming weeks which will include ceramics, clothes, jewellery, bag and furniture designers. The KiosKiosK will also be solar-powered providing free eco-electricity to power lights, a laptop computer and a sewing machine.

Creative industries are a significant contributor to London’s economy supporting thousands of jobs, but like many sectors, the economic downturn has made trading more difficult with waiting lists for existing available studio space. It is hoped that low cost 'pop up' shops of this kind will provide a template for London, and towns and cities across the UK, by offering a helping hand for businesses that may be priced out of high cost, high street and prime retail locations. This will also help to support the growth of smaller, independent shops increasing consumer choices. Trading and shopping locally also helps to cut the pollution and carbon emissions coming from the transportation of goods.

Promote London Council

I have established a Promote London Council (PLC) which I will Chair and for which the GLA will provide secretariat services.

I have agreed that the costs of holding the quarterly PLC meetings will be met by the GLA (although sponsorship will be sought where appropriate). I have also agreed that the GLA should seek sponsorship for PLC costs and related activity, and the Sponsoring Director's approval of entry into such sponsorship arrangements. Costs that are not met from secured sponsorship will be met from the 2009/10 GLA programme budget and tha allocation made to Strategic Projects. Economic Recovery Action Plan Update

On 22 July, I published the second quarterly implementation update report of my Economic Recovery Action Plan which is available on the GLA website (http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/economy/recovery ).

Nine further actions were implemented over the previous quarter to assist Londoners and businesses which included:

• The launch of the Manufacturing Advisory Service with a budget increased to £3.9m; • The LDA’s £1.5m Gateway to Investment Programme, which advises business on raising equity finance; and • The LDA’s £1.4m Access to Finance programme (which helps SMEs access loans).

I will continue to work to ensure that we do all we can to tackle the unemployment issues faced by Londoners, from young graduates to long-term workless people.

13 Calls to address 'fuel poverty' in London

According to the Government definition of fuel poverty, a household is defined as fuel poor when householders have to spend 10 per cent or more of their income on energy bills to heat their homes to an adequate standard of warmth.

However the independent report ’Fuel Poverty in London’, produced for the Greater London Authority and published on 23 July, concludes that the lower disposable incomes of many Londoners - principally because of higher housing costs - need to be considered when determining if a household is fuel poor. The Government’s definition fails to do this. When housing costs are taken into account, up to 24 per cent of London’s households are in fact fuel poor, rather than the figure of around 10 per cent suggested by the Government. The report also concludes that if you take into account the additional income larger families need to enjoy the same quality of life as those in smaller families, 35.7 per cent of London’s households are experiencing fuel poverty.

In response to these findings, I have made a submission to the House of Commons Work and Pension’s Select Committee on fuel poverty and I am also calling on the Government to:

• Adopt a more realistic definition of fuel poverty, as the current one underestimates the problem and means that London is not getting the resources it needs. • Ensure that London gets its fair share of Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) funding. This is a Government initiative that obliges electricity and gas suppliers to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions from homes through energy efficiency measures. • Do more to simplify the funding of energy improvements and therefore make it easier for people to apply. At the moment there are a plethora of funding initiatives all with their individual application processes and criteria. • Look at the overall energy efficiency of a home and make improvements to the whole house rather than piecemeal improvements.

I am currently working with the LDA, London Councils, boroughs and other key agencies to develop a home energy efficiency programme to retrofit London’s domestic buildings, however, I am also calling on the Government to act now to alleviate this problem before the start of colder weather. Call to drop planned £565 million rate hike for businesses

On 16 July, I called on the Government to drop plans for a 10 per cent hike in business rates, which will hit London and its businesses far harder than the rest of the UK.

The proposals would see business rates in London rise by an average of 10 per cent, before inflation, over the next five years. Yet businesses in regions like the West Midlands and the South East would see falls in their rate bills of seven and five per cent respectively, as well as receiving money that should remain in the capital.

London already pays over £400m a year more to the Government in business rates than it gets back in grants to fund local services. If these proposals are implemented it would add £565 million to the costs of the capital’s businesses by 2015, resulting in London subsidising services in the regions to the tune of nearly £1 billion a year.

14 Environment

£4million to kick-start eco-innovation fund

On 30 July, I announced proposals for a multi-million pound 'London Green Fund' to boost London's low carbon economy, create jobs and tackle climate change. The fund will unlock the financial savings that can come from going green by developing an innovative financing framework to 'pump-prime' energy efficiency measures to cut carbon across London and money off fuel bills. The resulting guaranteed savings will then pay off the upfront loans to be ploughed back into the green fund.

The fund may also be targeted at decentralised energy and new waste technology initiatives - areas that have experienced difficulties in fulfilling their potential and would benefit from the fund's pump priming function. The fund aims to leverage millions of pounds of private investment to enable the development of carbon-cutting infrastructure at the scale required to meet my 60 per cent carbon reduction target by 2025.

I have committed to provide an initial £4million to develop and kick-start the fund with the intention of attracting co-investment from a range of bodies, such as the EU, philanthropic funds, climate charities and the private sector.

£9.5 million carbon busting plan for London's homes

On 22nd July, I attended a meeting of the London Development Agency’s Board at which a proposal to retrofit the capital's homes was approved. The scheme will give Londoner’s an unprecedented opportunity to cut their bills and make their homes more energy efficient and is a joint initiative between myself, the London Development Agency, London Councils, and the capital's 33 boroughs.

The decision paves the way to launch the programme across London in April 2010, following the trial stages taking place in the coming months. The scheme will include free-of-charge, easy-to-do and innovative measures - from changing to low energy light bulbs to installing stand-by switches. The aim is that more substantial steps, such as loft and cavity wall insulation, will involve no upfront costs and be free for those on benefits and subsidised for those able to pay.

Over a third of London’s carbon dioxide emissions are generated from homes. The new plans aim to build on existing schemes designed to improve London’s domestic homes providing residents with a series of simple measures to reduce their energy use. One of my top eco-goals is to make it easy for every Londoner to go green in their homes to save hundreds of pounds off fuel bills, and ensure the capital is seriously tackling climate change. I am determined to take the robust steps required to make London a beacon of low carbon living to improve our quality of life and secure our future good fortunes.

Creating tasty dishes from London's leftovers

On 11 August, I joined forces with Gary Rhodes, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Oliver Rowe and other top chefs to urge Londoners use tasty leftovers for great recipes, rather than throw away perfectly edible food.

The expert chefs have contributed mouth watering and imaginative recipes – including a lemon potato mash cake - to the Recycle for London campaign and are designed to help use up the food Londoners are most likely to chuck in the bin, such as bread, meat, fish, rice and

15 potatoes. The recipes are featured on the Recycle for London website, which will be updated with the best recipes and top tips submitted by Londoners in the coming months.

In London alone, we know that food waste generates 6.3m tonnes of greenhouse gases every year, making it a significant contributor to climate change. But much of that food is wasted - to give an idea of the scale of the problem, it is estimated that Londoners throw out 400,000 untouched apples and 750,000 slices of bread every day.

I am also determined to untap the potential in our food waste through the London Waste and Recycling Board working in conjunction with London’s councils. The Board aims to spend £31 million over the next three years on projects to boost the conversion of food waste into an eco- fuel.

Energy-busting building makeover helps 'boys in blue' go green

On 24 July, Wembley police station became the first building to get an eco-makeover from the Mayor of London's scheme to make public buildings greener and save taxpayers' money on fuel bills.

The police station is the first of 42 buildings in the Greater London Authority Group set to get an energy efficiency upgrade to in the coming months which offers guaranteed levels of energy savings – and therefore also financial saving – over a period of years. A further 58 buildings within these groups are now being assessed. The aim is to cut climate change emissions by 25 per cent.

From this week, Wembley Police Station will have a range of measures installed to boost energy efficiency and save money, following a detailed eco-audit by leading energy services company, Dalkia. This will include:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) • Solar film fitted on windows to reflect sunshine reducing the need for air conditioning • Replacement of the ageing boiler • Energy efficient lighting • Voltage stabilisation to reduce incoming energy from the grid by up to 5 per cent • Presence detectors to operate ventilation plant in changing rooms and shower areas. • A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, a highly efficient unit which captures the heat created by energy generation for use locally.

Work is expected to be completed in the Autumn early next year and will not disrupt the day- to-day operations of the station.

Direction of Travel Statement for the Environment

I have approved the text and publication of a Direction of Travel Statement for the Environment. I have also delegated to Isabel Dedring, my Environment Adviser, authority to approve minor editorial changes which do not fundamentally affent the substance of the strategy.

Finally, I have approved expenditure of up to £1,200 to print copies of the document and approved a budget virement of £1,200 from the centralised programme budget to the Development and Environment Programme budget.

16 Children and Young People

Boost for school leavers' job prospects

On 26 August, I announced that the London Development Agency (LDA) is investing over £140,000 in 10 pilot projects, run in the boroughs of Camden, Enfield and Barking and Dagenham, to provide a range of skills-building activities during the summer and focus youngsters on their future.

Youth unemployment (16-24 year olds) is currently at 19 per cent in London so it is vital, especially during the current economic downturn, to ensure school leavers have all the help they need to find work, training or further education.

My key priority is to help the capital beat the recession and this initiative is part of wider plans to support all Londoners into work and training. It follows the recent launch of a careers website for graduates, which has received thousands of visits since its launch last month. Further projects are planned which will deliver more internship, apprenticeship and volunteering opportunities across London.

One of the projects funded by the LDA and helping school leavers is an online radio station, run by the WAC Performing Arts and Media College in Camden. The radio station, which is launched today, has been created by a group of young people who are neither in education, employment or training or young people with learning disabilities. Other projects include young women living in a Camden hostel, learning to grow their own vegetables and selling them to local restaurants and school leavers. In Barking and Dagenham, school leavers will join a six- week volunteering scheme, part of which will involve researching and analysing knife crime. In Enfield participants will help organise story-telling sessions to entertain children in the borough during the summer break.

Young buskers want your vote!

Londoners are being urged to go online and vote for their favourite young musicians in a unique competition. After performing as part of my Rhythm of London Busking Underground scheme last month, a highly prized year's licence to perform as part of London Underground's busking scheme is up for grabs, as well as a brand new acoustic guitar, courtesy of Epiphone Guitars, and a Fender Precision Bass signed and donated by legendary musician Sting.

Singers and musicians aged between 16-25 were asked to send in audition clips to win a 20 minute busking slot on a prime London Underground performance pitch. On 11 July the successful performers pitched up at Bank, Westminster, Liverpool Street, Embankment, Victoria, Waterloo, Hammersmith, as well as the O2. Footage of their 53 performances can be viewed on the official website - www.london.gov.uk/rhythmoflondon - and you have until Monday 31 August to vote for your favourite.

On 1 September, the 20 buskers with the highest number of votes will be whittled down to ten by a panel of judges, and be given the chance to perform at the live 'Busk-off' at my Young People's Question Time, which takes place at the O2's Indigo2 on 17 September. The three musicians judged to be the best, will win one of the prizes.

Lynk Up Crew – ‘Who’s Got UR Back?’

On 17 July, Esther Rantzen, Patron of The Diana Award and I presented certificates of achievement signed by the Prime Minister to members of the GLA Lynk Up Crew. The ‘Diana Achievement Award for Excellence’ gives valuable recognition to young people who make

17 outstanding and selfless contributions to their communities and the GLA Lynk Up Crew won in the ‘Diana Anti-Bullying Award’ category.

In London’s Living Room, I met the whole Lynk Up Crew for the first time with James Cleverly, my Ambassador for Young People. They are a cross-section of London children between 7 and 15 years of age, who help advise me on GLA policy making and act as a voice for other young Londoners.

Their focus this year has been on tackling the issues of violence and bullying, and the young people told me that the consequences of bullying include low self-esteem and self-harm. I responded that their activities are vital to highlight when the media so often only talks about young people and crime.

The celebration event included fabulous performance pieces of drama, music and poetry that highlighted their views on these subjects and made a strong impact on the young people and wider audience including myself, James, parents and friends.

Launch of YOU London partnership

On 16 July, I attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in support of YOU London, a partnership of some of the largest and most experienced uniformed youth organisations in London, who are working together to provide more opportunities for young people across the capital. This is a key theme under the “Titan” strand of my Time For Action programme to help develop character and responsibility amongst young people.

YOU London’s member organisations work with approximately 76,000 young people across the capital, equating to approximately 8 per cent of young people of compulsory school age. Over 17,000 adult volunteers give up their time to support their young members, and I greatly value the efforts of these volunteers who invest so much of their time in young Londoners.

A common theme across the organisations is a shortage of suitable and trained adult volunteers. Over the coming year we want to help these groups to expand their work, especially in neighbourhoods where young people might not have previously had an opportunity to become involved. The good work of YOU London and its members will help bridge the gap between younger and older Londoners.

Grand Gala Final 2009 – Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge

On 10 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, sat on the judging panel for the Grand Gala Final of Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge in Blackfriars.

Nearly 20,000 young Londoners took part in this years challenge and the final saw the last 18 students speak in a bid to become the Champion and win the first prize valued at £5000. The final 18 contestants had to speak for two and a half minutes on a subject of their choosing. The evening concluded with the presentation of prizes by the Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Leader of the House.

Fellow judges with Richard included Lord Digby Jones, Jasmin Buttar (Newsnight), Miranda Sawyer (The Observer) and Andy Parfitt (Radio One).

18 Spirit of London Awards

In the vein of celebrating the positive role models amongst young Londoners, I am supporting The London Paper and their Spirit of London Awards, with the Damilola Taylor Trust, London Boroughs and many celebrities to come on board.

This Awards scheme will, for example, recognise how much time teenagers spend on voluntary and charitable work, to make up for the volume of negative publicity that young people as a whole often receive.

My Youth Ambassador, James Cleverly, will be one of the award judges, and we are keen to support this initiative and highlight the achievements and community involvement of hundreds of thousand of young Londoners who never get into trouble and never get an inch of media space.

It will culminate in an “Oscars of community achievement” at a major awards ceremony in November at Alexandra Palace. All Londoners can become involved by nominating outstanding individuals aged 5 - 25 for eight different awards by 30 September. Categories include community champions, achievements through sport, arts and music, and achievements through education.

Children's Art Day

Children's Art Day took place all week from 6-12 July 2009 in schools, galleries and museums across London. Children’s Art Day is a programme which provides opportunities for thousands of children, young people, families and teachers to encourage interest, develop expertise & skills in the visual arts.

Academies Programme

I have directed the LDA to deliver, in partnership with core education providers, my Academies Programme ("Programme"), in accordance with it's statutory purposes and powers.

I have also directed the LDA to contribute up to £8million to the funding of the Programme and to use this as leverage to seek further funding from a range of partners who are committed to delivering the objectives of the Programme.

Finally, I have approved consents, pursuant to section 5(1)(2)(c) of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, to the LDA, in partnership with core education partners and other partners, in establishing an Academy Trust Company and consents to the LDA becoming a member of that Company.

Social Inclusion and Health

Equal Life Chances for All

On 30 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, held a reception to launch Equal Life Chances for All, my new equality framework which heralds a new approach to equality and inclusion in London, relevant for 21st century urban living. The framework can be found at http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/equalities/framework/.

The new framework focuses on equality outcomes where ordinary Londoners will experience real change. I want it to deliver concrete, sustainable improvements for the city, and reduce the

19 impact of the current difficult economic climate on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It addresses deprivation and inequality by providing a fresh analysis and different solutions to community cohesion, inclusion and tackling disadvantage.

Most importantly it is a fresh way which brings Londoners together rather than divides them. It contains:

• A policy statement which sets out my vision for London; • A new definition for equality which is more aspirational with a broader focus on a fairer society, tackles class and income and those groups currently outside legal protection against discrimination; incidentally an approach featured in the Equality Bill with a new public duty for socio-economic inequality; and • A set of metrics to monitor and measure real progress and success

Extensive consultation was completed in winter 2008/09, which generated a great deal of interest for the new approach. Equal Life Chances for All assembles all the necessary apparatus for London partners to work together effectively to deliver clear equality outcomes which:

• Ensure the capital’s diverse communities, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, benefit from London’s success and are supported in the economic downturn. • Embed equality at the heart of business and corporate planning, exemplifying the gold standard for best practice which brings real change to people’s quality of life. • Work with the GLA group and more widely with London councils, the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to provide practical solutions that effectively tackle inequality. • Support the development across the London economy of diverse markets, workforces and suppliers, in particular through the GLA group Diversity Works for London and Responsible Procurement programmes. • Ensure services delivered by the GLA group are accessible and appropriate to all Londoners. • Ensure delivery of an accessible and inclusive London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a legacy to benefit all.

Despite 40 years of legislation inequality and discrimination persist; my vision and framework are a concerted attempt to bring more than continuous improvement but discernable change for all Londoners. Equal Life Chances for All is being recognised as setting the standard for achieving real change for London.

Measures to tackle Swine Flu

On 20 July, I met with bosses of London's health and key public services at City Hall to discuss the potential impact of swine flu on the capital. Despite mounting public concern officials reassured me that London was coping well and fully prepared for the ongoing challenges of the outbreak.

Officials have informed me that there are 63 viral activation points already in operation around London, which could be increased to 240 at 48 hours notice. I was also told that each PCT has a full time flu resilience officer in place and that swine flu has already been factored into this year's NHS plans for the winter.

Those attending the meeting included: Pam Chesters, my Health Adviser; GLA Chief Executive Leo Boland; Simon Tanner, Director of Public Health, NHS London; Transport Commissioner

20 Peter Hendy; Health Protection Agency Regional Director Brian McCloskey; Ron Dobson, Commissioner London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority and GLA group lead on emergency planning; Superintendent Alan King and Chief Inspector Graham Stokes from the Metropolitan Police.

Transfer of Tamiflu stocks

I have approved the proposal that TfL enters into negotiations with the Department of Health to donate the stock of Tamiflu it holds at nil consideration to NHS London and in the short- term, to store and hold the stocks to their order for collection by the NHS and/or other public health bodies as they direct, and in the longer term to make arrangements for its transfer to NHS London.

I have confirmed that for the purposes of paragraph 12 of Schedule 11 of the GLA Act 1999 (as amended) the stock of Tamiflu currently owned by TfL is no longer required by TfL for the purposes of the discharge of any functions for the reasons set out in this document, in order that TfL may then dispose of it.

London Older People’s Assembly

On 10 July, I hosted the 7th London Older People’s Assembly in partnership with the London Older People’s Strategy Group, as part of my continuing commitment to ensure that quality of life issues for older people are put on London’s agenda.

The event provided an opportunity to discuss current issues that impact on older people and service delivery in London, and identify those that should be incorporated into the working document of my Action Plan for Older People. I also had the chance to outline initiatives with a positive impact on older people that I have put in place since May 2008, including: Know Your Rights, the Open London Scheme and extension to the Freedom Pass.

Approximately 190 older Londoners attended from a range of difference organisations, from national older people’s groups to local pensioners forum and there was an opportunity for them to have their say on key areas of my Action Plan including, crime and community safety, accessible transport, access to benefit services and initiatives to increase intergenerational dialogue.

I opened the event and my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, took questions from the audience during the panel discussion with Geoff Mulgan, the Director of the Young Foundation, and Graeme Matthews, Secretary of the London Older People’s Strategy Group.

Milk in the Park

On 15 August, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the Milk in the Park celebrations in Spring Gardens in Vauxhall.

The event was a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riot in the United States, a celebration of the life of the gay rights activist Harvey Milk and to raise awareness for the on going Lambeth Hate Crime Initiative.

London's top accessible attractions

On 30 July, I praised the London Eye and Tate Gallery after they were voted the capital's most accessible attractions in a recent survey commissioned in partnership with Direct Enquiries, The Nationwide Access Register.

21

The accessibility survey was designed to gauge the views and experiences of people with a range of accessibility issues about the capital's tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and public transport. Many of the 795 respondents had mobility issues, including wheelchair users, partially sighted people and parents with prams. The results will inform plans to make London more accessible in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

The survey is one of a number of initiatives to help take forward my equality action plan 'Equal Life Chances for All', which was formally launched for today at City Hall by my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes. The framework aims to bring a fresh approach to equality and inclusion in London, bringing people together rather than dividing them and will be used across the Greater London Authority group to implement policies and actions. An overwhelming majority of respondents have been in favour of the new approach.

East London Mosque Trust AGM and Dinner

My Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the East London Mosque Trust AGM and Dinner at The London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel Road on 18 July.

The event celebrated the inauguration of the multi storey community and women’s facility, due for completion in November 2010 to mark the centenary of the organisation.

National Older People’s Advisory Group

My Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the first meeting of the National Older People’s Advisory Group in Whitehall on 7 July. Richard attended to represent the interests of Older People in London and contributed to the meeting that was also attended by Government Ministers.

Tabard Gardens Estate Question and Answer Session

On 11 August my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, visited the Tabard Gardens Estate in Borough to take part in a Question and Answer Session with local residents. Questions were asked of the Deputy Mayor on all aspects of the work of the Mayoralty and the GLA.

The Session was part of a range of activities arranged by local residents to try and increase local participation and improve community spirit on the Estate.

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

London’s Olympic Legacy Sports Board Launched

On 13 July, Kate Hoey, my Sports Commissioner, chaired the first meeting of an advisory board that will help ensure London reaps the benefits of a long term Olympic legacy. The London Community Sports Board’s first task will be to ensure my investment of £15.5 million into grass-roots sport is used as effectively as possible.

The Board’s members all have huge experience of grass roots and community sport, both in London and nationally. As well as a strong sports background, each of them also has specific areas of expertise – from politics and business to community development– allowing them to view matters from a fresh, varied perspective. A ministerial nominee, who will be appointed shortly, will complete membership of the Board.

22 Members of the London Community Sports Board include:

• Nick Bitel Chief Executive, London Marathon Trust • Colin Moynihan Chairman, British Olympic Association • Andy Sutch Chair, London Fed of Sport and Recreation • Mark Sesnan Chairman, ProActive Central; Managing Director, GLL • Rosi Prescott Chief Executive, Central YMCA • Sangita Patel Director, London Community Sports Network • David Sparkes Chief Executive, Amateur Swimming Association

In May, Kate Hoey and I unveiled our vision for grass root sports with a plan entitled ‘A Sporting Future for London’. The Board will work closely with key delivery partners, and monitor the progress and implementation of the sports plan.

Volunteer for 2012 and welcome the world

On 27 July, I announced plans to recruit a new army of volunteers to greet and assist the thousands of visitors arriving in London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. I aim to recruit approximately 12,000 new city volunteers to complement the work of the 70,000 Olympic volunteers and ensure visitors receive the warmest of welcomes and first class advice on getting around the capital and to London 2012 events.

On hand at airports, mainline train and Tube stations, major visitor attractions and other key locations, the city volunteers will be fully trained to welcome our guests and help them get the most out of their time in London and the UK. They will give information and directions to visitors, but will also help Londoners whose everyday routines are affected by the Games. And, with many of the volunteers stationed where they live or work, they will use their specialist local knowledge to direct people towards the right bus, nearest cash point or public toilet.

Tourism plan for 2012 Games

On 14 August, I published London’s tourism vision for taking full advantage of the huge opportunities for the capital’s economy arising from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It aims to strengthen the capital's position as the world’s most popular destination for visitors.

The London Tourism Action Plan 2009-13, produced by the London Development Agency, sets out how it will deliver my key priority of ensuring the capital remains the number one choice for international travellers and that the city provides an inspirational experience for everyone in the capital during the 2012 Games. The action plan can be found at http://www.lda.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.1513.

In 2006, a 10-year vision for tourism in the capital outlined how London was to achieve number one status with targeted, innovative, competitive and dynamic marketing. Most importantly, it committed London to become a city that welcomes the world. The Plan 2009-13 will support the delivery of this vision.

Vision for High Street 2012 Launched

In July, an ambitious vision for the regeneration of the A11/A118 was unveiled. Stretching from the City to the Olympic Park, ‘High Street 2012’ aims to create a world class and thriving high street, where there is a balance between pedestrian and road users, where people and places are connected and where there is a sense of community, history and well-being.

23 Improvements will run along the entire length of the street, including enhanced heritage buildings and spaces, better street and accent lighting, a new cycleway and improved surfaces, de-cluttering, greener spaces, and measures to help people find their way.

In three years time, when London welcomes thousands of visitors for the 2012 Games, it is essential that the capital looks its best. Making improvements to our public realm is all part of our goal of ensuring an unforgettable experience and spurring visitors on to return again and again. It is therefore fitting that, in summer 2012, there will be a wonderful, vibrant avenue leading athletes and spectators to the focus of world attention in London's Olympic Park. Host City Contract

I have agreed and signed the amendment to section 58 of the Host City Contract in respect of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

2009-10 ODA Funding Agreement

I have approved the provision of and entry into an agreement for £59.1 million funding to the Olympic Delivery Authority for 2009/10, to part fund the ODA's investment in regeneration, infrastructure and facilities required for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I have also delegated authority to the Executive Director - Resources to sign the Funding Agreement with the ODA.

Sport

Free coaching through Play Sport London

In July, the London Development Agency and Sport England launched the Play Sport scheme to increase free coaching and to increase sports participation in London. The scheme features around 30 different sports and involves more than 140 grass roots clubs putting on expert coaching and activities.

Participants will be signposted to local clubs where they can carry on playing their chosen sport. The project runs until 30 September with activities for people of all ages and for disabled Londoners. The aim is to build on the success of an earlier scheme, Summer of Sport, which reached around 8,000 Londoners last year.

It comes on top of my £15.5 million investment in grass-roots sport, which was announced earlier this year. With three years to go until 2012, we want to see more Londoners taking up sport and getting active. Whatever your age or ability, Play Sport London is a brilliant opportunity to try something new or get coaching in a sport you already enjoy - I'm committed to making sport and physical activity more accessible to all.

Mobile pool on London's Southbank opened

On 4 August, Olympic double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and I opened the British Gas Pools 4 Schools Summer Camp on London's Southbank.

The Summer Camp is situated adjacent to Gabriel's Wharf on the South Bank, between two of London's most recognised landmarks, The London Eye and Oxo Tower Wharf. Developed in association with social enterprise, Coin Street Community Builders, it will include a temporary pool, plus a leisure and relaxation area, with bathing huts, deckchairs, refreshment kiosks and ice cream stalls.

24 Pools 4 Schools is the brainchild of Total Swimming's chief executive, former British swimming captain and Athens Olympic Bronze medallist, Steve Parry. The programme is sponsored by British Gas and provides temporary pools and swimming opportunities, in areas where children and their families find it difficult to access their local pools.

A Sporting Future for London, 2009-2012

To ensure the aims of "A Sporting Future for London" are accurately reflected, I have directed the LDA, in exercising it delegated powers in relation to the implementation and delivery of programmes promoting participation in sport, physical activity and active recreation in Greater London by persons of any age, and it's role in supporting activities for young people pursuant to sections 120 and 121 of the GLA Act 1999, and the terms set out, to transfer £15.5million of LDA capital and revenue funds to the GLA, over a three year period (currently projected at £3million in 2009/10; £5million in 2010/11; £7.5million in 2011/12), to resource the development, set-up and administration of delivery of programmes supporting the priorities set out in the plan and early initiatives.

I have approved the establishment of the London Community Sports Board, a non-statutory advisory body chaired by the Commissioner for Sport, to oversee the implementation of the plan and report to me on the same.

In order to maximise the efficiency with which the programmes can be delivered, I have delegated power to the Executive Director - Communities and Intelligence to approve all further recommendations relating to and facilitative of the ongoing development, implementation and delivery of programmes promoting participation in sport, physical activity and active recreation in Greater London.

England to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015

On 28 July, I hailed the announcement that England is to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

Rugby has a passionate and loyal following in England, the country where this great sport first kicked off. With the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2010, the men's tournament in 2015 is another feather in the cap for the sport and adds to London's outstanding calendar of international sporting events - from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, and the NFL at Wembley to the Tour de France Grand Depart.

London has some of the finest sporting venues in the world - Twickenham, of course, as well as Wembley and the Emirates Stadium. But from 2012 there will be another, excellent new venue, the Olympic Stadium. And it goes without saying that rugby fans heading to the capital from across the world in 2015 will also enjoy a hearty welcome, as well as an unbeatable range of other activities and attractions.

Para Triathlon - ITU World Championship

On 15 August, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the Para Triathlon ITU World Championship in Hyde Park on the evening of 15 August. Richard presented medals on my behalf to competitors in the Para Triathlon and congratulated all those who had taken part.

25 Local Government Relations

Meeting with LFEPA

On 7 July, I met with the Commissioner and Chairman of LFEPA. Our discussion predominately focused on the recent tragic fire in Camberwell.

Meeting with Leader of Greenwich

On 17 July, I met with the Leader of Greenwich, Cllr Chris Roberts. We discussed a range of issues including the river crossings review, Crossrail, Greenwich Peninsula and the Cutty Sark.

Meeting with Leader of Redbridge

On 4 August, I met with the Leader of Redbridge, Cllr Keith Prince, where we discussed housing, school places, Wanstead tube station, LB Redbridge's website and my transport priorities.

Meeting with Leader of Haringey

On 4 August, I met with the Leader of Haringey, Cllr Claire Kober. Amongst other issues, we discussed Tottenham Hale gyratory, Tottenham Hotspurs FC development, Wards Corner and Haringey Heartlands.

Meeting with Chairman of London Councils

On 26 August, I met with Cllr Merrick Cockell, as Chairman of London Councils. We discussed the forthcoming London Congress, my environmental priorities, decent homes and concessionary fares.

Government and Parliamentary Relations

Meeting of the High Level London Economy Group On 6 July, I chaired a meeting of the High Level London Economy Group and we discussed London's economy, apprenticeships, poverty in London, EU Regulations and the UK Financial Services Sector, and the implications of Budget 2009 for London.

Meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport

On 14 July, I met with Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport and we discussed London Underground, Crossrail Interoperability, Electric Vehicles, Oyster PAYG on National Rail, a Roadwork Permit Scheme, Overground map, Overground services, and bike hire.

Meeting with Minister of State at DEFRA

On 3 August, I met with Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister of State at DEFRA and we discussed London's air quality.

26 Housing

Draft London Housing Design Guide

On 8 July, I launched the draft London Housing Design Guide, at my London Housing Strategy consultation conference. I am committed not just to delivering more homes in London, but also to improving the quality of our homes. This draft London Housing Design Guide, published for consultation by the LDA, is a key part of achieving this goal, setting a new benchmark for the design and quality of London’s housing.

The Guide clarifies, consolidates and sets new minimum standards in a number of key policy areas, including space standards. It focuses on a number of key areas:

• The spaces between and around buildings so that developments integrate with the wider public realm; • The mix of housing sizes, types and tenures at a range of densities for the diverse needs of Londoners; • Better design of entrances and shared circulation areas, with measures to design out crime at the outset of a development, as well as car parking and cycle and waste storage; • New minimum internal space standards including guidance on the size and layout of different rooms to ensure greater flexibility of space in the home; • Making homes more comfortable places to live and enjoy by making them quieter, lighter, with more privacy and better ventilated; • Ensuring homes are designed to meet climate change and are suitable for warmer summers and wetter winters.

All homes developed with public funding will deliver high quality in line with the Guide from 2011, and I intend to use the Guide to improve standards in the private sector through the new London Plan that will be published for consultation in the autumn.

London Housing Market Report

On 10 August, I published the first edition of a quarterly series of reports on London's housing market. This report summarises key trends in London’s housing market including prices, affordability, repossessions and new housing construction.

Accessing intermediate housing

On 12 August, I published new research, conducted for the GLA by Ipsos MORI, into the experiences of London's first time buyers. The report, Accessing Intermediate Housing, shows that three quarters of London's first time buyers are not sure who qualifies for low cost housing schemes and may be missing the chance to get on the property ladder. While 80 per cent of those surveyed are interested in owning their own home, there is widespread confusion about who can apply for the low cost deals on offer, including shared ownership and 'rent now, buy later' schemes.

For example:

• 75 per cent of eligible Londoners think the upper income threshold for help is just £30,000 or less - half the actual threshold of £60,000. Therefore many middle income Londoners are unaware that they may qualify for help for ‘shared ownership’ or ‘rent now, buy later’ schemes;

27 • 20 per cent surveyed say they are interested but had not applied for help, and over a quarter of these Londoners wrongly believed they earned too much to qualify, when in fact they would have been eligible; • 30 per cent say they are unsure of where to go for more information about the various schemes on the market; • 50 per cent surveyed mistakenly believe that they must be a key worker to qualify for the schemes. In fact, most are open to anyone with earnings between £20,000 and £60,000.

I am committed to helping first time buyers through the maze of options. Through my First Steps programme, launched in March, I am working to making the system fairer and easier for first time buyers to understand, with help for all, not just public sector key workers. I am also consulting on increasing the income threshold for intermediate housing to almost £75,000 for joint applicants, reflecting the high cost of housing in the capital.

The survey confirms that the new approach we are adopting is necessary, not only to deliver for London’s first time buyers earning in the middle income range, but also to clarify exactly who is eligible, the options available and where to apply for low cost home ownership.

Plans for over 750 new east London homes

On 2 July, I approved plans that will see over 750 new homes, plus commercial and leisure facilities, built next to the Thames Barrier in Newham. The proposed development -‘Barrier Park East’ - will transform this former industrial site into a vibrant east London neighbourhood, bringing new life to a long neglected corner of the capital.

More than 270 of the proposed homes will be affordable and over 130 will have three or four bedrooms to accommodate families. Much of Barrier Park East has been designed for families and includes plenty of open and green space and, in particular, play space for the children who will live there.

I am committed to investing in London’s infrastructure and I strongly believe that pushing ahead with large developments like Barrier Park East and supporting the construction industry with new building projects, is critical to sustaining as well as delivering new jobs for Londoners.

Back door raid on housing budget

On 4 August, I pledged to step in and plug a funding gap after the Government reneged on promises to fund homes in the capital.

In a letter to John Healey, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, I expressed my concern that the funding being diverted to other regions is largely being paid for by raiding budgets set aside to upgrade over 100,000 of London’s poorest quality social homes. The Government is reneging on promises to around a quarter of a million of London's poorest tenants by delaying improvement to their homes.

I am committed to making good these broken promises and has instructed the London Homes and Communities Agency to ensure funding is made available, over the next year, so that these properties can be improved to meet national minimum standards.

28 Culture and Events

Public launch of Fourth Plinth marathon

On 6 July, I launched the much anticipated One & Other Fourth Plinth installation by Anthony Gormley in Trafalgar Square. One & other will involve a different person occupying the Fourth Plinth for one hour, every 24 hours a day for one hundred days. In total 2,400 people representing all UK regions will have the chance to be on the Plinth. Applications for the project are still open and can be made at www.oneandother.co.uk and so far there is huge interest with over 3,673,358 visits to the website.

The project is about spontaneity. It is brilliant and it is art, because it is provoking debate about the nature of fame and who should be honoured and the method that people can be involved.

Rhythm of London

On 10 and 11 July, the Rhythm of London took the streets and spaces of London by storm. Over 100 events happened in schools and venues across London highlighting the fantastic music education work that takes place throughout the year in the capital.

Music of every style could be heard and young Londoners had the opportunity to join in with a vast range of activities from Masterclasses in songwriting, working in the music industry and performance to playing a street piano in a public square, drumming at the Barbican and Gamelan workshops at the South Bank Centre.

Pride

On 4 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, led the annual Pride London Parade from Oxford Street to Trafalgar Square, where he also spoke from the main stage. Pride London is the most important event in the UK celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, and a programme of live entertainment reflected the broad diversity of this community.

The event has developed year on year, with this year seeing audience numbers of around 750,000 over the day throughout the event sites of the Parade, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Soho.

Pride London has also won the bid to stage WorldPride in 2012, for which this event will continue to develop towards. Funding for Pride London was provided via the event tourism budget provided by the LDA.

One Magic Summer in Trafalgar Square

Take a breather from the hustle and bustle of life in Trafalgar Square this summer, where you can kick back and relax in one of 100 deckchairs and re-live the classic British summer holiday experience.

On 20 August, One Magic Summer, my special programme of free weekend entertainment in the world-famous Square, began. A variety of comedy performances, street theatre and even magic tricks is planned to evoke memories of the great British summer holiday - look out for Bill and Vera and their 'Swervy World' 1950s beach hut, or the non-identical twins' death- defying feats of illusion, accompanied by 80s power ballads.

29 One Magic Summer is free, adding to the unrivalled range of activities that make London a great value place to visit. Deckchairs are available until Bank Holiday Monday 31st August from 10am-8pm - rest your feet, bring a book or simply watch the world go by. Performances are on 12pm-2pm and 5pm-7pm, each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Bank Holiday Monday.

Carnavel del Pueblo 2009

On 2 August, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the Carnavel Del Pueblo (Latin American Carnival) in Burgess Park, Southwark

The event, which received a funding contribution from the GLA, attracted people from the various Latin American communities resident in London as well as the wider public. More than 80,000 are estimated to have attended the event which featured live music and dance from several stages, including Brazilian stage and main stage with groups representing the diversity of Latin culture, including artists from Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay.

In addition to the festival in the park, a carnival procession took place from Elephant and Castle to Burgess Park, with floats representing many of the different Latin American communities. Included were a number of ‘Paraiso’ environmentally friendly ‘push floats’.

London's Skyride, Hounslow

On 9 August, my Transport Advisor, Kulveer Ranger, attended the Hounslow Skyride. This was the first time that my mass participation cycle event (previously known as Freewheel) has been staged outside Central London.

The event was based around traffic free route on both closed roads and through the picturesque Syon and Osterley Parks to create a 10km circular route. At Syon Park a number of both national and London based cycling organisations, including TfL staged displays and information on cycling in the capital. 11,000 cyclists, many of them families and young children participated in the event, which was supported by the London Borough of Hounslow, funded by TfL and sponsored by Sky.

London Mela 2009

On 16 August, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, attended the London Mela in Gunnersbury Park, Ealing. This major free festival celebrates the arts and creativity of London’s Asian communities, with a diverse programme of live music, outdoor theatre, visual arts and children’s activities. The free family-friendly event attracted record crowds, with over 80,000 attending, some 60% Asian and 40% non-Asian.

The varied programme of events included performances by Classical, Folk and contemporary artists, plus an extensive international food zone, where many hundreds of people turned parts of the park into a huge picnic area.

The event received positive media coverage, including report in the Evening Standard that many more non-Asians had attended this year as a result of increased interest in Asian culture following the success of Slumdog Millionaire.

Anniversary of the 7th July bombings

The fourth anniversary of the 7th July bombings, which killed 52 people in the capital, was marked on 7 July with the dedication of the London Bombing Memorial in Hyde Park. During

30 the ceremony the names of all those killed in the bombings were read out, followed by a minutes silence.

I joined the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prime Minister to at the dedication ceremony and met the families of the victims of the bombings and representatives of the emergency services.

Capital Growth receives prestigious RHS Commendation

On 10 July, Rosie Boycott, Chair of London Food, and I accepted a Royal Horticultural Society Commendation for Capital Growth (London’s food growing scheme) during a tour of this year’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which included a visit to the Capital Growth inspired food- growing feature, ‘Edible Spaces’. The garden features three small gardens and six balconies designed to show urbanites that anyone can grow food, no matter how small their outside space is. The balconies are full of practical and innovative ideas inspired by real-life Capital Growth plots for Londoners to copy using cheap and cheerful containers to plant fruit and vegetables. Compost made from City Hall's food waste has been used on the garden and containers from its caterers have been used as recycled vegetable pots.

Capital Growth was launched last year by Rosie Boycott and I, to boost “grow-your-own” in the capital by creating 2,012 community food growing spaces by 2012. The scheme, managed by the environment charity, Sustain, now has nearly 100 spaces being cultivated across the capital in a diverse range of places including canal banks, schools, roofs, private gardens open to the community and parks.

On the same day, the latest Capital Growth plot was created outside London's City Hall on Potter's Field park with the help of GLA staff volunteers and year 2 pupils from Tower Bridge Primary School. This plot outside London’s government building, echoes the move towards vegetable growing in iconic spots, such as the White House front garden. The plot has been planted up with a range of fruit and vegetables including strawberries, kale, gooseberries, runner beans, borlotti beans, leeks and courgettes. It will also use City Hall food waste derived compost.

Focus on London 2009

On 13 July, I unveiled “Focus on London 2009” the ultimate pub quiz companion and challenged Londoners to discover even more about their capital city. Containing information on everything from the price of housing in London – the cheapest is to be found in Barking – to the amount of money earned from foreign tourists - £8.2bn last year – it offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the capital today.

The report, which has been produced virtually every year since 1890, also notes the first recorded effect of the credit crunch on mobility with the number of people leaving London to live elsewhere in the UK almost halving since 2004.

This year to coincide with the launch of the ‘Focus on London 2009’, published by the GLA, I threw open the doors of the City Hall Archive and put parts of the 1909 London Statistics report online.

Diwali on the Square

I have agreed that the GLA, in association with the Diwali in London Committee, will organise Diwali on the Square, a key celebratory event for the Asian community, to take place on Trafalgar Square on 4 October 2009.

31 I have approved the setting of a core budget and expenditure of up to £80,000 for this event (including event organisation and management, marketing, branding and misc. costs). £15,000 of the GLA contribution of £35,000 to be met by budget virement from the 2009/10 GLA Programme budget and the allocation made for Events for London. The remaining £20,000 will be met from LDA income in advance from 2008/09.

I have also approved the seeking of sponsorship for this event and entry into related sponsorship agreements, in order to reduce the GLA's net costs of the event.

Finally, I have agreed that GDF will provide event production services for Diwali on the Square under the existing contract the GLA has with GDF in respect of the Liberty Festival.

Notting Hill Carnival

I have agreed to provide £300,000 of funding to the following projects: £148,000 towards stewarding costs at Notting Hill Carnival and £152,000 towards delivering Caribbean in the Park (a mini-Carnival experience held in Hyde Park).

I have authorised the application of £300,000 received as part of the LDA grant relating to the 2009/10 GLA/LDA programme of events (the "Events Grant").

Should the Events Grant not be signed prior to the execution of the GLA funding agreement relating to said events, to authorise the application of £300,000 from the 2009/10 GLA programme budget and the allocation made to Events for London to meet the cost of the two events.

Thames Festival 2009

I have approved funding of £65,000 to the Thames Festival Trust to support delivery of my Thames Festival on 12 and 13 September 2009. I have also authorised the application of £60,000, received as part of the LDA grant relating to the 2009/10 GLA/LDA programme of events, and allocated an additional £5,000 from LDA income in advance from 2008/09.

Eid in the Square 2009

I have agreed that the GLA, in association with the Eid Committee, will organise Eid in that Square, a key celebratory event for the Muslim community, to take place on Trafalgar Square on 26 September 2009.

I have approved expenditure of up to £80,000 (including event organisation and management, marketing, branding and misc. costs. Up to £50,000 from the 2009/10 GLA programme budget (£30,000 if sponsorship targets are met) from the allocation made to Events for London. In accordance with this, I have also approved the seeking of sponsorship of £50,000 for this event and entry into related sponsorship agreements in order to reduce the GLA's net costs of the event.

I have also agreed to call off the services of GDF to provide event production services for Eid in the Square under the existing contract the GLA has with GDF in respect of the Liberty Festival.

Funding of Food Related Projects 2009/10

I have approved the award of grant funding to:

32 • The Eden Project in respect of their "Big Lunch" project, to assist with production costs of their "Big Lunch" booklet (up to £15,000); • The Thames Festival Trust in respect of costs it incurs in the delivery of the "Feast on the Bridge" element of the 2009 Thames Festival (up to £95,000); and • Sustain: The Alliance for Better Food and Farming in respect of costs it incurs in the Capital Growth campaign including promotional activity at the Hampton Court Flower Show (up to £61,000).

I have also delegated to the Executive Director of Development and Environment the power to approve further arrangements for the delivery of the projects, related to or connected with the delivery of the London Food Programme including (without limitation) the procurement of and award of contracts for supplies, services and/or works, and award of grant funding to third parties where such decisions would ordinarily fall outside her powers under the GLA's Scheme of Delegation.

Philippino Senate Visit

On 6 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, hosted a visit to City Hall by Philippino Senators. The delegation was led by The Honourable Mr Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, the Deputy Speaker of the Philippine Senate. The Senators held a meeting with Richard to discuss the work of the GLA before having a tour of City Hall.

Mayor of Warsaw Visit

My Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, hosted a visit to City Hall by Mrs Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the Mayor of Warsaw, on 17 July. The Deputy Mayor then attended a Reception on the evening at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to mark the visit of the Mayor of Warsaw to the capital.

Discussions with the Mayor of Warsaw concentrated on London’s experiences with public- private partnership initiatives, transportation, tourism and the hosting of large scale sporting events.

Help For Heroes Community Day

On 18 July my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, officially opened on my behalf the Help For Heroes Community Day in Hendon.

Richard spoke briefly in support of the Community Day and in recognition of the brave service of our servicemen and women in Afghanistan.

French Senators Visit

On 20 July, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, hosted a visit by a group of French Senators to City Hall.

Amongst a general discussion of how London is run, the Senators were particularly interested in discussing the Congestion Charge Zone and it’s impact on transport in the capital.

Mayor of Warringah (Northern Sydney) Visit

On 19 August, my Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, hosted a visit by Mr Michael Regan, Mayor of Warringah, to City Hall.

33 Mr Regan particularly wanted to discuss electric vehicles with the Deputy Mayor. After discussions with Richard, Mr Regan was given a tour of City Hall.

London Development Agency

Funding for JESSICA

I have approved the LDA proposal to commit £50 million of ERDF funding to a Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA) Holding Fund as part of the delivery of the European Regional Development Fund programme. I have also appointed Isabel Dedring, Director of Environment, as my representative on the JESSICA Investment Board.

London Food Programme 2009-12

I have directed the LDA, pursuant to sections 120 and 121 of the GLA 1999 and in the terms set out, to transfer available LDA revenue funds to the GLA, over a three year period (2009/10 - £830,547, 2010/11 - £2,000,000, 2011/12 - £2,000,000) to resource the GLA's management, administration and delivery of the London Food Programme.

GLA Organisation

Voltage Optimisation

I have agreed to the installation of voltage optimisation in City Hall as a means of reducing energy consumption. I have approved the budget of £85,000 from the Capital budget in 2009/10 for the purposes of installing voltage optimisation in City Hall.

I have approved entry into a contract with the supplier who submits the economically advantageous bid. I have also approved the waiver of the requirement under the GLA Contracts Code to seek an advertised tender for this work, on the grounds of a limited number of suitable suppliers.

Finally I have agreed to the building shut down between the evening of 21 and 23 August 2009, to allow the installation of voltage optimisation and other works.

Shared Services

I have approved the GLA and TfL's entry into an arrangement for TfL's discharge of the GLA's transactional and systems accounting and procurement functions under section 401A of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

I have also approved the allocation of a budget of £2.4million to fund TfL's costs for the implementation of the arrangements. As well as, the allocation of an annually recurring budget of £0.8million for the discharge of the functions, which will be Routine Expenditure as defined in the Financial Regulations.

In addition, I have delegated power to the Executive Director of Resources to approve all necessary actions and documentation (and sign such documentation on behalf of the GLA) required for the same.

Finally, I have approved consultation with staff, Unison, TfL and BMAC on a proposal to develop a project to establish an administrative arrangement between the GLA and TfL for the 34 discharge by TfL of the GLA's legal services, and to review the associated policies and procedures.

FM Contracts

I have extended the contract for reprographic services with The Stationary Office for a period of 2 years until 1 January 2012 in line with the provisions set out in the current contract.

I have also extended the contract for City Hall office cleaning with OCS for a period of 1 year, until 18 June 2011 in line with the provisions set out in the current contract.

Finally, I have approved a competitive tender for the provision of an out of hours telephone call handling service contract for a period of 4 years, from February 2010 and to award a contract to the most economically advantageous bidder.

2009/12 Strategic Plan

I have approved the 2009/12 Strategic Plan, noting that it contains the objectives and budgets for both the GLA and the London Assembly.

GLA Governance Issues

I have noted the content of the external audit reports on the Authority's Governance Issues and the proposed action in respect of the reported recommendations.

Executive Search and Selection Services

I have approved the procurement and award of a contract on a tiered basis to International Resources Group Ltd (Odgers Berndtson) (tier 1), Tribal Resourcing Ltd (tier 2) and Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd (tier 3) for the of executive search and selection services for a 12 month period on the basis of the most economically advantageous tenders received.

I have approved the funding arrangements for expenditure incurred under the contract (in 2009/10 to be met initially from the Human Resources group recruitment budget although if additional resources are required the source of funding to be funding to be determined at the time by the Executive Director of Resources).

I have also approved the delegation to the Chief Executive, acting in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources, of the power to approve the virement of funds to the recruitment budget where required.

GLA Budget and Corporate Plan Performance Monitoring – Quarter 4

I have approved the transfers to and from reserves and the related budget adjustments, which includes the creation of the London Analyst Support Site reserve.

I have also noted the Authority's financial position at the end of Quarter 4 2008/09 and the Authority's performance against corporate health indicators, key projects from the interim Corporate Plan and Operational Equalities Action Plan deliverables. Finally, I have noted the interim 2008/09 Corporate Plan against which organisational performance is tracked and those commitments and projects that have been assimilated into it as at the end of Quarter 4.

35 Interim Contractor Contracts

I have approved the extension of the GLA's current contract with CDI Anderselite for the provision of an interim IT Technical Project Manager and IT Deployment Engineer procured through the TfL Agency Suppliers Framework. The contract extension will be for 1 month (22 days) and the total value of the services for the extended period will not exceed £18,000 (£9,000 for the interim IT Technical Project Manager and £9,000 for the interim IT Deployment Engineering services).

IT Disaster Recovery Services

I have awarded a two-year contract to SunGuard for recovery services for immediate replacement of IT equipment and systems in the event of loss of service or inaccessibility to City Hall. I have also approved a related exemption from the requirement of the GLA Contracts Code of Practice to seek advertised tenders in this regard.

Delegation of Authority

I have authorised my Olympic Advisor and the Executive Director of Resources to jointly exercise any function of the GLA in relation to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games unless it concerns issues that they consider to be of significance in policy terms, novel or contentious.

I have also authorised my Olympic Advisor to participate in meetings of members of the company, London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, on my behalf.

Appointments

London Skills and Employment Board

On 14 August, I strengthened the London Skills and Employment Board with the appointment of three new members. They will help the Board ensure London remains globally competitive, with a highly skilled workforce, whilst also tackling its problems of entrenched worklessness.

The new members are Mike Westcott, Global HR Director of National Grid, Gerry Murray, Chief Executive of Huveaux PLC, and Peter Lewis, Chief Executive of London Voluntary Services Council. Their appointments bring important additional experience from the industrial and professional services sectors, whilst also drawing on the unique advice of London’s community and voluntary organisations.

The Board provides leadership to boost adult skills and jobs in the capital and is made up of top London business leaders, large and small employers, education specialists, local authorities and trade unions.

LOCOG Board

I have approved the appointed of Dr Muhammad Bari as Non-executive Director of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games for a second three year term, until March 2012.

36 Committee of the Regions 2010-14

I have nominated Roger Evans (full member) and Jennette Arnold (alternate member) as the members of the Committee of the Regions for the 2010-14 mandate.

LDA Board

I have appointed Anthony Browne to the LDA Board from 20 July 2009 until 31 July 2012.

Planning and Development Control

White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework

I have given approval for the GLA Planning Decisions Unit to establish and participate in a White City OAPF project team with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, to deliver the White City OAPF.

I have also given approval to enter into contracts for the GLA's provision of discretionary services with an initial aggregate value of £140,000 to four landowners within the White City area in order to deliver the White City OAPF with the option to extend this contract to other landowners who come forward.

I have recommended the creation of such temporary posts in accordance with GLA policy as may be required by the GLA in order to deliver the White City OAPF.

I have approved the procurement of additional technical consultancy, consultation and publication services as required and award contracts to those bidders submitting the most economically advantageous bids (in accordance with the GLA's Contracts Code of Practice).

Finally, I have authorised the receipt of the £140,000 from the four landowners and approved the transfer of £2,801 from the centralised programme budget to the Planning Decisions programme budget to cover the calculated costs of £142,801.

Nine Elms/Battersea/Vauxhall Opportunity Area Planning Framework

I have agreed to continue with the GLA's involvement in the production of the Nine Elms/Battersea/Vauxhall Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF). I have also agreed to a further expenditure on the project of £58,000. This includes the allocation of £18,000 from the centralised Programme Budget to the Planning Decision Unit programme budget 2009/10. As well as, the use of LDA grants allocated to the Deptford Creek OAPF (£20,000) and Tottenham Court Road OAPF (£20,000).

I have also awarded a contract to Urban Design Plus (for a value of up to £40,000) for specialist project management and consultancy services in respect of production of the OAPF and a related exemption from the requirement of the GLA's Contract Code of Practice to undertake an advertised tender exercise in this regard.

Finally, I have agreed to procure printing and publication services for the public consultation and final publication and associated documents in accordance with the GLA's Contract Code of Practice at a cost of £18,000.

37 Planning Decisions (Stage II referrals)

Barking College, LB Barking and Dagenham I have written to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Woodberry Down Estate, LB Hackney I have written to the London Borough of Hackney stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Lee Tunnel and Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, LB Newham I have written to the London Borough of Newham stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

The Mardyke Estate, LB Havering I have written to the London Borough of Havering stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Victoria Transport Interchange, City of Westminster I have written to the City if Westminster stating that my concerns have been satisfactorily addressed and I therefore, withdraw my earlier direction to refuse planning permission.

Harefield Academy, LB Hillingdon I have written to the London Borough of Hillingdon stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

276 Bath Road, LB Hillingdon I have written to the London Borough of Hillingdon stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Guru Nanak School, LB Hillingdon I have written to the London Borough of Hillingdon stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Smugglers Way, LB Wandsworth I have written to the London Borough of Wandsworth stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Woburn House, LB Wandsworth I have written to the London Borough of Wandsworth stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Regal House, LB Richmond I have written to the London Borough of Richmond stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Creative Industries Quarter, LB Barking and Dagenham I have written to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Holland Estate, LB Tower Hamlets I have written to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

38 Baugh House, LB Bexley I have written to the London Borough of Bexley stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

12-32a Hertford Road, LB Hackney I have written to the London Borough of Hackney stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Mogden Sewage Treatment Works, LB Hounslow I have written to the London Borough of Hounslow stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Olympic Way, Wembley I have written to the London Borough of Wembley stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

51 College Road, LB Harrow I have written to the London Borough of Harrow stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Devon’s Wharf, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation I have written to the LTGDC stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Former Lesney Toys Factory, LB Hackney I have written to the London Borough of Hackney stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Charles House, RB Kensington & Chelsea I have written to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Ravenswood School, LB Bromley I have written to the London Borough of Bromley stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Woodberry Down Estate (KSS1), LB Hackney I have written to the London Borough of Hackney stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

South Marsh, Hackney Marshes, LB Hackney I have written to the London Borough of Hackney stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Southwark Park Sports Centre, LB Southwark I have written to the London Borough of Southwark stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Alexandra House, LB Camden I have written to the London Borough of Camden stating that I am content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

39 The Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning, under powers I delegated to him, has sent letters in response to the following statutory referrals:

City Forum, LB Islington The Deputy Mayor has written to the London Borough of Islington stating that he is content to allow the Council to determine the application itself.

Planning Decisions (Stage I referrals)

I have asked officers to send letters giving comments about the following stage one referrals:

• 46-49 Blackfriars Road, LB Southwark • Harold Hill Learning Village, LB Havering • US Embassy Site, LB Wandsworth • Vauxhall Bondway, LB Lambeth • 81-83 Duckett Street, LB Tower Hamlets • 60 River Road, LB Barking and Dagenham • Imperial Wharf, Block D, LB Hammersmith and Fulham • Fell Road/Mint Walk, LB Croydon • Tileman House, LB Wansworth • Deals Gateway, Phase II, LB Greewich • Graham Hill Unit, LB Harrow • Mohawk Wharf, LB Newham • Goodsmans Field Site, LB Tower Hamlets • Royal Mail Sorting Office, 5-6 Almeida Street, LB Islington • Edmonton Eco Park, LB Enfield • Littleberries Estate, LB Barnet • Surrey Quays Leisure Estate, LB Southwark • Copse Farm, LB Harrow • Vicarage Road, LB Barking and Dagenham

Development Plans

I have written to the following Councils giving a response to their development plan consultations:

• Barking Town Centre, Area Action Plan & Site Specific Allocations pre submission consultation, LB Barking and Dagenham • Brent Council’s Core Strategy and Site Specific Allocations, submission stage, LB Brent • Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan, pre submission stage, LB Bromley • Core Strategy, preferred options consultation, LB Hammersmith and Fulham • Colindale Area Action Plan, submission stage, LB Barnet • Hackney Council’s Core Strategy, submission stage, LB Hackney

Decisions made under delegation to Head of Planning Decisions

• 36-38 Station Road, LB Harrow • Worthington Green Estate, Supplementary Development Document, RB Kensington and Chelsea • Bunhill and Clerkenwell Area Action Plan, issues and options consultation, LB Islington 40 • Islington Council’s Core Strategy direction of travel consultation, LB Islington

Key Engagements

Among my additional engagements since my last report were the following:

• I attended a Bike Doctor event on 2 July • I attended the Kioskiosk event on 2 July • I met with Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chair of Transport for London to discuss transport issues on 2 July • I had my regular meeting with Transport for London on 2 July • I attended the John Lewis topping out ceremony at Stratford on 3 July • I chaired the Homes & Communities Agency on 3 July • I attended the launch of the One & Other Art Installation on the 4th Plinth on 6 July • I visited Peckham Fire Station on 6 July • I chaired the High Level Economy Group on 6 July • I had my regular meeting with Brian Coleman & Ron Dobson LFEPA on 7 July • I attended the 7/7 London Bombing Memorial Event in Hyde Park on 7July • I met with Hedge Fund Managers on 7 July to discuss draft EU financial regulation • I met with John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 7 July to discuss Olympic Park Legacy • I attended the Business Link in London Reception on 7 July • I addressed the London Housing Strategy Consultation Conference on 8 July • I attended the Bureau of Leaders on 8 July • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 8 July • I had my regular meeting with Harvey McGrath and Peter Rogers, LDA on 8 July. • I hosted a reception for LDA Board Members on 8 July • I attended the Beyond Sport Awards Ceremony on 8 July • I addressed the LDA Economic Conference at the Royal Opera House on 9 July • I hosted a visit to City Hall of the Duke of York on 9 July to discuss promoting London • I met with Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chair of Transport for London to discuss transport issues on 9 July • I had my regular meeting with Transport for London on 9 July • I attended the Beyond Sport Reception at St Paul’s Cathedral on 9 July • I addressed the London Older People’s Assembly on 10 July • I addressed News International Staff on 9 July • I visited Hampton Court Flower Show in Richmond on 9 July • I attended the unveiling the first of 54 new trains that will be rolled out across the whole of Transport for London’s (TfL) London Overground network on 13 July • I interviewed candidates for the post of Deputy Commissioner with the Home Secretary and Commissioner on 13 July • I attended the Conservative Assembly Group Summer Reception on 13 July • I met with John Trevillian and Jan Willett from the Community Engagement and Events Department of the New South Wales Government on 14 July to talk about lessons learned from the Sydney Olympic Games • I had my regular meeting with Transport for London on 14 July • I met with Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, on 14 July to talk about transport issues. • I cycled a route of the cycle super highway with Lord Adonis on 14 July

41 • I spoke at the Thirty Club Dinner on 14 July • I attended Mayor’s Question Time on 15 July • I chaired the Olympic Board Meeting on 15 July • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 15 July • I attended a Time for Action roundtable hosted by Deputy Commissioner Tim Goodwin on 16 July • I chaired a meeting of the Olympic Park Regeneration Steering Group on 16 July • I attended the Project You event at Buckingham Palace on 16 July • I met with Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich, on 17 July to discuss borough issues • I met with members of the Lynk Up Crew on 17 July • I visited the set of Eastenders on 17 July • I met with Kit Malthouse, James Cleverly and Pam Chesters on 20 July to discuss youth opportunities and Time for Action • I visited Elephant & Castle roundabout with Val Shawcross, Caroline Pidgeon & Jenny Jones on 20 July • I met with John Armitt & David Higgins, ODA, on 20 July to discuss preparations for the Olympic Games • I convened a meeting with representatives from key public health agencies to discuss swine flu on 20 July • I attended the Jobs Portal Launch Event on 21 July • I held my regular meeting with Harvey McGrath & Peter Rogers on 21 July • I attended the Park Plaza Topping Out Ceremony on 21 July • I addressed the LDA Board meeting on 22 July • I attended the Assembly Plenary on 22 July • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 22 July • I had my regular discussion on policing in London with Sir Paul Stephenson and Catherine Crawford on 22 July • I attended the Public Consultation Meeting on London's Economy in Croydon on 22 July • I chaired the MPA Full Authority Meeting on 23 July • I met with Lord Coe & Paul Deighton, LOCOG, on 23 July to discuss preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games • I made a visit to the LOCOG and ODA offices on 23 July to address staff • I visited the Go Ahead Bus Garage in Southwark to join engineers decommissioning the first bendy bus to be taken out of service in London on 24 July • I met with Terry Leahy, Tesco Chief Executive on 24 July to discuss business, economic and environmental issues. • I met with Sir Trevor Chinn and Chris Robinson on 24 July to talk about the Mayor’s Fund on 24 July • I attended the Launch of the Olympic Javelin Train at St Pancras on 27 July • I visited the Olympic Park on 27 July • I attended the NSID (PSR) Cabinet Committee on 27 July • I attended the Douglas Oakervee farewell reception at the London Transport Museum on 27 July • I hosted a drinks reception for Archant Newspapers on 28 July • I chaired the Transport for London Board meeting on 29 July • I had lunch with Jo Valentine and Adrian Montague, London First, on 29 July • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 29 July • I attended a lunch hosted by the Ambassador of Kuwait on 30 July • I met with Daniel Moylan, Deputy Chair of Transport for London, to discuss transport issues on 30 July 42 • I had my regular meeting with Transport for London on 30 July • I met with the Ambassador of Ireland, HE Bobby McDonagh, on 30 July • I met with Alan Langlands, HEFCE, on 3 August to discuss potential Higher Education provision on the Legacy Olympic Park • I met with Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Minister for Food, Farming and Environment on 3 August to discuss Air Quality • I attended the Mobile Swimming Pools Launch on 4 August • I met with Cllr Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge, on 4 August to discuss borough issues • I met with Cllr Clare Kober, Leader of Haringey, on 4 August to discuss borough issues • I visited the British Library on 5 August • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 5 August • I held my regular meeting with Harvey McGrath & Peter Rogers LDA on 6 August • I met with Sir Robin Wales and Margaret Ford on 6 August to discuss the Olympic Park. • I met with Doug Oakervee on 7 August to discuss aviation issues • I met with Sir Paul Stephenson to discuss policing in London on 24 August • I had dinner with Sir Robin Wales and Joe Duckworth on 24 August • I met with Richard Parry, London Underground on 24 August • I had dinner with Andrew Altman, Chief Executive of the 2012 Legacy Delivery Company on 25 August • I met with Cllr Merrick Cockell, Chair of London Councils, to discuss areas of joint working on 26 August • I chaired my regular planning decisions meeting on 26 August

Ends

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