42nd Mayor’s Report to the Assembly Mayor’s Question Time – 18th June 2020 This is my forty-second report to the Assembly, fulfilling my duty under Section 45 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. It covers the period from 8th May – 4th June 2020. Please note that the information in the Mayor’s Report is accurate at the time of publishing. Executive Summary COVID-19 update Thanks to the monumental efforts of Londoners following the guidance, we have significantly reduced the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital. As we begin to move into the next phase of the response, it is vital that we do not undo this hard work and risk a second wave that could devastate our city. Thousands of Londoners have lost their lives to the disease, and life has changed for us all. The Government has now moved to begin further relaxations of lockdown, but life is nowhere near being back to normal. Failure to take the right precautions now could lead to new COVID-19 cases resulting in a devastating second wave of the virus. I remain committed to focussing the resources of the Greater London Authority on protecting Londoners from the virus. As schools reopen to more children, there is still widespread anxiety amongst parents and teachers about how safe it is for children of any age to return to school. TfL has issued advice for headteachers, parents and guardians across London on how they can play a part in controlling the coronavirus as schools gradually begin to reopen. This means walking, cycling or scooting to school wherever possible, and TfL is working to rapidly create extra space across the capital as part of our world-leading Streetspace for London programme, making temporary changes to roads to support safe walking and cycling and enable social distancing. For those who have to use public transport, TfL is working hard to return bus and tube services to normal levels as soon as possible, despite staff members still being ill, shielding or self- isolating. It is operating 85 per cent of bus services and 80 per cent of Tube services, but even if 100 per cent of services were being operated, the number of people TfL would be able to safely carry would still be constrained to around 13-15 per cent of normal while the recommendation of 2 metre social distancing remains. Because of the impossible problem of seeking to run a public transport network that relies entirely on revenues – with no central Government support like in almost all other major cities – at such reduced capacity, I had no choice but to accept the terms of the Government’s bad deal to safely run public transport in London for the next four months. I have limited the Government’s temporary suspension of free travel for Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ 1 passengers to peak hours, and I am lobbying the Transport Secretary to rethink his demand that free travel be suspended for under 18s – a saving that provides a lifeline for many families. It has become increasingly clear that while life has changed for all Londoners, the impacts of COVID-19 fall disproportionately on some groups, and I have consistently raised serious concerns about the impact of the virus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. City Hall has published a study looking at the disproportionate impacts of the virus, which shows that the highest COVID-19 death rate in London is an area of Newham, where 82 per cent of the population are BAME, one in three is in insecure employment and there are high levels of deprivation, obesity and diabetes. I have ensured that BAME staff across the Greater London Authority family will have access to risk assessments that will consider the physical and mental health needs of all those at greater risk. Many of the issues we need to respond to have continued to be managed by our COVID-19 Strategic Coordination Group, which has recently been looking at issues including the London- wide approach to the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), the economic impacts of the pandemic, the provision of food to vulnerable people, the physical and mental wellbeing of Londoners as the crisis continues, health oversight for London and contact tracing and testing. It has also been looking at the potential impacts of the release of lockdown, and as we move towards a new phase in the response to the virus, we have been looking at how the structures we now have in place should change. From 9 June, I will co-chair regular meetings of a new London Transition Board with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick. Partner organisations such as the Metropolitan Police, London Councils, NHS, London First and the New West End Company will also be represented. It is proposed the Board will run until the end of 2020. The Transition Board will focus on immediate issues of outbreak control, the ongoing ability of the health and social care systems to support the pandemic, the reopening of public services and the economy, and potential community matters arising from emerging from lockdown. Alongside the London Transition management Group, I am also co-chairing a new London Recovery Board, with the Chair of London Councils, Cllr Peter John OBE, to oversee arrangements for London’s longer-term economic and social recovery. This Board has representation from local government leaders across London, Public Health England, London Funders, the Trades Union Congress, and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as other key stakeholders. The objective of the recovery work is to restore confidence in the city, rebuild its economy and society and look to reshape London to be fairer, more equal, greener and more resilient than it was before the crisis. Throughout all this, we must remain ready to respond to any eventuality, and our tentative move towards the next phase of the response must not breed complacency. But I am confident that Londoners will continue to show the resolve, togetherness and compassion that make this great city what it is, as we move through this together. 2 Face coverings update on public transport On 4 June, I was pleased to hear that our lobbying has paid off and the Government has finally seen sense and made it mandatory for people to wear face coverings on public transport. This is something I and others have been calling on ministers to do for some time, and is in line with a large body of evidence that they can help stop the spread of coronavirus. I encourage anyone travelling on public transport, or anywhere you can’t keep a safe 2 metre distance, to wear a face covering, but from Monday 15 June, everyone must wear a covering over their nose and mouth for the entirety of any journeys made using the public transport network. This will be mandatory and will help everyone be safer. Transport for London continues to work hard to maximise services despite staff being ill, shielding or self-isolating. The reality is that due to social distancing the effective capacity of public transport services has been dramatically reduced. We can only carry between 13-15 per cent of passengers. We all must play our part by working from home if we can and making journeys on foot or by bike if at all possible, in order to keep the service safe for those who really need it. I want to thank Londoners who have made monumental sacrifices over the last ten weeks and stuck to the rules. I urge them to continue to do so to help save lives. Black Lives Matter The brutal killing of George Floyd has rightly ignited fury, not just in America, but around the world. It must serve as a catalyst for change. I stand in solidarity with black people experiencing systematic racism and commit to use my voice to amplify theirs. I am chairing a meeting with the Metropolitan Police, my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, and my Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, on 5 June to speak to community leaders to concerns around community policing in London. I know that some Londoners may choose to protest. If you do, I urge you to do so peacefully, lawfully and safely. COVID-19 is still a real threat to our city, so if you protest, please make every effort to stay 2 metres apart from others at all times, and do refer to PHE’s guidance on how to stay safe. Remembering the London Bridge attack Three years have passed since the appalling terrorist attack at London Bridge. On 3 June, we as a city remembered the victims, their families and the emergency services and first responders who ran towards danger without a second thought. My thoughts are with the families and friends who lost loved ones in this awful attack, and who are having to adjust to grieving in very different and difficult circumstances this year. The cowardly terrorists who commit these dreadful acts do so to try and divide us, and to change how we treat one another. But we should be proud of the way our city has responded – time and time again – by remaining united. Londoners will always see our diversity as one of our greatest strengths, and we will continue to honour the innocent victims by staying true to the values that bind us together. 3 Risk assessment for BAME staff On 1 June, I announced that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff across the Greater London Authority, including Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade – will have access to risk assessments as part of measures to help those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.