London Assembly 23 January 2002 Eighteenth Mayor’s Report to the Assembly Report No: 6 Author: The Mayor This is my eighteenth report to the Assembly, fulfilling my duty under Section 45 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999. It covers the period from 5 December 2001 to 8 January 2002. Transport Fares At the start of the New Year, I announced that the freeze on the real level of London Underground fares and freeze on bus fares will continue for a second year. Under the new fares from 6 January 2002 bus fares are frozen - representing a reduction in real terms - and Underground fare rises are limited to the rate of inflation. Between 1986 and 2000 in real terms tube fares rose by a massive 44 per cent and bus fares by 18 per cent. In contrast my policy has been to hold down fares in order to encourage people to transfer to public transport, particularly buses. Since my election in May 2000, I have held tube fares constant in real terms, and reduced bus fares in real terms. As a result bus rider-ship has risen substantially - with passenger use up 6 per cent overall, the highest level since 1975, and night bus use up 16 per cent. I hope that this year's fare changes will continue this trend. From Sunday 6 January 2002, the main fare changes are as follows: • No bus or tram fares will increase • All Zones Bus Pass Season price cut again The weekly All-Zones ticket price is reduced from £9.50 to £8.50, the same as the current Zone 2+3+4 ticket which is withdrawn. Monthly and longer period ticket prices are reduced in proportion. • Zone restrictions removed for Travelcard use on buses Any Travelcard will be valid on any bus, regardless of the Underground zones it covers. • Average Underground fares frozen in real terms The Zone 1 single fare increases to £1.60, having been held at £1.50 last year. The Zone 1 Carnet price is unchanged at £11.50 for ten tickets £1.15 per journey). • A new Day Travelcard is introduced Like the existing One Day Travelcard, this will be valid on Underground, DLR, Tramlink, bus and National Rail services, but it can be used for the whole day. (The One Day Travelcard which will still be available cannot be used before 9.30am on weekdays). Various zone 1 combinations of the new ticket will be available. Some zonal variations of the existing One Day LT Card will be withdrawn. The Day Travelcard will cost, for example, £5.30 Zones 1+2, compared to £4.10 off peak One Day Travelcard. Rail At the beginning of December I attended the start of construction ceremony for the northern extension of the East London Line. This phase of work will see the ELL extended from Whitechapel, via new stations at Bishopsgate, Hoxton, Haggerston and Dalston, to link with national rail network lines towards Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park. Powers have also recently been granted by the Secretary of State to extend the East London southwards in two directions running towards Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and West Croydon. Work on all lines is scheduled for completion by 2006. On 17 January 2002 I will be attending the launch of Cross London Rail Links – a joint venture company between TfL and the SRA that will see the vision of the Crossrail project become a reality. Sir Christopher Benson, as Chairman, will steer the consultation process before deciding on the optimum route, stations and service patterns for both the east-west and Hackney-south west Crossrail routes. Light Rail/River Crossings TfL is pressing ahead with plans for a tunnel to carry the DLR under the river from North Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal south of the river. Further consultation on the fine details of the whole scheme will be undertaken early this year, with construction work planned to start in 2004 and to finish mid-2007. TfL will also be consulting later next year on plans for two other Thames crossings: one between Barking and Thamesmead and another linking North Greenwich and Silvertown. We are also awaiting the announcement of the Transport and Works Act giving the go-ahead for the DLR to be extended to London City Airport. Congestion Charging As part of the continuing consultation process, TfL has proposed to widen the alternative fuels discount to cover vans, lorries and cars that meet specified emissions standards. TfL has also recommended that recovery vehicles used by the likes of the AA, Green Flag and the RAC should receive a 100% discount. Under these proposals, mini-cabs once licensed would not have to pay the charge, providing more transport choice for Londoners. I am due to make further announcements on Congestion Charging Scheme in February. Walking I am also committed to making London a better city for pedestrians. Working with TfL, I will establish a rationale for a Walking Plan by the end of 2002, agree a funding model and implement the Plan by 2015. TfL is currently facilitating the development of six strategic walking routes and enlisting key stakeholders in the development of the Plan. These routes are: The London Outer Orbital Path, The Capital Ring, The Thames Path National Trail, The Jubilee Walkway, The South-East 2 Green Chain and The Lee Valley Walk. All members of the community will be given a voice on the consultative process. Transport Policing Initiative I have had further meetings with Bob Kiley, the MPS Commissioner, Sir John Stevens and Lord Harris, to discuss the proposed implementation of a Transport Operational Command Unit within the Metropolitan Police. The objectives of this dedicated unit are to enable the efficient movement of buses on agreed bus corridors through enforcement activities, to provide reassurance to the public and staff by providing high visibility policing and enforcing the law relating to taxi and private hire enforcement. The funding of this unit, if agreed, will come from the TfL budget. London Buses In January this year I published my criteria for granting London Service Permits which announced that bus operators in London, who are not part of TfL's London Bus Network will be asked to prove their green credentials. The permit allows TfL to decide conditions for running services such as tourism, hotel transfer, private school buses - they will need to satisfy London Buses that their vehicles comply with exhaust emission requirements and that they have strategies in place to further reduce them. London River Services In January this year I announced that a new passenger pier is to be built at Millbank to create a direct transport link between Tate Modern and Tate Britain. This new pier will also create yet another additional river stop for commuters. Millbank Millennium Pier is due to open in Autumn 2002. 3 Budget update Budget 2002-03 Following consultation with the GLA and the functional bodies I formally prepared their draft budgets in accordance with the requirements of the GLA Act on 14 December. Wider consultation on my budget proposals then began with the issue of the document: Greater London Authority - Budget Requirement and Precepts 2002-03. All Members of the Assembly have all been provided with a copy. I will finally determine the contents of the draft consolidated budget following proper consideration of the responses received. This draft budget will be presented to the Assembly on 23 January in the form of a detailed report, including among other things an explanation of and justification for the budgetary provisions sought and my response to issues raised during the consultation exercise. My proposed draft budget continues the investment in public services which I started last year, including the largest programme of investment in transport improvements for many years. There are also be resources for about 1,240 more police officers, over and above the increase of 1,050 agreed for this year. A key proposal is to bring together the Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London in partnership to deliver a modern enforcement strategy for London's buses and taxis. This will ensure the efficient movement of buses, combat crime and make the public feel safe using bus services on key routes and corridors, as well enforcing the law relating to the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles. The investment in services and ensuring that they are accessible to all and available equally to London's citizens is, however, not matched by the increase in grants from central government grant. It is therefore not possible to deliver this investment without increasing the contribution from council tax payers. Tourism The Greatest Show on Earth On 5 December, as part of the continuing drive to assist the tourist industry in London, I launched the Greatest Show on Earth, unveiling a celebrity chorus-line poster to publicise London's largest ever theatre and restaurant promotion. A half a million pound cash injection will provide a minimum of 60,000 subsidised tickets at £10, £15 and £20, representing a minimum saving of £17 per theatre ticket. Free tickets will also be distributed to selected organisations for young, disabled and older people. The half a million pounds theatre ticket promotion is part of a four million pound package secured the London Tourism Action Group for businesses badly affected by the events of September 11. £1 million of this has already been awarded to help the worst-hit businesses in the capital's tourism industry. An additional £2million of support and promotion has been generated as a result of the initial £500, 000 cash injection.