Have your say on common sense measures to help flexi workers

Posted by GLA Conservatives in OpinionShare

Jun
30

Like it or not, employers are going to have to offer more flexibility if they want to hire the best. It’s good news that every employee now has the right to ask for flexible working hours, but the Government should go further and implement common-sense measures to help people in their day-to-day working lives. In the Capital, the Mayor is listening and progress is being made. Thanks to my persistent campaigning, the City will see flexible ticketing introduced in 2015. I’m specifically pushing him to include a system of rebates for commuters, so someone living in London could receive a refund of up to £310 upon expiry of their annual Travelcard, if they choose to work from home – or walk or cycle – just one day a week. We’re now listening to commuter views through a 90-day public consultation. The Government should commit to rolling this out across the country. It would put cash back into home, flexi and part time workers' pockets and free up public transport capacity.

There is still time to take part in the 90-day consultation for Londoners. I urge everyone living or working in the Capital to have your say.

Flexible ticketing for part-time commuters from January 2015

Posted by GLA Conservatives in NewsShare

Jan
29

London’s part-time commuters will be able to buy flexible travel tickets from January 2015.

The Mayor will now instruct TfL to work up detailed plans and costings for the proposal. This is directly in response to a recent report published by Conservative London Assembly Member Roger Evans.

“Home Works” urges TfL to introduce part-time Travelcards and annual rebates for those who underuse their full-time tickets.

read more

Budget: £10m for council tax cut, part-time Travelcards and affordable workspaces for start-ups

Posted by GLA Conservatives in NewsShare

Jan
29

2014/15 costed proposals will slash over-the-top TfL perks and put cash into the pockets of Londoners

Money raised from scrapping the over generous TfL “nominee pass”, which allows free travel for flatmates and lodgers of staff, should be ploughed into helping council tax payers, commuters and start-up businesses, according to Gareth Bacon, GLA Conservatives budget spokesman.

The estimated £10m raised by cancelling the nominee pass scheme should be used to pay for the following tax-cutting and pro-business measures:

• £7m to further cut council tax. A 2.2% cut for 2014/15 (compared to the Mayor’s 1.3%), accelerating progress towards the Mayor’s 10% reduction target by 2016
• £1m to fund a feasibility study (including all technical assessments and financial modelling) into the introduction of part-time Travelcards and one-hour bus tickets
• £2m to pilot the conversion of 70 empty garages into affordable workshops and studios for start-ups and micro businesses

 
 
read more

Commuter rebates for home workers could save a zone 6 traveller £350 a year

Posted by GLA Conservatives in BlogShare

Mar
7

Roger Evans, London Assembly Member, welcomes the Mayor’s decision to consider flexible ticketing but insists this should be combined with commuter rebates in order to help London’s commuters make significant savings.

“The Mayor’s decision to seriously consider introducing flexible Travelcards is a big step in the right direction. It will mean millions of Londoners have the option of, for example, buying a three-day per week Travelcard. This would make part-time working more affordable for commuters and should encourage those who are able to work from home to do so more often.

read more

Home Works: Why London needs to expand Home Working

Posted by GLA Conservatives in BlogShare

Mar
1

Roger Evans, London Assembly Member, is today launching a report “Home Works: Why London needs to expand home working” that calls for a step-change in TfL’s attitude to home working and flexible working.

“Even with Tube upgrades, the building of Crossrail and introducing more carriages on many mainline trains, the rise in London’s population is leading to ever more overcrowding on public transport. Clearly London needs transport investment, but TfL and the Mayor should also be focussing on what they can do to incentivise home working.

“One of the problems is that once people have paid for a Travel Card, there is no financial incentive to use it for less than 5 days a week. In my report I call for more flexibility on ticketing so that Londoners have the option of, for example, buying a three-day per week Travelcard. This would make part-time working more affordable for commuters and should encourage those who are able to work from home to do so more often.

“Oyster technology means this can be easily achieved. It’s time for the Mayor and TfL to make it a reality.”