Our additions to the GLA Budget

Posted by GLA Conservatives in Blog   Share2013

Feb
8

GLA Conservatives GLA Budget Amendments – Proposal to end free travel perks for second nominees at TfL & bringing the GLA Precept below £300 for band D properties for the first time since 2006:

On Friday 8th February the London Assembly will receive and vote on the first round of the Mayor of London’s GLA budget for 2013/14. Below are the amendments the GLA Conservative Group will put forward at the meeting of the full Assembly:

The first part of our amendment proposes savings of £300,000 from the Assembly’s budget. We will use this money to make a real difference to some of the most disadvantaged Londoners through a City Hall programme to help homeless veterans.

The second part of our amendment proposes removing the over generous perk of free travel for staff nominees at TfL, which costs the organisation £35.8 million. We do not believe that in the current economic climate TfL should be using taxpayers money to fund the travel for people who do not even work at TfL. We consider it reasonable to budget for only half the value of the nominee passes as not all the current pass holders will pay for travel instead, representing an increased income from fares of £17.8 million for TfL. This money should be used to fund a precept cut.

Our amendment reduces the Band D precept amount by 3.5%, to £295.95. This is the first time since 2006 that the precept has come below £300, making good progress towards the Mayor’s 10% reduction over his term.