The Mayor's budget needs to be credible on Crossrail and funding PCSOs
During the London Assembly session to consider the Mayor's final draft Budget, Caroline pressed him on Crossrail and PCSO numbers.
Scrutinising the Mayor articles
It's now even harder to believe the Mayor didn't know of Crossrail delays in advance
After a Freedom of Information Request revealed that Crossrail and TfL were drafting press releases about the delay to Crossrail 12 days before the Mayor announced it last August, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The Mayor’s repeated claims that he only knew about the delayed opening date of the central section of Crossrail just two days before the public announcement are now even harder to believe.
The money wasted on the Garden Bridge confirms the folly of the project
Watch Caroline on ITV discussing the waste of public money by the Garden Bridge project.
As TfL published the costs incurred by the Garden Bridge project, Caroline also said:
“The Mayor and TfL should not be boasting about being transparent in publishing this information.
Stop blocking greater scrutiny of TfL
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Londonwide Assembly Member, challenged the Mayor and the Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL) to ensure that the Board of TfL are far more effective in scrutinising the work of the transport organisation.
Policing and crime prevention must be our priority for business rates revenue
In the London Assembly's session to consider the Mayor's draft consolidated budget, Caroline sought assurances that any extra money found ahead of the final budget (through surplus business rates revenue) is allocated to policing and tackling crime.
PCSO numbers across London are too stretched
At January 2019's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline raised her concerns with over the number of deployable Police Community Support Officers in London. With vacancies and officers on long-term sick leave, places like Streatham can end up with one PCSO left to cover four wards. This is not sustainable.
London is being left behind in the adoption of electric buses
A new report by the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon reveals:
- Mayor of London has repeatedly made inaccurate and misleading statements in comparing the adoption of electric buses in London with other cities
- London now lags behind a number of cities in its current adoption of electric buses
- Every five weeks China deploys 9,500 electric buses onto its roads – matching the entire size of London’s current bus fleet
We need experts to tackle violence, not mates of Sadiq Khan
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor of London’s appointment of Councillor Lib Peck, the Labour leader of Lambeth Council, as the first head of the Violence Reduction Unit at City Hall, said:
Boroughs need clarity on the Met's extra police scheme
At the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee, Caroline questioned the Mayor on the Met's Patrol Plus Scheme which allows boroughs to fund extra police officers to tackle local priority issues. The scheme is currently under review, and it's vital that boroughs get clarity on its future as soon as possible.
"Zero emission buses" are still using diesel for heating!
In December, Caroline questioned the Mayor on electric buses and how to get to a zero-emission bus fleet. He acknowledged that his "zero emission buses" are actually "zero tailpipe emissions", as they still have diesel engines for heating systems. Much more action is needed to clean up the bus fleet.
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