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.
During the London Assembly session to consider the Mayor's final draft Budget, Caroline pressed him on Crossrail and PCSO numbers.
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.
As Crossrail's new chief executive admitted that the line will not open in 2019, Caroline told ITV:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As news emerges that the Northern Line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea, scheduled for 2020, will not be completed until late in 2021, Caroline Pidgeon has expressed concerns that TfL is not able to successfully manage major infrastructure projects.
Caroline told ITV:
Caroline was disappointed with the Met Police Commissioner's answers in the London Assembly around the Met's response times to 999 calls. It's clear from the figures that the police aren't meeting their targets, and this is a real concern.