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Up Front
Mayor calls for developer levy to fund building safety
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is to fund the creation of 903 new longer-term homes for homeless Londoners.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called for a ground-breaking levy on major private property developers that could raise £3 billion to address the inequality in building safety standards and fund vital cladding replacement work on properties across London. The mayor said the failure of government, developers and building owners to fund this essential work for all means that too many residents face extortionate bills to rectify unsafe homes, with ministers failing to bring forward a solution to the crisis. The mayor is proposing a one-off levy on developer profits generated over the last decade to fund the essential fire safety work that is needed. City Hall analysis of accounts data for publicly listed housebuilders has revealed pre-tax profits of £30 billion over the last decade. A 10% levy would raise at least £3 billion to carry out remediation work and help ensure no leaseholder is left out of pocket. To ensure the levy is paid in full without impacting future development, Sadiq Khan is proposing that repayment could occur over several years. Government could then act quickly to fund building safety work, with the reassurance that funds from the levy would cover the costs. Sadiq Khan said: “I have always been clear that the responsibility for funding building safety work must lie with government. However, we cannot deny the role that industry has played in making decisions that have compromised the safety of buildings. “I am determined to find a solution that can make homes safe without passing on the burden of the cost to leaseholders – it is wrong for them to bear the costs of historic errors they have played no part in causing. This levy would have a minimal impact on developer profits but would prove lifechanging for London leaseholders.”
England went into its third lockdown in early January as coronavirus cases soared and hospitals came under intense pressure.
With all non-essential businesses forced to close once again, the government unveiled a £4.6 billion package of support which included one-off grants worth up to £9,000 for businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. There was also a £594 million discretionary fund to support other businesses impacted by the latest lockdown. This support is in addition to business rates relief and the furlough scheme, which has been extended until the end of April. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome this announcement of much-needed additional support, which business groups and I have been calling for. It should have come sooner and it won’t replace the revenue lost over the vital Christmas period, but it should help many struggling retail, hospitality and leisure businesses stay afloat until spring. “Clearly more help is needed – including an extension to the business rates holiday and the VAT relief scheme, targeted support for night-time economy businesses which have been forced to stay shut since March, and more support for those who are self-isolating. “I’m also urging the Chancellor to act swiftly and guarantee the furlough scheme will continue to protect people’s jobs until the vaccine is rolled out widely and restrictions are lifted. “It’s scandalous that there are three million excluded selfemployed people who continue to be ignored, many of whom are left facing the impact of these tougher restrictions alone.”
London hits electric vehicle charging points milestone
Three hundred more electric vehicle rapid charging points have been installed across the capital by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Transport for London (TfL) – increasing London’s total number of charging points to almost 6,000.
London now has more than 500 rapid charging points and more than 5,500 residential charging points, with some points dedicated exclusively for almost 4,000 electric taxis operating in the capital.
Working with bp pulse and ESB Energy as the charging point operators, TfL met its target to install 300 rapid charging points by the end of December, despite works being paused from April to June last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes the first rapid charging hub in London at Stratford International car park with six charging points. Two further hubs are planned at Baynard House, City of London, which will have six rapid charge points and at Glass Yard, Greenwich, with eight rapid charge points. Sadiq Khan said: “It’s essential we help more people move away from petrol and diesel cars to tackle the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency. “I’m delighted that 300 more electric vehicle rapid charging points have been installed by TfL, increasing London’s total electric charging points to almost 6,000. This success is testament to our partners in the private sector who have stepped up and shown real ambition to help London lead the electric vehicle revolution. “However, there is much more to do and we need to go even further and even faster, which is why in October this year I am expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone up to the North and South Circular roads.” Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “Rapid charging points will play a key part in decarbonising transport and the shift to cleaner vehicles.”
Mayor calls for more financial support for businesses
The government has announced a further raft of financial support measures to help businesses through the latest national lockdown.
Southwark businesses step up to secure COVIDcompliant accreditation
Southwark Council is urging local firms to join the growing number of businesses that have gained COVIDcompliant accreditation under an ongoing pilot scheme.
Businesses in Southwark, including pubs, restaurants, beauty salons and a theatre, have signed up to the initiative to provide extra reassurance to customers that they are safe to visit.
Currently by law, venues and businesses must already carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment.
The pilot accreditation scheme, which was launched by the council in September last year, aims to increase public confidence in businesses’ safety measures through an independent review by the council’s environmental health team. They examine each company’s COVID-19 risk assessment and carry out a site visit to check that social distancing measures, customer track and trace and hygiene measures are in place, and that masks and other PPE are being worn. Businesses that pass are awarded a sticker to display on their premises and a logo with information about their award to share on sites such as Trip Advisor, food delivery platforms, their website and social media platforms. Several accredited businesses in the borough have backed the council’s pilot scheme, which they say has helped customers feel more confident when visiting their premises. Yeliz Dibi, owner of HB Therapy in East Dulwich, said: “I recommend Southwark Council to visit most businesses to ensure they are COVID-secure. Getting HB Therapy accredited through their scheme helped us to gain our customers’ trust back. They can now fully relax as they beautify themselves, knowing our safety measures have been independently reviewed and approved.” Councillor Evelyn Akoto, cabinet member for public health and community safety at Southwark Council, said: “We’re so pleased that local businesses that are playing their part in keeping residents safe are also reaping the benefit of the pilot accreditation scheme.”
Details of TfL fares package announced
More details of Transport for London’s (TfL) fares package have been revealed.
As part of TfL’s funding deal with government in October 2020, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was required to increase fares under his control to deliver an overall rise of 2.6% (retail prices index (RPI) plus 1%). However, the details of the new fares also show that within this overall rise some fares have remained frozen – including some single pay-as-you-go tube, DLR, London overground and TfL rail fares. A single bus and tram fare will increase by 5p to £1.55, and the daily cap will increase by 15p to £4.65. Bus and tram “Hopper” fares, which allow unlimited journeys within an hour, will increase by 5p to £1.55. TfL has also published its financial sustainability plan, which focuses on a green recovery and sets out how it can achieve financial sustainability after fare income was decimated by the pandemic – covering costs of dayto-day operations, maintenance and financing by 2023-24. TfL has called for government investment and continued, longer-term assistance to support jobs across the UK, provide certainty for the supply chain and support the government’s aims on decarbonisation. The increase in TfL fares will be introduced on March 1 2021, the same day that the national rail fares will rise by the same amount. Sadiq Khan said: “Londoners know that I have done everything possible to make public transport more affordable since I became mayor – including introducing the unlimited Hopper bus fare and freezing all TfL fares since taking office – saving the average London household over £200. “Unfortunately, this year ministers insisted on an RPI plus 1% fares increase in order for TfL to get the emergency government support needed as a consequence of the global pandemic.”
