Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 22 December 2022.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he has appointed David Bryan CBE as the new Chair of the Arts Council England’s London Area Council.

David will be responsible for leading the Arts Council’s work across the capital, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of arts and culture at a challenging time, following the impact of the pandemic.

A leading figure in the UK’s arts sector, David has vast experience of helping to drive change and improve diversity and representation.

He is the Chair of Brixton House the Battersea Arts Centre and Creative Lives (UK) and previously was Chair of the Arts and Creative Economy Advisory Group for the British Council. After studying for an MBA, David also became a management consultant, providing training and consultancy in the arts, not-for-profit and public sectors.

He is a member of the Mayor’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm and a trustee of Dunraven Educational Trust – roles that bring valuable knowledge of diversifying and expanding the sector to be more inclusive.

In this new role, David will work to increase the reach of arts and culture in the capital, improve diversity and support more young people to access the benefits of the arts.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is home to world-leading culture, arts and creative industries and David’s experience supporting artists and talent from all backgrounds will be key to this role.

“Culture is vital to the success of our city but the sector faces huge challenges following the impact of the pandemic and the rising cost of doing business. I look forward to working with David to continue championing and supporting arts and culture across the capital as we build a fairer and more inclusive city for all Londoners.”

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons, OBE, said: “I am delighted that David Bryan will be the new Chair for the Arts Council’s London Area Council. David is a strong and experienced leader, bringing together a steadfast commitment to supporting established and emerging artists, and sound business acumen – exactly what is needed to drive forward the industry to continue to transform communities”

Tonya Nelson, Area Director, London, Arts Council England said: “We are delighted to welcome David as the new Chair for London Area Council. He brings a wealth of experience in the public, voluntary and arts sectors as well as an outstanding body of work surrounding diversity, inclusion and community development – all key priorities for the Arts Council as we move forward with our strategy, Let’s Create.”

David Bryan, CBE, said: “I am honoured to be able to work alongside the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, Deputy Mayor Justine Simons and the Arts Council to help drive forward London’s arts organisations for the benefit of all Londoners, and provide unique opportunities for artists and cultural institutions to develop.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 18 December 2022.

•    A new map will help Londoners with immigration needs to access information about their rights and entitlements, and find their nearest services and resources.
•    A new £300,000 Migrant Advice and Support Fund will help groups providing specialist advice and support to migrant Londoners.
•    On International Migrants Day, the Mayor pays tribute to the immense contribution that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have made – and continue to make – to London as he criticises the government’s ‘inhumane’ new proposals for people seeking asylum.

To mark International Migrants Day (Sunday 18 December), the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced new measures to help support migrant, refugee and newly arrived Londoners, as he criticised the government’s ‘inhumane’ new proposals for people seeking asylum.

The Mayor has created a new map of services to help Londoners with immigration needs find the support that is available to them, and created a £300,000 fund for organisations that are providing specialist advice and support across the capital.

It comes as the Government this week announced plans for asylum seekers which the Mayor has warned will do nothing to deter people making perilous journeys to seek sanctuary, nor the traffickers profiting from people’s misery. The backlog in the asylum system has left thousands of people in immigration limbo unable to work and often living in unsuitable hotel accommodation for months or years while they await a decision on their asylum claim.

The Mayor’s new, interactive map has been added to his Migrant Londoners Hub, an online tool providing information to support migrant and refugee Londoners. The map provides details of services and organisations specialising in providing immigration advice, employment advice and employability support, welfare advice, healthcare and mental health support, and housing advice and support. This will help newly arrived Londoners with immigration needs to access information, and see what services are available in boroughs across the capital.

The new Migrant Advice and Support Fund will provide funding to frontline groups and organisations providing specialist advice and support to migrant Londoners. In the new year, £300,000 will be granted to organisations to help develop services for underserved groups, support collaborative working, and ultimately improve the resilience of the sector. Single organisations will be eligible to apply for £10,000 to £30,000, whilst organisations applying in partnership will be able to apply for up to £70,000.

Next month, a Young Londoners Participation Network event will also bring together people across the capital who are committed to supporting young migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from across a range of organisations and sectors.

These measures signal Sadiq’s commitment to championing London’s diversity and supporting the social integration of all Londoners, regardless of where they were born.

Since becoming Mayor, Sadiq has shown his strong support for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. In March, more than £1.1m in funding was announced to expand access to immigration advice, develop the Migrant Londoners Hub, and improve support for the capital’s migrant workers. He has also invested in a series of measures to support refugees from Ukraine, evacuees from Afghanistan, and new arrivals under the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Migrants play an important role in our society and International Migrants Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the positive contributions that they make to London, as well as the challenges they face in achieving their full potential. This week we have seen the tragic deaths of more people in the English Channel, but the Government’s recently announcements do nothing to prevent people from making dangerous journeys to reach safety, nor traffickers from profiting off people’s misery. This is why it is crucial that we help migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum to access the services and resources that will enable them to thrive in our city. By ensuring that all Londoners have access to the support and representation they need, we will be able to build a better London for everyone – a safer, more prosperous city for all.”

Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, said: “I am proud that City Hall not only recognises the value that migrants bring to the capital, but that we are actively taking steps to ensure new arrivals and longstanding communities with immigration needs have access to a broad range of services and resources to uphold their rights. Too many of the Government’s proposals designed to fix our broken asylum system are unworkable and inhumane, including regressive hostile environment policies that hurt Windrush communities who rightly call London home. Diversity is London’s strength and by embracing, celebrating and supporting our communities, we are sending a message to the world that London is open and a place where everyone is able to thrive.”

Chief Executive Officer of the East European Resource Centre (EERC), Barbara Drozdowicz, said: “London’s celebration of migration is a testament to the city’s strength. As migrants, we are your neighbours, colleagues, friends, family members, and fellow citizens; we bring new ideas, business connections, music and culture, let alone glorious food! Some of us come in search of opportunity, following our loved ones, or seeking sanctuary. Yet, migration always carries risk, and it’s so important that there are advice services available that help us find our feet in our new home. Everyone needs a safety net, and if there is no one to catch us then we cannot thrive – the richness of our diversity of skills, experiences and resources risks being lost”

Chief of Mission at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the UK, Christa Rottensteiner, said: “International Migrants Day marks a day every year to reflect on the role of migrants in our societies, their positive contributions and the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and capabilities. It is also a reminder that human rights are not ‘earned’ by virtue of being a hero or a victim, but are an entitlement of everyone, regardless of origin, age, gender and status. This year, we welcome the support from the Mayor of London that highlights the important role that cities play in shaping welcoming and inclusive communities”.

Co-Founder and Director of Hongkongers in Britain (HKB), Julian Chan, said: “Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) strongly believes in the vital role of migrants in enriching the culture and diversity of societies in London and the UK. It is important to aid and empower migrants by understanding and meeting their needs, including specialised advice and targeted support, in order for them to settle, integrate and contribute effectively towards wider communities.”

The press release issued by the Mayor of London on 16 December 2022.

• Mayor introduces ‘Climate Budgeting’ across the GLA Group, setting out how TfL, Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade could achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030
• GLA Group carbon emissions have more than halved since the Mayor was first elected in 2016
• No decision on council tax until the New Year as the government has yet to publish the local government settlement
• Mayor fears a lack of government funding will force him to increase council tax

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today reiterated his warning that Londoners may face increased council tax bills as the government has failed to give him the resources needed for Transport for London (TfL), the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

The Mayor has today published a consultation document on budget proposals for the draft Greater London Authority (GLA) Group budget that focuses on building a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.

For the first time, the Mayor has introduced the concept of ‘Climate Budgeting’ across the GLA Group. This sets out how organisations, including TfL, the Metropolitan Police Service and the LFB could achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030 across their operations.

The climate emergency is today’s biggest global threat and Sadiq has already set out some of the most ambitious plans to tackle climate change and air pollution of any major city, and has overseen a 53 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from the GLA Group since coming into office in 2016.

London’s new City Hall in the Royal Docks has received the highest possible rating from the world’s leading experts in sustainable buildings, marking it out as one of the greenest city Hall for a global city. City Hall has received the highest possible rating for sustainability and is projected to use around 50 per cent less energy compared to other buildings of the same size.

No decision has been made on council tax levels for 2023-24. This will only be made once the Mayor has fully considered the implications of the government’s local government and police finance settlements. The provisional local government settlement – which should have be published around 6 December – is still not available, and without this the Mayor cannot assess the likely income from business rates next year. Therefore, the consultation budget retains the assumption from July’s budget guidance that a lack of government funding for London’s key public services means council tax may need to raise by an additional £27.89 a year for an ‘average’ Band D household – the equivalent of £2.32 a month, below the current rate of inflation. This should be regarded as a working figure subject to change, with a decision to be made in the New Year once sufficient information is available.

The Government’s removal of TfL’s operating grant in 2015 made London’s transport network over-dependent on fares income, which created a financial emergency when the pandemic hit. Sadiq has managed to navigate TfL through a financial crisis caused by the pandemic whilst protecting vital services for Londoners. By standing up for London, he has avoided TfL having to implement huge cuts to vital transport services across our city. However, the Government has still left TfL with a significant funding gap and has insisted that the Mayor raises over £500m a year as a condition of emergency funding deals – with Ministers explicitly proposing that he raise council tax to do so. This means Sadiq has been left with no alternative but to plan to increase council tax by £20 next year, as approved by the Government, to ensure London can continue to have a world-class transport network

Bearing down on violent crime, including violence against women and girls, and making London safer remains the Mayor’s number one priority. Overall, crime continues to fall in London, bucking the national trend. Over the last six years, Sadiq has invested record amounts from City Hall to support the police, which has enabled him to put 1,300 more officers on the streets, expand neighbourhood policing and elevate police officer numbers to the highest level in history. However, the Mayor and the Met Commissioner agree that London needs at least 1,440 more officers than the Government is currently planning to fund. In addition, the Home Office is still refusing to award London the extra £159m National and International Capital Cities grant that its own independent review said London is due.

Due to this lack of national funding, the consultation budget retains the assumption from July’s budget guidance that there will be a 1.99 per cent increase to his policing precept – the equivalent of £5.53 a year. The assumption of a 1.99 per cent increase for the LFB is also retained to ensure it can continue to quickly respond to major fires and make the changes needed after the Grenfell Tower Inquiry – this is equivalent to £2.36 a year. Both these figures are below the council tax caps the government has recently confirmed for 2023-24, of £15 on Band D for policing and 3 per cent for non-policing (excluding Transport for London as described above). The Mayor will review these proposals when further information is available from the government on likely business rates income next year.

Overall, the Mayor has ensured that the 2023-24 GLA Group consultation budget is focused on his core priorities and the issues that matter most to Londoners. This includes:

• Keeping London safe, by being tough on crime and the causes of crime and ensuring the Met and London Fire Brigade both have the resources they need to reform and serve Londoners effectively.
• Taking the boldest action of any city in the world to tackle air pollution and the climate crisis.
• Continuing to build a record number of council homes and homes more Londoners can afford.
• Maintaining a world-class transport network in London.
• Supporting Londoners and businesses most in need through the cost-of-living crisis.
• Continuing to offer free training to anyone who is unemployed or in low-paid work and ensuring young Londoners have the opportunities to thrive including providing a mentor to all young Londoners in need.

The ‘Climate Budget’ sets out funded actions that the GLA Group will take and the unfunded projects and actions that are needed to meet their 2030 Net Zero target. By 2030, this will require switching Metropolitan Police, LFB and TfL fleets to run on electricity, the electrification of heating in police and fire stations and TfL’s buildings, and the installation of more electric vehicle charging infrastructure and solar panels across the GLA estate.

The Mayor is clear that the action and cost of transitioning to Net Zero in London cannot be met by the GLA Group alone and will not be at the expense of service delivery, such as the redirection of resources from frontline policing. It will require concerted effort and funding from others, including the government, London boroughs, other public sector organisations and the private sector. However, ‘Climate Budgeting’ will allow organisations within the GLA Group to start planning now so that they can access funding and finance to hit the 2030 target.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m more determined than ever that we continue to build a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone – and this is what’s at the heart of this consultation budget.

“Our city is facing an extremely challenging time due to the state of the national economy and the cost-of-living crisis, which is hitting many Londoners hard. The last thing I want to do is raise council tax, but I want to be honest with Londoners that the government is leaving us with no viable option if we are to maintain the transport services Londoners rely on and to ensure our police officers and firefighters have the resources they need. I believe council tax is a regressive tax, but there are no other feasible options available to me in order to properly fund London’s vital public services.

“Despite these difficult times, I remain optimistic for our city because we have shown time again over the last six years how we can still take huge strides forward in London, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The additional money we plan to invest will allow us to continue delivering on the issues that matter most to Londoners – reducing crime, building more affordable homes, protecting and improving our world-class transport network, supporting people and businesses through the cost of living crisis, and taking the boldest action of any city in the world to tackle air pollution and the climate crisis.

“We have already delivered a 53 per cent reduction in carbon emissions within the Greater London Authority Group, and we are now introducing for the first time the concept of ‘Climate Budgeting’, which will help TfL, the Met Police and the London Fire Brigade identify what is needed to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030.  The climate crisis is the biggest threat we face, and this budget will ensure London remains at the forefront of the fight.”

Mark Watts, Executive Director C40 Cities, said: “It’s fantastic that London is introducing climate budgeting as part of the GLA’s draft budget. Solving the climate crisis requires change across our entire political, economic and social systems. In order to see rapid, systemic transformation we need innovative practices like climate budgeting that mainstream climate targets into every key decision-making process. A total of 12 cities are currently part of the C40 climate budgeting programme, but to deliver the climate action we need today, climate budgeting will need to become standard in every city.”

Governing Mayor of the City of Oslo, Raymond Johansen, said: “I welcome the announcement of London’s first climate budget and applaud Mayor Khan’s continued commitment to climate action. C40’s climate budget pilot has allowed Oslo to share its learnings from the city’s climate budget work and demonstrate that mayors have the means to go from goals to action and place climate policies at the heart of government. I am honoured that London has taken this momentous step and we are eager to learn from the city’s experience and continue to strive for more ambitious climate action”.