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Boris Johnson has made cutting crime his top priority, and is signalling that by chairing the Metropolitan Police Authority. He also produced lengthy manifestos on business, environment, housing, 'seniors' [older people], transport and accountability. These too emphasised crime and safety. Thus the new Mayor's first policy measure has been to ban consumption of alcohol on public transport from June 1st. Read more
The make up of the Assembly is now Conservatives 11 Labour 8 Liberal Democrats 3 Green Party 2 British National Party 1Read more
The statutory post of Deputy Mayor is filled by Richard Barnes, Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon, and previously Leader of Hillingdon Borough Council. His responsibilities will be cohesion and regeneration, and he will also lead the Conservative Group on the Assembly.Read more
'In our 20th year of operation,' says Chairman Peter Eversden, 'it is important that we identify trends, new issues and requirements for the future. Our business plan, aims and activities need to be updated.' He emphasises the importance of a high response to the survey. 'Londonforum needs to be able to demonstrate that its priorities, responses to consultations, demands on other organisations and representations to the Greater London Authority, Central Government, the Civic Trust and other national amenity organisations are based on comprehensive input from its members.'Read more
The announcement on March 25 was made jointly by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Business Secretary John Hutton and Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint. Amenity groups will fear the outcome may be reduced opportunity for members of the public to object to planning applications. Ministers stressed the aim was not 'to shift the balance of decision making, weaken important safeguards, or reduce public consultation'; and simultaneously doubled the funding for Planning Aid.Read more
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has commissioned Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and Faber Maunsell to develop practice guidance on delivering the policies in the PPS. A working draft of that guidance is now available from ERM's website (www.erm.com/practiceguideance). By publishing a working draft ERM and Faber Maunsell hope to gain a better understanding of the respects in which practitioners want the guidance to be further developed. They are also keen to include as much good practice as possible and draw on early experience of implementing the PPS.Read more