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London council tax rise below 2% London council tax rise below 2%
(about 10 hours later)
Council tax rises will be held below the rate of inflation in London, the capital's mayor is to announce. Council tax rises will remain below the rate of inflation in London, after the London Assembly approved mayor Ken Livingstone's £11bn budget.
In the final budget speech at the London Assembly, Ken Livingstone will outline plans to spend the extra cash on the police and fire services. The Assembly also unanimously voted in favour of allocating an additional £1.2m to Metropolitan Police.
The Greater London Authority's precept on council tax will be held at less than 2%, equivalent to a weekly 11p rise for a Band D home. The Greater London Authority's (GLA) precept on council tax will be held at less than 2%, equivalent to a weekly 11p rise for a Band D home.
More than £100m will be used for environmental schemes.More than £100m will be used for environmental schemes.
The mayor will be questioned on the budget London Assembly members on Wednesday. The mayor was questioned on the budget by Assembly members before the vote on Wednesday.
After that the assembly can then approve it with, or without, amendments. Any amendments will need a two-thirds majority. 'Far from satisfied'
Alternative budget Critics then narrowly failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to amend it. The budget received 9 votes in favour and 14 against.
Chairperson of the Assembly, Sally Hamwee, said: "While the majority of Assembly Members are far from satisfied with the Mayor's budget as a whole, today's vote was a clear indication of our support for the valuable work of London's police and fire services."
In a statement released before the speech, Mr Livingstone said: "I have been able to hold the precept increase below the rate of inflation while still funding an additional 1,000 police officers in the coming year.In a statement released before the speech, Mr Livingstone said: "I have been able to hold the precept increase below the rate of inflation while still funding an additional 1,000 police officers in the coming year.
An additional £1.2m will be given to Metropolitan Police
"The 10,000 additional uniformed officers we have recruited have had a decisive impact on crime which has now fallen for the fifth consecutive year.""The 10,000 additional uniformed officers we have recruited have had a decisive impact on crime which has now fallen for the fifth consecutive year."
The extra spending is in addition to his proposals last month of £1.2m for the police budget and another £3m for fire services, he added.The extra spending is in addition to his proposals last month of £1.2m for the police budget and another £3m for fire services, he added.
The budget also emphasised environmental issues, with a £25m climate change mitigation fund, £62m towards walking and cycling routes, and £18m set aside for new waste and recycling facilities.The budget also emphasised environmental issues, with a £25m climate change mitigation fund, £62m towards walking and cycling routes, and £18m set aside for new waste and recycling facilities.
The mayor's pledges are lies, damn lies and statistics Brian Paddick 'Tired and miserable'
London Assembly Conservatives also announced their alternative budget proposals claiming it involved no tax rises. London Assembly Conservatives also announced their alternative budget proposals and claimed it involved no tax rises.
They claim even without rises their plans would see an extra 500 warranted police officers, 350 more British Transport Police, an additional 300 Safer Transport Officers and an automated number plate recognition unit for each London borough in the capital. They said that even without rises their plans would see an extra 500 warranted police officers, 350 more British Transport Police, an additional 300 Safer Transport Officers and an automated number plate recognition unit for each London borough.
Richard Barnes, London Assembly Conservative leader, said: "It's just the same old tired, miserable old-fashioned budget from the same old tired, miserable old-fashioned mayor."Richard Barnes, London Assembly Conservative leader, said: "It's just the same old tired, miserable old-fashioned budget from the same old tired, miserable old-fashioned mayor."
Lib Dem mayoral candidate Brian Paddick said: "The mayor's pledges are lies, damn lies and statistics. Lib Dem mayoral candidate Brian Paddick said the mayor's pledges were "damn lies and statistics".
"Ken Livingstone is hiding the fact most of these new 'officers' are in fact police community support officers."Ken Livingstone is hiding the fact most of these new 'officers' are in fact police community support officers.
"When it comes to tackling gun and knife crime, many of them are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.""When it comes to tackling gun and knife crime, many of them are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike."