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• Reference: 2012/0220-1
• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

What are the principal weaknesses in, and opportunities for, London's funding?

• Reference: 2012/0221-1
• Question by: Gareth Bacon MP
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Stamp Duty and Income tax have both been mooted as potential candidates for tax devolution from Whitehall to London. How would you see the devolution of these taxes working, in practice? Which do you see as a more attractive option?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Murad Qureshi (AM): I just want to briefly go back to land valuation taxation if you don't mind, given Roger's [Roger Evans AM] comments. I hear what you are saying about local planning concerns that have to be addressed by local authorities, I hear what you say about anything being proposed having to be national and not just London, but you would accept that it would discourage land banking and a fair amount of empty sites? Forget empty properties, there are major sites lying empty. Would it not encourage those being moved on at least and the promotion of jobs...

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Tony, you have already spelt out some of the complexities of trying to bring something like this in and you have discussed whether it would simply be London or whether it would apply to the rest of the country, but surely one of the other enormous unfairnesses of it would be at what level and percentage it came in and indeed who qualified. Liberal Democrat politicians have been talking about a mansion tax applying over £1 million or £2 million, which seems very unfair, but surely the really serious unfairness of this would be if young people trying to get...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Roger Evans (AM): I too spent a pleasant lunch some years ago being lobbied on this matter by Dave Wetzel [President of the Labour Land Campaign]. Professor Tony Travers (Chair, London Finance Commission): It is always fun. Roger Evans (AM): Yes, and he made the point that Jenny [Jones] does that it would encourage better use of land in London. Does that not mean that if you are using a piece of land for residential purposes it will encourage you to put a block of flats on it, the higher the better, rather than just ordinary houses?

• Question by: Andrew Boff
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Andrew Boff (AM): Professor Travers, do you think that the localisation of business rates might assist local authorities in dealing with the blight of empty shops and derelict land?

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 24 October 2012

Nicky Gavron (AM): Picking up on what you were saying earlier about hypothecation and recognising that you are trying to do a very important, long term job which may pay off, in the shorter term, how far is your survey of other cities looking at the ways in which other city governments have been enabled to set charges like congestion charging, or have the powers to set levies and so on, which they can hypothecate? The Mayor has two opportunities in London: CIL and congestion charging, and there could be others like that. Are you going to come up with...

• Reference: 2012/0013-2
• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 08 March 2012

Valerie Shawcross (AM): I think the last time you were both in front of us we did speak a little bit about how you were reconfiguring the Trident Gang Crime Command and the considerable number of people who work in that division, was it 500 staff I think you mentioned. Since then there has been seven stabbings in my division and of course a terrible murder of Kwame Ofosu-Asare [March 2012]. We are looking at the performance data that suggests there is a growing problem. Serious youth violence is up over the 12 months rolling period by 4.9%, nearly 5%...

• Reference: 2012/0016-2
• Question by: Steve O'Connell
• Meeting date: 08 March 2012

Steve O'Connell (AM): Turning to resources, I know recently you have written to the Chair with an update on your thoughts around PCSO numbers and improvement and that letter has been copied to us, so thank you for that.

• Question by: Caroline Pidgeon
• Meeting date: 08 March 2012

Caroline Pidgeon (AM): I just wanted to pick up a couple of things, following on from Val's question. The issue Val mentions of the seven stabbings, and one stabbing that resulted in somebody tragically dying in parts of Lambeth Kit Malthouse (Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime): Pimlico. Caroline Pidgeon (AM): -- I wonder if there is any more information you could give us in terms of extra resources and what you are doing, because there are clearly huge concerns in the community in that area, and it would be useful if you could give us a bit more information...