Category: Ex-Mayor Livingstone

The Standard today headlines that the congestion charge could move to pay as you go. This is great in theory but read on. They reckon to be able to collect £3 billion in charges. This would be OK too if some other tax was reduced by £3 billion (for Londoners only).

The real kicker is the quote from Michele Dix, director of congestion charging at TfL: “It would generate £3 billion gross and net revenue of between £1 billion and £2 billion.” This silly woman is no doubt one of the 74 TfL managers earning over £100,000 (see Evening Standard on 10th October last year). Can’t she refine her cost estimates more accurately than to the nearest £1 billion? Why does she think it acceptable to tax people to this extent and then lose anywhere from a third to two thirds of the money in collection costs.

Green taxes are great but not if the cash all gets wasted and other taxes are not reduced.

The Evening Standard today reports that the combined effect of the Safer Neighbourhoods police teams and the Olympics will add £40 to the average London council tax bill next year.

Both of these initiatives are welcome but the 15.5% increase in the precept will take my contribution up to £490 next year. In the last year of the London Residuary Body that preceded the Greater London Authority, 1999/2000, my share of the precept was £175. This represents a 2.8 times increase in seven years.

Since he bacame mayor Livingstone has increased his charge by 2.8 times. I am not sure he has increased police numbers and certainly police effectiveness by 2.8 times.

The Evening Standard today reports on TfL’s figures for 2004-5. They highlight the 74 TfL managers who earn over £100,000. Feeding frenzy or what? In fact 621 earned over £50,000. 19 of them earnt over £150,000. Commissioner Bob Killey was top of the heap at a whisker under £700K.