TfL cannot plan ahead to efficiently and effectively procure
necessary services and investment, without a long-term funding
settlement with Government.
Following a meeting last week
with TfL senior management, the London Assembly Transport
Committee has written to The Rt Hon MP, Secretary of State for
Transport, to stress the urgency of getting a funding deal
secured as soon as possible. The current short-term funding
deal runs out this Friday.
MBE AM, Chair of the
London Assembly Transport Committee said:
“The continued procrastination over a long-term funding deal for
Transport for London is damaging for London’s transport system,
for Londoners and for the entire country.
“TfL has not started any new capital enhancement projects since
summer 2021, some TfL staff are being redeployed away from paused
projects or being released, and no investment is being made in
new rolling stock and new projects.
“When the Commissioner of Transport for London confesses that as
much as 60 per cent of his time is spent on budgetary matters,
you know something is clearly wrong. Officials in the
Department for Transport must be similarly consumed with these
regular negotiations. There is an inherent inefficiency to
this way of working.
“The security of a long-term funding agreement is required
urgently, so that TfL can plan and allocate resources, in order
to provide Londoners with the reliable and efficient transport
network they deserve.
“The moment has come to stop wasting precious time and get on
with the job!”
