2003 - Liberal Democrats Build Foundation For Future Success

11.59.00pm GMT Wed 31st Dec 2003

This year has seen a number of notable achievements for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats. The Group:

• Took a lead in investigating how the GLA procures contracts, sparked by questions about how the St Patrick's Day celebrations were organised. A new procurement code was agreed.

• Called for the Transport for London /Capita contract to be brought into the public domain, so that details of what Capita is being paid and TfL's response to its performance became a matter of public record.

• Got the Mayor to predict a Lib Dem victory in Brent East.

• Spearheaded a campaign to support local cinemas.

• Investigated a range of health issues including the MMR debate.

• Welcomed young Londoners to City Hall through school visits.

• Gained a commitment from the Metropolitan Police Service to review and improve response times as a result of our work.

• Put pressure on the MPS to make 'customer satisfaction' a priority, alongside traditional crime reduction targets - it is, for the first time, now part of their policing plan.

• Conducted surveys into passengers' experiences of bad bus driver behaviour that encouraged TfL to tackle the issue.

• Welcomed the introduction of the congestion charge scheme but criticised Capita's administration of it. Opposed the Mayor's plan to extend the charge westwards, calling it a 'timid move'.

• Made significant progress in establishing a London Human Rights centre.

• Highlighted the Mayor's failure to meet his affordable housing targets.

• Exposed the New Year's Eve shambles.

The Group looks forward to even greater success in 2004. Merry Christmas and

all the best for the New Year from us all.

Sally Hamwee, Lynne Featherstone, Graham Tope and Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat Members of the Greater London Assembly.