Newsletter - March 2005

Published on Sun 13th Mar 2005

Newsletter - March 2005

1. CASINOS - SAFEGUARDS SOUGHT FOR LONDONERS

The London Assembly's Economic Development and Planning Committee, chaired by Dee Doocey, is seeking safeguards for Londoners in the development and operation of new 'super casinos' planned by the government.

These casinos could be built in a number of London locations, including the Millennium Dome, Wembley Stadium, Kensington Olympia, West Ham Football Club and Rainham.

'Super casinos' could boost tourism, create new jobs and help regenerate local economies. But they could also bring crime, problem gambling, noise and pollution in their wake.

The Committee is carrying out an investigation, which will:

· Examine the potential developments new casinos could bring to London's communities

· Investigate the impact on the quality of life of people living near gambling venues

· Make recommendations to the Mayor and the Government on the suitability of London as a location for such forms of entertainment

The Committee held a public meeting on March 1st at City Hall. It heard from across-section of organizations, including casino developers and operators, local authorities and opposition groups. It also received verbal evidence from a range of organisations and groups.

The next stage of the procedure will involve examining all the evidence and producing a report with focused recommendations. The report is scheduled for publication in May.

2. SEXUAL INFECTIONS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE - GLA SEEKS ANSWERS

London now has the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections (STI's) in the country, with one in ten young women infected with chlamydia. The capital has also faced a number of major syphilis outbreaks during the past three years.

Members of the London Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee, including Dee Doocey, began an investigation on 17 January, with a visit to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic.

The Committee members have been investigating:

· The types and rates of sexual infections among young people in London.

· Young people's access to sexual health clinics.

· How sexual health services for young people could be improved.

· How sexual health education and advice are provided and how they could be improved.

A number of workshops and focus groups, including one at City Hall on the 10th March with MTV star Tim Kash and R & B singer Rhian Benson, are taking place in order to engage young people in the debate. The committee will be producing a full report on the subject in the summer.

3. WATER PRESSURE DROP - LONDONERS FACE HUGE BILL

Dee Doocey has warned that any local residents who either live above the second floor or own a property that has three or more floors, could face massive costs from installing water pumps because of Thames Water's decision to reduce water pressure across London.

She warned that homeowners who rely on 'combination boilers' will have to find costly alternative ways to pump water round their homes as the pressure drop will stop them working properly.

The warning came following a London Assembly Health Committee meeting, in which Thames Water executives were quizzed about the effects on Londoners their proposed reduction in water pressure would have.

The committee are producing a report for publication at the end of March.

4. HOMELESSNESS IN LONDON - WHAT CAN WE DO?

Homelessness in London has increased by about 7.5% (over 4,500 households) in the last year.

Now there are 67,000 families with no place to call their own. Meanwhile, there are nearly 100,000 properties across the capital which are lying empty.

Over the next few months the Dee Doocey will be tackling both sides of this scandalous situation. Dee will be surveying all of the boroughs to be investigating their empty homes policies and will develop some London-wide solutions to return as many homes back into use as possible.

It is also time to expose the seriousness of London's homelessness figures.

Dee has already met with London's principal homelessness organisations, and her forthcoming campaign will recommend new ways to curb this crisis.

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News round-up

5 INVESTIGATIONS COMING UP

The London Assembly's Economic Development and Planning Committee's next scrutiny will look at apprenticeships in London. The first meeting on 5th April will be a site visit to Heathrow's Terminal 5 to look at the apprenticeship schemes in place in the construction industry. The second meeting on 24th May will be a public hearing at City Hall hearing evidence from witnesses. The scrutiny will focus on:

1. Gaps in the provision of apprenticeships

2. How many large employers run apprenticeship schemes

3. Why some employers don't offer apprenticeships

The London Assembly's Health and Public Services Committee's next scrutiny, with a hearing on 19th April at City Hall, will examine health and safety among construction workers. The scrutiny will focus on:

1. The levels of work force injury within the construction industry in London

2. How health and safety within the construction industry is monitored and reported

3. What steps are being taken to reduce construction work force injury

4. How the public sector can improve the health and safety of construction workers they employ

6 RECENT PRESS RELEASES

Full texts of Dee Doocey's recent press releases are available through the link on the left hand side:

· "Exploring London in half term week could cost parents over £500 - Lib Dems" (14th February 2005)

· "Strict controls needed for capital's 'super casinos'" (1st March 2005)

· "Lib Dems warn young Londoners of soaring sex disease danger" (10th march 2005)

7 QUESTIONS TO KEN

Dee Doocey regularly submits written questions to the Mayor. Her latest questions have covered childcare places, housing and casinos.

8. EVENTS DIARY

Events, meetings and votes at the London Assembly can provide news pegs for local stories. Meetings of the Economic Development and Planning committee, along with all other GLA committees, are open to the public and the discussions at such meetings could provide you with a campaigning opportunity.

Please do feel free to attend.

Forthcoming Economic Development and Planning Committee meetings:

24th May - Apprenticeships

12th July - London Development Agency

Forthcoming Health and Public Services Committee meetings:

17th March - Sexual Health in Young People

19th April - Health and Safety in Construction Workers