Tim Donovan Political Editor BBC London

Ken Livingstone's budget to be set

The Mayor and the London Assembly finalise their budget for 2006/07 and this will determine the 'precept' - how much of his spending gets into Londoners' council tax bills.

Ken Livingstone is proposing a 13% rise in his share of the council tax - on average an additional 65p per week.

From the 65p:

• 38p will go to fund the 2012 Olympic Games
• and 27p to transport, police and fire services

The Mayor's 2006/07 budget proposal goes to the London Assembly, but more rises are likely when borough councils set their budgets.

The Greater London Authority's (GLA) proportion of council tax went up by:

• 26p per week in 2005/6
• 33p in 2004/5
• and 97p in 2003/4

None of these included an "Olympic tax", which accounts for much of the rise and which the mayor's office says has been pre-arranged with the government.

Mr Livingstone has budgeted �3.6m for an extra 89 police officers to tackle robbery and violent crimes at railway and Tube stations.

Ken Livingstone said: "This budget concentrates on safer stations and safer neighbourhoods, with resources to ensure every neighbourhood in London gets a dedicated beat police team, and extra British Transport Police to patrol our over-ground stations".

Some residents in boroughs on the outer edge of London like Havering and Bromley are concerned that they are not getting value for money from the Mayor's budget and spending on police, transport and economic development.

The Politics Show London hosts a discussion on the value for money question coming out of this.

Also on the programme

We focus on the education bill and debate, and what the latest concessions from the government to backbench rebels will mean to the bill and to Londoners.

The Politics Show London

Join the Politics Show on BBC One on Sunday19 February 2006 at Noon with Tim Donovan.

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