Westminster Matters: An update from Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader of Westminster City Council

It has been an incredibly busy time since I last updated you on the work of Conservative-run Westminster City Council.

Sadly we continue to see an increase in the number of rough sleepers on our streets. Westminster attracts more than the next four boroughs combined. Being the “capital of the capital” has always meant more people bedding down on our streets.

At the last election we made you a promise that we would keep your Council Tax low. You put your trust in us and we are delivering on this commitment.

Sussex Gardens is now safer for pedestrians and cyclists following the quietway and crossing works. We appreciate that there was some traffic disruption, not helped by Thames Water, but there has been a real improvement in safety as a result.

Conservative led Westminster City Council is calling on the Government to introduce mandatory information sharing between councils and operators such as AirBNB, so that it can enforce the legal limit of 90 days a year for short lets.

With a commercial partner, Westminster City Council has supported PaddingtonWorks, which offers market-rate desk space, edit suites and shared meeting room and presentation facilities in Hermitage Street.

The City of Westminster is set to have its first ever Labour Lord Mayor after an agreement by the council’s Conservative and Labour Groups.

You may have noticed that our trees have started to shed their leaves. From 5th November, Westminster City County began implementing its ‘Leafing Plan’.

The weekend of 9th – 11th November saw Westminster Council commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. As a Council, we work very closely with the Armed Forces supporting a number of initiatives.

Following its introduction in March this year, Westminster Conservatives confirmed earlier this week that its community contribution fund has raised almost £400,000.