• The Government have published plans for new towns, with over 100 sites across England identified. A Towns Taskforce will be established.
• The Government have published Streamlining Infrastructure Planning which proposes: acceleration of the planning process, more frequent reviews of National Policy Statements, a reduction in consultation requirements, supporting infrastructure delivery post-consent, and strengthening statutory guidance.
• A £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund has been announced to support arts venues, museums, libraries, and heritage buildings.  Bidding has also been launched for AI Growth Zones – local authorities are encouraged to develop AI infrastructure hubs to attract private sector investment.
• During last week’s Mayor’s Question Time, the Mayor’s 2025-26 budget was discussed by the London Assembly.
• The Mayor has published his Growth Plan.  A short analysis and our public comment on the plan is here.
• Plans for the transformation of Oxford Street have been published – the consultation closes on 2 May.
• The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee has published their report on the evening and night time economy.
• Conservative candidate Martin Hayes won the Vincent Square by-election with 45.4% of the vote defeating Labour’s Camadoo-Rothwell who received 32.5% of the vote. Labour’s WCC majority is now 29-25. The by-election result offers insight into voter sentiment ahead of next year’s local elections.
• Public hearings have been scheduled for the City Plan Partial Review in April and May to examine WCC’s retrofit-first policy, affordable housing requirements and site allocations.
• WCC has approved budget measures to tackle anti-social behaviour.  This includes recruiting eight new City Inspectors and doubling CCTV coverage to 200 cameras, with 40 new ones in the West End. This £2m investment marks the biggest council security upgrade in nearly a decade, with the full budget set for a vote on 5 March.

• Submitted consultation response to the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan 2025-29
• Submitted consultation response to TfL’s plans to regulate pedicabs
• Met with Cllr Paul Swaddle to discuss shared key priorities
• Reached out to new Cllr Max Sullivan to discuss placeshaping strategy and projects for the borough
• Hosted Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (in partnership with BusinessLDN) on 27 February
• Invited Mayor Sadiq Khan to speak at HOLBA’s 24 hour economy event at the end of April

Looking ahead – Key Activity

• Submit our response to the Government’s consultation on business rate multipliers and launch a media and advocacy campaign
• Publish a fuller response to the Mayor’s Growth Plan to include details of a new special designation proposed for the HOL area
• Gather views and develop a response to the GLA consultation on the transformation of Oxford Street
• Attend a roundtable discussion with Superintendent Beth Pirie and the Westminster BIDs group on 6 March to discuss crime and safety
• Write to the Treasury about additional resources for the Met Police ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review
• Meet with Shadow Minister of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Saqib Bhatti MP to discuss the contribution of UK culture to the creative economy
• Finalise plans for a roundtable discussion on the soft power of the West End with Lord Edward Young to be held on 22 May