Vision Zero is a global movement to end traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by taking a systemic approach to road safety. First implemented as the national road policy in Sweden in 1997, Vision Zero has since been adopted by more than 20 cities around the world, including London.

Transport for London (TfL), in partnership with London Councils and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), has this week published a progress report that highlights the scale of the Vision Zero challenge in London and commits to new tougher measures to eliminate death and serious injury from London's roads by 2041.

Commenting on the progress report, Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, said: "Every death on our roads is tragic and unacceptable. We know that road danger, and the fear of road danger, influences the way people choose to travel in the capital. By collectively committing to the Vision Zero goal, we can create a safer London which in turn means a healthier, more active, greener and cleaner London.

"Vision Zero can only be achieved through a partnership approach and we are proud of what we have individually and jointly delivered so far. It is vital we continue to champion this approach and redouble our efforts to reduce road danger until there are no deaths on the capital's roads. Boroughs are committed to making all London's roads safer and working alongside TfL and the Metropolitan Police Service to play a full part in achieving Vision Zero."

The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime yesterday published a new draft Policing and Crime Plan covering the period 2021-2025, which is now open for consultation until 21 January 2022.

Responding to publication of the draft plan, London Councils Executive Member for Crime and Public Protection Cllr Jas Athwal said: “The safety of our capital is the utmost priority for London boroughs. We continue to work closely with the Met and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime to keep London safe. 

"We welcome the new draft Police and Crime Plan, particularly the focus on the key themes of reducing and preventing violence, increasing trust and confidence, supporting victims and protecting people from being exploited or harmed. 

"We encourage councils and Londoners to engage with the consultation on the draft plan and to help shape the final product to add real value for London’s communities.”

This LSE has this week published an independent review of how Capital Letters - the non-profit company set up by councils in London in 2019 - is succeeding in its ambitions to address the capital's homelessness crisis.

The LSE review, by Professor Christine Whitehead, suggests that Capital Letters is already making a difference and becoming an important initiative to help provide better housing opportunities to Londoners who face homelessness. It also concludes that there is real potential to grow the approach, so that many fewer London households remain in unsuitable and expensive temporary accommodation, or avoid it in the first place.

LB Ealing Chief Executive Paul Najsarek has announced he is to step down from his post in December, after nearly six years at the west London borough.

“I have mixed emotions about leaving Ealing, a borough I have loved", he said, "But this felt like the right time to be moving on to new challenges now that the worst aspects of the Covid pandemic seem to have passed."

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