Wickford

Redbridge councillors on the people scrutiny committee were alarmed to learn of a £2 million accounting error.

The People Directorate, in charge of adult and children’s social care, has a predicted overspend of £12.122 million for the next financial quarter, £2 million higher than it should be.

Councillors from both main political parties were concerned mistakes of this size “in several areas” could affect their ability to plan ahead properly.

Cllr Ross Hatfull (Lab, Valentines) said: “Usually I have a lot of sympathy with officers because I understand the pressures you are under and the challenges on ever-decreasing budgets.

“But I look at this and have to admit being quite concerned. We are adding £2 million onto our overspend due to basic accounting errors in the forecast.

"We use these forecasts to try to reign things in."

Corporate director of people Adrian Loades explained it was possible the system had become “too complex” with “maybe not everybody understanding some of the assumptions”.

Responding to the error, a Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “The forecasting errors should not have happened, and we should expect that they are as accurate as possible.

“Actions were already underway to improve forecasting, and processes have been reviewed and strengthened to ensure that this does not happen again.”

The MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey is calling for Swale Borough Council's administation to resign after it said it could not accept £38m offered by the government to upgrade two roundabouts on the A249.

The coalition council said it would not be "bounced" into a decision that would lead to unsustainable housing projects.

Deputy leader Mike Baldock said: "This money comes from the Housing Infrastructure Fund and is intrinsically linked with the delivery of ever more housing.

"We strongly feel however that this is not a basis on which we can agree to support this funding.

"Road improvements are necessary, but must be part of a package that tackles all the infrastructure failings caused by the existing increase in housing, rather than being the means to deliver even greater housing numbers."

MP Gordon Henderson accused the council of being "obsessed with environmental issues".

He said the money "was not intended to open the way for more housing, but to service the developments that have already been built, or are in the pipeline, and for which planning permission has been granted."

"There is no doubt that those housing developments will still go ahead.

"However, without the necessary improvements at Grovehurst and Key Street, the increase in traffic will simply make worse the current congestion on the A249," Mr Henderson added.

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A 16-year-old boy is recovering his hospital after being stabbed in north London yesterday afternoon.

The victim was attacked on Broadlands Close, Highgate, shortly after 16:00.

He was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition, the Met Police has said.

No arrests have been made, but officers are continuing to investigate, the force added.

New signalling on the Piccadilly line is the “number one priority” for Transport for London (TfL), according to the network’s boss.

London Transport Commissioner Mike Brown said the increase to capacity would be “like an entirely new service in London”.

Modern signalling allows more trains and a more reliable service on Underground lines – meaning the Piccadilly line could run every 90 seconds.

TfL has already commissioned 94 new trains to replace the 50-year-old rolling stock on the line, with the first expected in 2023.

Their design will allow 12% more passengers to board – but it could be boosted by 60% with a more regular service.

That would allow 21,000 more passengers to use the line every hour.

The £2.45 billion signalling upgrade was shelved in 2018 as TfL tightened the purse strings in an effort to cut its deficit.

Labour assembly member Joanne McCartney – who represents Enfield and Haringey – said the difference between the Piccadilly and Victoria lines was now “very stark”.

She said it would be “completely bonkers” if new trains ran on the line for years without a signalling upgrade.

Ms McCartney said: “For my part of north London this is our main route into Heathrow, the UK’s biggest airport – and it’s also the most affordable route.”

The Piccadilly line carries more people to Heathrow than any other train to any other airport anywhere in the world.

A chilly start with mist and fog clearing to give another dry and bright day with periods of sunshine but also cloudy at times. Winds turning to the south east and freshening in the late afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 6 to 9°C (43 to 48°F).

Reuters

There will be 33,000 police officers in London by April next year, the head of the Met has said today.

Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said the force would reach 31,500 by spring, and 32,300 by early autumn this year.

Officer numbers in the capital began falling in 2016, and dipped below 30,000 two years ago – the first time since 2003.

Recruitment has since risen with cash from City Hall, with 31,000 officers now in place.

But the Mayor of London and the Met believe the capital needs an extra 6,000 police to tackle high violent crime.

There were more homicides in London last year than any year since 2008, and over 15,000 knife crimes.

Dame Cressida told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee today that the Government’s police settlement would help the Met to reach next year’s 33,000 target.

The Commissioner said it was a “huge achievement” that between 350 and 450 officers were going through training at Hendon police college each month.