How will your Recovery Mission to deliver better ‘High Streets for All’ encourage a more community focussed economy? How will this Mission support local communities to stand up to unwanted activity on their High Streets, such as more gambling premises, especially where there are such venues already existing?

The High Streets for All mission is about forming new and diverse local partnerships to lead recovery and develop strategies that meet local needs. As these needs will be different from place to place, we expect communities to play a strong role in devising plans to get the balance right between economic, social and cultural uses. To make sure that community voice is up front and centre of the recovery, we have made sure that one of the missions is High Streets for All, and we have also set out a scheme called “Reimagine London”, a campaign on TalkLondon, which engaged thousands of Londoners, capturing ideas for local improvements. This will be passed on to relevant partnerships and local authorities, helping promote a community-powered recovery.

Thank you, Mr Mayor. I recently attended a protest in Palmers Green high street against an application from an adult gaming centre in a stretch of road which already has five gambling premises. Residents were adamant that another such venue would not make for a welcoming environment and would detract from the area. Will your recovery mission examine what type of activity and shops can create that better sense of place and community? Will that mission look at this issue?

I am well aware of the issue you raise. It is an issue across many communities in London, particularly the poor and deprived communities, interestingly enough. The strategies we are working on will provide a clear vision for individual high streets. We are hoping it will help coordinate approaches from different committees and councils, planning, regeneration, licensing and environmental health. They need to be working together, because I think what you have illustrated is a good example of some of the challenges with the current policies.

Local authorities are often hampered by the requirement in respect to gambling premises. There is a presumption to grant the licence, which often hampers their ability to reject applications and rejuvenate high streets as they would wish. The House of Lords has recently looked at this and says that a decision to reverse that would be justified and the DCMS has recently consulted on this. Will you write to the DCMS asking it to reverse the aim to permit guidance so that local authorities have more leeway and flexibility in rejecting applications that are not in the best interests of the local community?

Yes. The Co-chair of the London Recovery Board with me is the Chair of London Councils. Why do I not speak to her about what we can do together? If that is the view of London Councils as well, that would really help our response. I am more than happy, Chair, to speak to the Chair of London Councils to see if we can do a joint approach to the Government.

Thank you, that is really helpful. Thank you, Chair.