Cllr Antonia Cox

The Buck stops here! Westminster North Conservatives are out in force to win this seat and we got some very positive results during canvassing on Saturday. I’m looking forward to working with Lindsey on communications and strategy in this key marginal.

Councillor Louise Hyams, City Inspectors Chris and Heath and I were out and about on the late night turn in Chinatown. Buskers using amplifiers after 9pm, late collections of business waste and beggars were among the issues promptly tackled by the team. Excellent work.

City inspectors Joe, John, JC, planning chief Amanda Coulson, environmental health and Veolia representatives accompanied me on a Clean and Safe Streets Audit today. We were pleased to see Tfl and WCC marshals ensuring that taxis and Uber drivers did not cause congestion and tailbacks outside Paddington Station. However we had to call in Veolia to deal with unauthorised waste from McDonalds on the pavement. John Whelan has spoken to several managers and will continue to press the company to behave more responsibly or face fines.

The Lord Mayor and I had the pleasure of welcoming members of the administrative and legal committees of the Jordanian parliament this week. After visits to the Houses of Parliament, funded by the Foreign Office, they were interested in learning about local government, in particular in the extent of responsibilities for education.

WCC has obtained a Criminal Behaviour Order against one of Britain’s worst landlords. If she breaks its conditions requiring her to treat tenants decently, she could get a prison sentence: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rogue-landlord-banned-from-managing-homes-in-two-london-boroughs-for-10-years-a3467221.html

A resident alerted me to the poor condition of this surface. So officers visited last week to assess it and look at whether Crossrail could potentially have to contribute to resurfacing costs, as their lorries use the road extensively.

Crossrail confirmed to me that they would definitely be resurfacing Eastbourne Terrace when the new Elizabeth line opens in 2018.  They promise that there will be fewer closures of Westbourne Terrace this year than there were last year.

I await the officers’ report on whether Crossrail can be held liable for resurfacing Westbourne Terrace too.

PS Good to see so many residents at the Bayswater Open Forum at Porchester Hall on Monday night.

The school will be moving into the Christchurch Avenue site at the February half term. Meanwhile demolition is complete at our Paddington Basin permanent site and construction of the building for 850 pupils will take place during 2017/18.

My husband and I were delighted to accompany West End ward councillors and Chinatown community leaders to the opening of this splendid new gate. HRH The Duke of York and the Chinese Ambassador did the honours.

Dr Bill Oldfield, deputy medical director, today showed me what Imperial would like to do to upgrade their long-neglected site. The Sellar development creates an opportunity to sell the three outpatient buildings including the Jefferiss clinic in return for cash which could transform the Salton building and its neighbours into a great new outpatient facility. There would be good access from South Wharf Road and Praed Street and vastly improved facilities. I’ve told Councillor Robert Davis what a great opportunity this is to achieve the transformation St Mary’s has needed for so long. As the good doctor says, it’s a world class hospital despite some terrible buildings. With some brand new ones, designed with clinicians in mind, and a refurbished QEQM, what might they not achieve for patients?