When Conservative councillors praised the budgetary decisions of the Mayor of London at Full Council last week, Deputy Leader of the Council Liz Green raised her concerns that Boris’ budget was disproportionately hurting local residents who regularly use public transport.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Green said: “Yes, the Conservative Mayor has achieved a 0% rise in the GLA precept of local Council Tax bill would have saved a Band D property using the most generous estimates, a total of £15 this year.

“But the real cost of running the capital seems to have palmed off in more covert charges.

“I take the bus regularly for council duties and to take my children out. I spent about £10 per week on my oyster card during 2009. When the Conservative Mayor of London decided to hike up the charge of a pay-as-you-go Oyster card by 20% in January, the cost to myself rose to £12 per week – for two regular bus users in the family that’s £200 extra per year, compared to the maximum of £15 saved from the precept freeze.”

Cllr Howard Jones, Leader of the Conservative Group responded: “People who get on buses just have to pay for it!”

Cllr Liz Green commented later: “I was under the impression that the main political parties agreed that services which residents have to use in order to work, live healthily lives, help the environment and enable society to function should be subsidised to affordable levels. That is why we have local amenities such as libraries and community swimming pools – and why the Mayor of London is expected to keep the costs of public transport manageable for household budgets.

“I am concerned local Conservative councillors are dismissing the genuine harm and impact of hiking up charges for public services on local households living on low and modest incomes.”