Council Leader outlines vision for next four years

Friday, 13 July, 2018

Local News

Yesterday, Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader of Westminster City Council unveiled Westminster Conservatives’ plans for the next four years.

In a speech to community leaders and stakeholders, Cllr Aiken outlined Westminster Conservatives’ ambition to cement Westminster as a “City for All” that live, work and visit it.

After thanking the residents of Westminster for placing their trust in the Conservatives to run the City for another four years Cllr Aiken announced,

“We will be a city which is healthier and greener. A city, led by a council which listens to the community. And a council not afraid to take tough decisions to stand up for our city. And a council which takes action and delivers.”

She continued, “we are building a city with more and better-quality housing, safer streets, cleaner air, better outdoor space. It is going to be a more family-friendly city, as well as a business-friendly city: in short, a City for All.”

Cllr Aiken also spoke of “a new era of openness” including putting local residents and businesses at the heart of the planning process.

On opening up the planning process Cllr Aiken said, “When I became Leader of this council, I took care to listen to criticism that people made to me about planning in Westminster. The perception was that the planning system was not working for people, but for developers. Such as perception is bad for everyone.”

Cllr Aiken continued “I want us to be a council which works in partnership with residents and businesses to find balance for our city. A council which takes decisions not according to narrow rulebooks, but according to whether it meets the strategic needs of the city and its residents. A council which gives a platform to local people who wish to express their view and where developers and residents alike have confidence that our planning decisions are open and transparent.”

Westminster Conservatives retained control of the City Council by winning 41 of the 60 seats contested in May’s local elections.

If you would like to see the details of Westminster Conservatives plans for the City please click here.

You can also read a full transcript of Cllr Aiken’s speech here.

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Bayswater

Bayswater is on the western edge of the City of Westminster. It is bordered to the north by Westbourne, Lancaster Gate to the south and Hyde Park to the east.

Church Street

The ward of Church Street lies towards the northeast of Westminster.

Pimlico South

Pimlico South ward covers the Southern part of Pimlico.

Harrow Road

The ward of Harrow Road lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the north east by Maida Vale, the south by Westbourne and the north west by Queens Park.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park Ward is home to Paddington Station, the development around Paddington Basin, St. Mary's Hospital (part of the Imperial College Healthcare Trust which is the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre) the only Hospital in the City of Westminster, and the bustle of Edgware Road.

Knightsbridge & Belgravia

Knightsbridge & Belgravia ward is at the western boundary of the Cities of London & Westminster constituency. As well as the Westminster parts of Knightsbridge & Belgravia, part of Hyde Park is also within the ward.

Lancaster Gate

Lancaster Gate lies in the west of Westminster.

Little Venice

Little Venice is located in the northeast of Westminster. The ward is bordered by Church Street and Abbey Road to the east. Maida Vale to the north, Westbourne and Hyde Park to the south.

Maida Vale

Maida Vale is located to the northwest of Westminster. The ward is bordered to the northeast by Abbey Road, to the southeast by Little Venice, to the south by Westbourne and to the southwest by Harrow Road.

Marylebone

Marylebone ward stretches from Marylebone Road to Wigmore Street, north to south, and from Portland Place to Edgware Road, east to west. The ward is currently represented by three Conservative Councillors; Barbara Arzymanow, Ian Rowley and Karen Scarborough. To find out more abou

Queen's Park

Queen's Park ward is a largely residential area in the northwest of the City.

Regent's Park

Regent's Park lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the south east by Marylebone, the west by Church Street and the north by Abbey Road.

St. James's

St James's is the largest ward in the city, stretching from Vincent Square to Chancery Lane, and from the river to Piccadilly and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Vincent Square

Vincent Square Ward covers an area of central London that is bordered by the River Thames to the south, the Palace of Westminster and St. James's to the east, Victoria Station to the north and Pimlico to the west.

Pimlico North

Pimlico North ward covers the Northern part of Pimlico.

West End

West End Ward covers the iconic areas of Mayfair, Soho, Fitzrovia and East Marylebone. Along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street and the surrounding areas, it includes some of Britain’s busiest shopping streets and is home to large numbers of theatres, entertainment and cultural venues.

Westbourne

The ward of Westbourne lies in the north of Westminster.