In this episode of Kanda’s Better Places podcast, Kanda’s Simon Gartshore is joined by Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council, for a wide-ranging discussion on the administration’s early progress and its ambitions for the city.

Since taking control in May, the new administration has focused on four key priorities: safe streets, a clean city, value for money and thriving growth. Cllr Swaddle reflects on the first 161 days, from appointing Westminster’s first ever cabinet member for enforcement and tackling dockless bikes and short-term lets, to running the council’s largest ever budget engagement exercise in the face of a significant cut to government funding.

Growth sits at the centre of the conversation. Cllr Swaddle explains why the council sees growth and planning as intrinsically linked, with planning positioned as an enabler rather than a barrier. With Westminster powering 4% of the UK’s GDP, he makes the case for fiscal devolution so that more of the benefit of that growth is retained locally.

Partnership is a recurring theme throughout the episode. Cllr Swaddle discusses his early engagement with businesses, the important role of Business Improvement Districts, and why councils need to work with expert partners rather than try to do everything themselves. He also sets out his ambition to make developer contributions through Section 106 and CIL more transparent, so that residents can see the tangible benefits of development in their daily lives.

The episode also covers housing delivery in the borough, and the proposed overnight visitor levy and high-value council tax surcharge. Finally, Cllr Swaddle shares how he balances leading the council with daily life, and why cooking offers the perfect escape.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The first five months in office: Progress against the administration’s four tenets, including the new enforcement regime, action on dockless bikes and short-term lets, and the council’s largest ever budget consultation.
• Funding pressures and fiscal devolution: The impact of the Fair Funding Review on Westminster’s budget, and why a share of locally raised business rates would help the city serve its residents and 800,000 daily visitors.
• Growth and planning: Why growth and planning are intrinsically linked, the five priority sectors in the new growth statement, and how the council is offering developers greater certainty through earlier conversations.
• Partnerships and tangible local benefits: Working with businesses, BIDs and the property sector, and making the benefits of development more visible to local communities.
• Housing, the Mayor and looking ahead: Delivering new homes across the borough, relations with City Hall, the overnight visitor levy and the high-value council tax surcharge, plus how Cllr Swaddle balances leadership with his love of cooking.

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