KNIGHTSBRIDGE & BELGRAVIA WARD LABOUR ACTION REPORT – September 2025
News from your Knightsbridge & Belgravia Labour Action Team
Dear Resident,
We hope you find our Action Report of interest and help.
Every week we go door-knocking to ask residents if there are any local issues on which we can help. Please let us know if we can be of help or assistance at labour4knights.belgr@gmail.com
Please let us know how we are doing by completing our residents’ survey https://bit.ly/Residents-survey-25-2
NEWS AND ACTION
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
The Council’s campaign against anti-social behaviour in Westminster is intensifying with the recruitment of nine new police officers funded by the City Council to tackle ASB, to create a new 18-person team of dedicated Police and City Inspectors
The new ASB Team builds on other council initiatives introduced by Labour, including the new 200 camera CCTV system and the introduction of new public space protection orders (PSPOs) across Westminster.
Campaign to tackle dog fouling
The Council has launched a Campaign to tackle dog fouling. The team will be leafleting and letter dropping problematic streets to encourage resident support, together with an online survey, signs and leaflets with QR codes to enable you to report and feedback comments. We have also improved and upgraded our animal nuisance Report-It platform which makes it easier for residents to use https://www.westminster.gov.uk/stamp-out-dog-fouling
Cracking Down on Rogue Short-Term Lets
The Government is taking action to tackle the scourge of rogue short-term lets with the introduction of a mandatory national register. This is an important step to ensure we know which homes are being let, and where they are. Rachel Blake MP is calling for the Cities of London and Westminster, home to the highest number of short-term lets in the country to be chosen as the trial location for this new scheme.
Rachel has already established a Short-Term Lets Commission to gather evidence from residents, identify the worst offending properties, and report them directly to platforms and local authorities.
Residents are rightly fed up with anti-social behaviour, illegal subletting, and properties breaching the 90-day rule. If you agree it’s time for change, please sign Rachel’s petition below:
https://www.rachelblake.org.uk/homes-arent-hotels
For details for Rachel Blake, Member of Parliament for Cities of London & Westminster, visit https://www.rachelblake.org.uk/. You can contact Rachel at rachel.blake.mp@parliament.uk
‘Rogue Trader’ alert
‘Rogue Trader’ alert – a resident has shared this bad experience – “I want to make you aware of a ‘rogue trader’ called GLOTECH REPAIRS. We used them to fix a minor problem with our washer dryer. 2 engineers (one of whom was quite aggressive) and 3 ‘no shows’ later an engineer with the part arrived, dissembled our washing machine, ‘just popped to the van’ with our washing machine dissembled and never came back! they should be avoided!”
Stronger powers to regulate e-bikes
Your Westminster Labour Councillors and Rachel Blake MP have been calling for regulation of e-bikes and welcome the provisions in the Government’s English Devolution and Empowerment Bill that will give Transport for London (TfL) the power to licence this industry. Currently, because e-bikes are unregulated, the Council and TfL have limited powers to take direct action when these e-bikes are badly parked.
The licensing scheme will include minimum standard conditions set by the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure a consistent baseline of operability and safety.
There’s also good news in the Crime and Policing Bill, which allows the police to seize illegally modified e-bikes and scooters, and those involved in anti-social behaviour.
We are now pressing the Mayor of London and TfL to be ready to bring in these new rules as soon as possible after the legislation is passed.
Reducing flood risk
The City Council has launched a series of feasibility studies to explore new ways of tackling the risk of surface water flooding.
The floods of 2021 were a stark reminder of how vulnerable our City is to extreme rainfall. Since then, the Council has been rolling out Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) across Westminster. While SuDS will help, they can only go so far in a dense urban environment like ours. That’s why we are now looking at new and innovative ideas. See more at https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2025/09/10/exploring-innovative-ways-to-reduce-flood-risk/
Pedicab regulation
Detailed proposals for the regulation of pedicabs have been announced by Transport for London. including mandatory enhanced criminal record and medical checks, driver ID badges, vehicle checks, licence plates and annual licensing inspections. Under the new rules, pedicab drivers will no longer be allowed to blast amplified music externally or stop in prohibited places to pick and drop off passengers. Fares will be based on journey time with a set per-minute rate. For more details see https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/pedicabs-licensing
New Community Planning Service
Westminster City Council has launched a new pilot Community Planning Advice Service. The service is available to all residents, community groups and others and provides free planning guidance on how to respond to large scale planning applications. https://westminstercpas.commonplace.is/
Free Cycling Lessons
Free cycle training is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Westminster. Over 4,000 people have benefitted from this over the past few years.
https://www.cycleconfident.com/sponsors/city-of-westminster
OTHER NEWS
Street works
For an update on street works in the area please go to https://one.network/public
Walking
You can discover a whole new side of Westminster with the new Footways interactive walking map which reveals quiet streets for walking, with intriguing features to discover on the way. A paper copy has now been produced which you can pick up at libraries and leisure centres.
https://footways.london/westminster
Trade Parking permits
If you are having work to your home or business requiring a visit from tradespeople with a vehicle you can apply for a trade parking permit. See the link below
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parking/trade-parking-businesses/apply-trade-parking-permit
E-bikes
If you see e-bikes parked badly, please report this to
Lime: london-ops@li.me
Forest/River: cs@humanforest.co.uk
Voi scooters: support@voiapp.io
Santander bikes can be reported at https://streetcare.tfl.gov.uk
Air Quality
The Council has developed a range of air quality data monitoring online tools which allow you to view and analyse air quality data in Westminster from multiple sources.
Volunteering
If you would like to know more about volunteering, see https://www.onewestminster.org.uk/volunteering/want-volunteer-westminster
Cost of living support for families
You can get the support you need, from how to access government financial aid to finding local advice services.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/council-announces-extra-ps1million-support-families-struggling-cost-living
To help Council tenants who do not qualify for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, we are continuing the Rent Support Fund to help those in financial difficulties.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/ps1m-fund-offers-tenants-lifeline-rent-payments
Children aged 3 to 14 in Westminster now receive a free school lunch https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/westminster-rolls-out-free-school-meals-14000-children-huge-expansion-lunch-scheme
Food Waste recycling
Around 30% of waste in the average rubbish bin is food waste, so please use the food waste recycling service as much as possible. If your block of flats or mansion block does not have access to the food waste recycling service yet, get in touch by emailing foodwaste@westminster.gov.uk.
For further information see https://www.westminster.gov.uk/food-waste-recycling-expansion
Help getting your shopping or prescriptions delivered
If you are vulnerable and cannot get to the shops, Westminster Connects volunteers can collect your shopping and prescriptions and deliver it to your home.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/advice-vulnerable-residents/food-delivery
Environmental Justice
The Council has produced an ‘Environmental Justice’ map which shows the distribution of environmental conditions, climate impacts and access to green, sustainable resources across Westminster.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/3f7bf2a160e047748e2526b3f2536902
Animal Welfare
The Council’s Animal Welfare Team addresses animal cruelty cases and offers support and advice. You can contact the Team at animalwelfare@westminster.gov.uk
Service charges
At a time of rising bills, it is important to know your rights. See the LEASE website Service Charges – The Leasehold Advisory Service (lease-advice.org)
Handyperson service
Westminster residents aged over 60, or in receipt of disability benefit, can request free help from a handyperson. The service covers minor works such as replacing light bulbs and other small DIY jobs. It does not cover gardening, plumbing or decorating, and it is not an emergency service. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/handyperson
Bike Hangars
Residents interested in renting a cycle hangar storage space should Register an Interest via our website.
Refuse collection and Recycling collection times
Recycling bags can be ordered from https://webforms.westminster.gov.uk/order-recycling-bags/. Bags will be delivered within approximately 10 days of order.
You can check when refuse and recycling is collected from your street here http://transact.westminster.gov.uk/env/streetsearch.aspx
Bulky Waste collections
You can book a bulky waste collection service with the Council for £38 for up to 6 items for collection within 3 working days. If you do not have 6 items for collection, why not ask your neighbours if they have any and then share the cost.
If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, the service is free. This is limited to one collection of up to 6 items, every 90 days.
https://www.westminster.gov.uk/collections/how-dispose-bulky-waste
Report It
Please tell the Council about dumped rubbish, broken streetlights, dumped bikes, graffiti and more by using Report It https://www.westminster.gov.uk/report-it
Street Link
If you see anyone sleeping rough, please contact Street Link who are able offer help and assistance. You can contact Street Link 24 hours a day at https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
Apply for a Postal Vote
You can choose to vote by post if it would be more convenient for you or because your work schedule means you can’t get to the polling station. You can apply for a Postal Vote at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
My Westminster
You can sign up to MyWestminster, your free weekly Council update on everything happening in your city.
https://westminster.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a50c8b0dd980669ef713b4cca&id=bd2a0fcc47
Please feel free to pass this report to your neighbours and friends. If you know of anyone else who might like to receive this report, please send them this sign-up link https://bit.ly/labour-news
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Regards
Your Knightsbridge & Belgravia Ward Action Team – Here to Help, All Year Round – We Get Things Done!
Contact us at labour4knights.belgr@gmail.com
Read our latest news on https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk
Read our manifesto here, setting out Labour’s pledges www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/manifesto-labours-plan-for-a-fairer-westminster/