London Councils response to the National Audit Office report on the budget for the Olympics

Commenting on the National Audit Office's report on the budget for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, London Councils' chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell said:

"London Councils shares the concerns of the National Audit Office that there are significant areas of uncertainty remaining around the finalisation of the design of venues for the 2012 Games and the intended wider legacy benefits

"The Games were sold to us all on the basis that they would leave a legacy of community facilities and real long term benefits for communities across London. It is disturbing that while the budget for the Games has significantly increased these issues have not been properly costed and a detailed delivery plan put in place.

"Londoners are putting in £625 million into staging the Games through the council tax and the boroughs are determined to ensure that everyone reaps the benefits of the Games for years following 2012. We are working very closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority and the London Organising Committee to achieve this.

"The Games are currently supported by the vast number of Londoners. But to ensure this continues the Games organisers must be able to demonstrate how the legacy we are all striving to achieve will benefit Londoners long after the Games have gone.

"Londoners must be kept in the picture about future plans for the Olympic village and the world class sporting venues post 2012.

""It is an honour for London to be hosting the Games, and they will be a global showcase for everything the capital, and the rest of the country, has to offer. This is why London Councils has made special grants available for schemes to help enable Londoners get more involved in celebrating and supporting the Games

 "While we still have concerns over the massive increases to the budget for holding the Games, we are  pleased that both Tessa Jowell and the Mayor have promised that London's council taxpayers will not be expected to pay any more for the Games than has been previously been agreed - and we will hold them to their promises."