Council announces range of measures to help recession-hit Londoners

Westminster City Council has announced a £100m recovery package to help Londoners survive the downturn.

Measures include loans to support struggling homeowners with mortgage debt, a recommended freeze on council tax, improved shopping areas and a council-run apprenticeship scheme.

Some rental properties will also be priced at housing benefit levels to help the borough's homeless.

The move comes days after London mayor Boris Johnson pledged to spend £1bn on infrastructure projects and boosting skills to help steer the capital through the downturn.

Business and community leaders in Westminster will meet on 27 November to discuss the package.

Council leader Colin Barrow said: “These measures are designed to help families, encourage enterprise, improve skills and demonstrate to our residents that their city will respond, lead and act in the face of unprecedented economic crisis.”