London Council's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee Meeting

London council's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee discussed corporate asset management, London Hydro, London Transit Commission service and governance, London and Middlesex Community Housing's regeneration plan, and several governance and capital items. Members approved London Hydro-related appointments, received annual reports from LTC and LMCH, approved changes to LTC governance, kept the London Police Service Board at seven members, and amended the RBC Place steam transition item to require a funding update.

Topics Discussed

1. ASSET MANAGEMENT: Full corporate update expected in spring 2027

Council reviewed Item 2.1, Corporate Asset Management Plan Progress Review. Councillor Anna Hopkins asked when council would see the full citywide picture rather than a partial update. Staff said a comprehensive corporate asset management plan covering direct city-owned assets and agencies, boards and commissions is targeted for spring 2027.

Director of Financial Planning Matt Senise said, "we had originally reported back in the 2023 direct city-owned assets an infrastructure gap of $946.1 million." He said the next full report will seek approval of all corporate asset management plans.

The committee also heard that LMCH's asset management plan was added to this cycle's review.

2. LONDON HYDRO: Income, dividend and system investment

Council heard London Hydro's annual presentation and approved related board appointments. Hydro reported $1.1 million in net income for 2025, a $5.5 million dividend to the city, and major capital spending over the past year.

A Hydro representative said, "The 2025 year actually looks very similar to the 2024 year. $1.1 million in net income. $5.5 million dividend paid or will be paid to the city of London."

Mayor Josh Morgan tied Hydro's work to business growth, saying, "economic development is incredibly important to the city and that can't move forward without… adequate, safe and reliable supply of power in the city."

Council also discussed Hydro's long-term infrastructure plans. A utility representative said the company expects to invest heavily in the next decade, adding, "we plan to spend as much in the next decade as we have in the last century here in the city of London."

3. TRANSIT: Ridership changes, service expansion and safety

Council received the London Transit Commission annual report (Item 3.3). LTC said conventional ridership in 2025 was similar to 2024, while specialized transit ridership increased. Staff linked lower conventional ridership growth in part to post-secondary enrolment changes.

General Manager Kelly Paleczny said, "a positive outcome from that decline in ridership was that we had significant improvement in crowding concerns that we had been experiencing in 2024."

Council also discussed service expansion into new areas of the city. LTC staff said adding service often requires fleet expansion, and "the delivery time on a bus is anywhere from 15 to 18 months from the date that we order it."

On safety, councillors raised concerns about conditions at bus shelters and on buses. Paleczny said, "public transit is really just an extension of the community. So, we experience the same things on board the bus that we're experiencing as a community." She added that LTC continues to track incidents and put measures in place to reduce them.

4. LTC GOVERNANCE REVIEW: Commission model retained with changes

Council then considered the London Transit Commission governance review (Item 4.2). Consultants from KPMG and Dylan Consulting recommended keeping the commission model while formalizing reporting relationships, decision-making and oversight.

A presentation to council said, "The London Transit Commission has a solid monitoring foundation for business planning, annual reporting, and effective working level relationships. However, we found the reporting to be inconsistent."

Consultants recommended "improving the reporting structure, increase the reporting frequency to council to strengthen reporting clarity, improve transparency, and enable more proactive decision focused oversight by council."

Council approved a revised governance structure that keeps the commission and sets the board at four councillors and three public members.

5. LMCH REGENERATION PLAN: Repairs, replacement of RGI units and future approvals

Council debated the London and Middlesex Community Housing Master Regeneration Plan and received the report for information. LMCH described it as a long-term redevelopment strategy, with future project approvals and financing requests to come back to council separately.

LMCH CEO Kevin Dickins said, "There is no plan to bring the master regeneration plan to council for approval. It is a board approved document that will guide how we approach regeneration." He said any asset sale, acquisition or debt request would still come to council.

On unit mix, Dickins said, "We do not envision increase in the number of RGI units we have." He said when older RGI units are replaced, those units would be rebuilt in new developments, while additional units would be rented at affordable or market rates because "Our revenue per unit for RGI is not sufficient to support regeneration."

Councillor Sam Trosow opposed simply receiving the report, saying, "We're not being responsible if we gloss over the problems in the building." He also said, "I don't think that we're serving our tenants well."

6. CAPITAL AND GOVERNANCE ITEMS: RBC Place and police board size

Council amended and approved Item 2.5, RBC Place London Steam Transition, requiring staff to return with updated project costs and contingency information.

The committee also approved Item 4.3 to keep the London Police Service Board at seven members.

Motions

• Items 2.1 through 2.3 – Corporate Asset Management Plan-related items: Passed
• Items 3.1 and 3.2 – London Hydro Holdings appointments: Passed
• Item 3.3 – London Transit Commission Annual Report: Passed
• LMCH Master Regeneration Plan report received: Passed
• Item 4.2 – London Transit Commission Governance Review: Passed
• Item 4.3 – London Police Service Board Size: Passed
• Item 2.5 – RBC Place London Steam Transition, as amended: Passed

Attendees

Councillors identified in the meeting materials provided:

• Josh Morgan
• Shawn Lewis
• Anna Hopkins
• Jerry Pribil
• Steve Lehman
• Paul Van Meerbergen
• Susan Stevenson
• David Ferreira
• Skylar Franke
• Sam Trosow
• Hadleigh McAlister
• Elizabeth Peloza