London mayor Ken Livingstone declared on Monday that he had gone "the extra mile" to seek consensus about public spending levels in the capital for the 2001/02 financial year.

The London assembly had earlier voted to scale back the planned spending rises and tax increases. The mayor had previously expected the average band D council tax bills to rise by £38 a year. The mayor's new proposals reduce the increase to £28 per year.

The extra spending will go on the fight against crime. Livingstone said: "I believe Londoners are willing to pay an extra 54 pence a week to see more police officers on their streets and to support the commissioner in the fight against crime."

To achieve a "consensus", the mayor has accepted almost all the budget amendments proposed by the assembly, with the exception that he has reduced their proposed cut in the transport budget.

Livingstone said "I still believe my original plans were a better and more secure" but concluded that he had "put the objective of achieving consensus first".

The revised budget will now be debated by assembly members on February 15, where a two-thirds majority will be required for any further amendments.