Jerry Thomas The Politics Show London

Soutine's L'Homme au Foulard Rouge made more than �8m

A recent Sotheby's sale of Impressionist art set a record of �95m in a single day with 30 lots making over �1m.

However, despite this palpable example of the boom in art in the auction rooms of the capital, the provision of arts in the suburbs has fallen under the spotlight with the announcement that Wandsworth council is to close its local museum despite a concerted campaign to save this local institution.

The closure raises questions over arts funding in the suburbs and the role of local theatres and museums as cornerstones of local culture.

Are councils across the country shunning their responsibility in bringing art to the people?

Tory task force

On the other hand, are they merely reflecting a public indifference to local provision with centrally art providing for the discerning few?

Now David Cameron has set up a Conservative task force to look at arts funding in the run up to the next general election, looking at the role of local and central government in arts provision.

With �1.9bn of Lottery money being diverted to shore up the Olympics overspend, the need for a London arts debate is more acute than ever.

In the studio are Sir John Tusa, newly appointed head of a Conservative taskforce on the arts and Chris Smith, Tony Blair's first Culture Secretary, who now chairs the Mayor's "London Cultural Consortium".

Also on the programme

Housing ghettos

Andrew Cryan reports

Londoners do not need to be reminded that house prices in the capital have gone a bit crazy.

With one-bedroom flats at the top end of the market going for over �1m and the cost of an average property going up by over 10% last year, it's been a great time to be on the property ladder.

But a government-commissioned report out earlier in the week acted as a stark reminder of the problems faced by those left behind.

The report, by Professor John Hills, argued that housing policy in the modern era has helped create ghettos and social isolation.

The solution, he argued, is in creating a better income mix, properly addressing unemployment on our estates and offering a wider range of choices to tenants and others in need of housing.

This week, Professor Hills will appear on The Politics Show London to explain exactly what his report means for the capital.

Report welcomed

London's councils and housing associations - the suppliers of our social housing - both broadly welcomed the report, agreeing that the bottom line is that we need more of the right kind of social housing, not just the first thing we can afford to throw up.

Once again, all eyes are on the Chancellor.

In the coming months, Gordon Brown is set to launch his plans for government spending over the next few years with the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Along with pressures to invest in social housing, education and every other area of government, the Chancellor will be keen to prove to voters that he is not some kind of unreconstructed tax-and-spender.

While Hills' report may have helped move the debate onto looking at the way we house communities, without a large investment from central government, there won't be enough new social housing to deal with the capital's needs... whether it is of the right sort or not.

The Politics Show London

Join the Politics Show team on Sunday 25 February 2007 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

Use the reply form below to let Politics Show London know what you think...

Disclaimer: The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.