GLA REVIEW

1
GLA REVIEW

• The Governments Proposals for Additional Powers
  for the Mayor of London and London Assembly

2
Scope of the Review

• Manifesto Pledge
• London is different a city a region
• Building on success leadership and performance

3
Terms of reference

• Could GLA do better with additional powers and
  responsibilities?
• GLA should remain a focused and strategic
  authority, rather than major service delivery
  agent
• Appropriate balance between national government,
  the regional tier and local authorities
• Review focused on the role of the GLA rather than
  on governance structures as a whole
• Consultation began in November and closed in
  February outcomes announced in July.

4
Housing

• What was proposed
• Option A - Mayor to take on responsibilities of
  the London Housing Board write the London
  Housing Strategy (LHS) make recommendations to
  Government on the Regional Housing Capital
  Allocations in London.
• Option B - As A, but Mayor to decide broad
  allocation of the affordable housing portion of
  the Regional Housing Pot.
• LHS could be statutory.
• The conclusion Option B. Mayor will produce a
  statutory LHS and strategic Housing Investment
  Plan.
• Delivers a strong strategic housing role for the
  Mayor.
• Will ensure better integration between housing
  and Mayors other strategies

5
Skills

• What was proposed
• Four options for giving the Mayor a greater say
  on adult skills. Mayors preferred option - a
  single LSC for London accountable to him.
• The conclusion
• Mayor to chair the London Skills Board
• Board will prepare an adult skills and employment
  strategy
• One LSC for London, required to spend according
  to priorities set out in the strategy
• The reasons Gives the Mayor a strong strategic
  role on adult skills within the existing national
  LSC structure.

6
Planning

• The proposal
• Three options for change - significant additional
  powers for the Mayor more limited new powers or
  minimal change.
• The conclusion
• Mayor to be able to direct changes to boroughs
  programmes (LDSs) for the development plans they
  produce.
• Mayor to have a stronger say on whether draft
  local plans (DPDs) conform to this London Plan.
• Mayor to have a discretionary power to decide
  strategic planning applications.
• The reasons Gives Mayor a stronger voice on
  planning to ensure strategic planning policy is
  implemented.
• Outstanding issue Strategic thresholds and
  policy test criteria subject of further
  consultation.

7
Waste

• The proposal
• Four options A Single Waste Authority (SWA),
  either accountable to the Mayor or borough-led
  sub-regional arrangements or do nothing.
• Consulted in similar terms on options for waste
  planning
• The conclusion
• No SWA.
• New London-wide Waste and recycling Forum and
  Fund
• Dedicated London Waste Infrastructure Development
  Programme
• Duty on waste authorities to deliver waste
  functions in general conformity with Mayors
  Waste Strategy
• Mayors new planning powers will bite on waste
  planning.
• The reason Package of measures give Mayor a
  strengthened role within existing structures,
  allowing Londons waste authorities to focus on
  meeting EU Landfill Targets

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Other provisions

• Range of addition powers for the Mayor in
• Culture - Mayor to make appointments to London
  Arts Bodies
• Health - Mayoral duty to tackle health
  inequalities and prepare a statutory health
  inequalities strategy
• Climate Change and Energy - Mayor to produce a
  statutory Climate Change and Energy Strategy and
  statutory Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
  Duty on GLA to adapt to, and take action on,
  climate change.
• Functional Bodies
• Mayor to appoint the MPA Chair
• Mayor to appoint two members of the LFEPA Board,
  and be able to issue directions and guidance to
  the Authority.
• Extends the Mayors strategic framework for
  London into important new areas, and gives the
  Mayor greater influence over the functional
  bodies.

9
Other provisions

• Stronger powers for the Assembly to complement
  the additional powers for the Mayor.
• The Assembly will
• Be able to set its own budget
• Publish an annual report
• Be able to hold confirmatory hearings for key
  appointments the Mayor proposes to make
• The Mayor will be required to have regard to
  responses to consultation by the Assembly and
  functional bodies and write to the Assembly with
  reasoned justification where he is not acting on
  its advice
• Most GLA staff will be appointed by the Head of
  Paid Service.

10
Summary

• Government believes that
• The package provides a robust and coherent set of
  additional powers for the Mayor and Assembly
• Ensures the GLA remains a focused and strategic
  body
• Enhances the strong leadership London needs as a
  successful world city
• Provides a sound basis for the capital to meet
  future challenges including hosting the 2012
  Olympics.