The GLA
The London Assembly
The purpose of the London Assembly is to raise issues of concern to Londoners and hold the Mayor to account. Assembly members like Mike scrutinise his performance, investigate issues of London-wide significance and make proposals for alternative action.
Since first elected in 2002, Mike has tabled some 2,000 questions to the Mayor of London on topics as varied as jobs in outer London, cleaning up graffiti and getting more police on the streets.
The London Assembly has powers to amend the Mayor’s budget, subject to a two-thirds majority decision. The Assembly reviews the Mayor’s draft strategies and gives its views in meetings that are open to the public. Assembly members also serve on the Metropolitan Police Authority, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and the London Development Agency.
There are 25 elected London Assembly members, 14 representing geographic constituencies and 11 representing the whole of London, chosen to ensure the political balance on the Assembly proportionately reflects Londoner’s voting intentions. Following the May 2008 elections, there are 3 Liberal Democrats, 11 from the Conservatives, eight from Labour and two from the Green party.
Day-to-day, the Assembly operates through subject focused committees:
- Budget and Performance Committee
- Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee
- Environment Committee
- Health and Public Services Committee
- Planning and Housing Committee
- Transport Committee
Other committees include the Audit Panel, Standards Committee and Business Management and Administration Committee.
Assembly meetings are web-cast live and available on the archive too.
The London Assembly conducts Mayor’s Question Time each month, meets in plenary sessions and holds a People’s Question Time twice a year. Assembly members can table formal questions of the Mayor, covering a huge range of issues. A fully searchable database of these questions and his replies is available here.
For more about the London Assembly, see the GLA website.
Powers of the GLA
The Mayor’s role is an executive one: he must develop London-wide strategies for transport, buildings and land use, economic development and regeneration, culture, and environmental issues including biodiversity, ambient noise, waste disposal and air quality.
The Mayor has a range of specific powers and duties, and a general power to do anything that will promote economic and social development, and environmental improvement, in London. Before using many of his powers the Mayor must consult with Londoners, and in all cases, the Mayor must promote equality of opportunity, sustainable development and the health of Londoners. His responsibilities cover the police, transport, fire and emergency planning, regeneration, planning, sustainability and environmental issues, cultural affairs, health concerns, as well as the general promotion of London to the wider world.
Spending and taxation
The Mayor sets the annual budget for:
- the Greater London Authority
- the Metropolitan Police, who provide policing in the capital, under the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Authority
- Transport for London, who run the underground, buses, river services and some light rail services, maintain London’s main roads and regulate London’s licensed taxi service
- the London Development Agency, which works with business to sustain and improve London’s role as a business centre, while increasing economic opportunity for all Londoners
- London Fire Brigade, which responds to fires and promotes fire prevention, under the oversight of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
These bodies spend a total of more than £14 billion each year. Income from fares, commercial charges and other income cover about half, leaving a net cost of some £7 billion. Over £6 billion is paid by central government, with Londoners directly contributing almost £1 billion through a precept on the Council Tax.