Proposals issued yesterday by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reveal that Ministers are willing to consider major decentralisation but only if the result is improved quality of life in London.
Now Londoners are being asked for their views on a package of changes and options giving the Mayor greater freedom of choice and more influence over delivery of key services like housing, skills, planning and waste, while preserving the appropriate balance of power between the Mayor, Assembly and the boroughs.
The consultation 'The Government's proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and Assembly' also offers the London Assembly the chance to play a bigger role in policy development and scrutiny - a move aimed at maintaining the balance of power between the two parts of the Greater London Authority.
David Miliband, Minister of Communities and Local Government, said:
"The creation of the Greater London Authority has been a real boost for London, and has had a positive impact on Londoners' quality of life. The directly elected Mayor provides a strong voice for the capital, setting a strategic framework for London's future growth and having wide ranging powers to tackle London's unique challenges and implement London-wide solutions. The Assembly does a vital job as a check and balance on the Mayor, challenging and scrutinising his activities.
"The GLA has now led London for five and a half years, and we believe that the time is right to consider whether the strategic planning and delivery of services in the capital could be improved by devolving more powers and responsibilities to the Mayor and Assembly. We are committed to the GLA remaining a focused, strategic authority that builds on its successes to date to provide strong, effective leadership.
"We want to achieve the right balance of powers between national government, the GLA and the London boroughs, and are committed to devolving responsibilities to the most appropriate level. The key test must be whether doing so would improve the quality of life for Londoners."
The review focuses on the powers and functions of the GLA rather than on London governance structures as a whole. Many of the proposals set out in the paper would mean devolving powers from central Government to the Mayor.
However, Ministers have signalled they are keen to explore giving the Mayor a greater say over some specific functions currently carried out by the boroughs, where a convincing case can be made that change would improve the planning and delivery of services. Waste management and parts of planning are two such areas.
Minister for London Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"This consultation gives Londoners, and anyone with an interest in London, an opportunity to have their say on the proposals. We are keeping an open mind on the extent of any additional powers, but where we have a firm view we say so. We shall carefully consider the views we receive before deciding the additional powers and responsibilities the Greater London Authority will take on.
"We do not focus on additional powers for the London boroughs in this paper but we do flag areas, including local policing and closer working with primary care trusts, where we believe there is merit in exploring an enhanced role for the boroughs to help fulfil their local leadership role."
In preparing options and proposals for consultation, the ODPM has worked closely with other Government departments, the Mayor and key London stakeholders. Following consultation, which closes on 22 February 2006, Ministers will agree a final package of proposals next spring. The Government is committed to implementing the outcomes of the review at the earliest opportunity.
The consultation paper asks for views on options and proposals in four key areas: Housing:
The key question is should the Mayor decide the allocation of the affordable housing portion of the Regional Housing Pot in London?
This proposal is in addition to the transfer of responsibilities of the London Housing Board to the Mayor.
Learning and Skills:
There are four options for giving the Mayor a greater say over learning and skills in London (these are not mutually exclusive):
A. A stronger regional partnership, making more of the LDA's role on the Regional Skills Partnership
B. Strengthening of the Mayor's role in the LSC's regional tier
C. An enhanced leadership role for the Mayor on skills in London
D. Mayor's preferred option of rationalising the five London LSCs into one organisation accountable to him, with all learning, skills and worklessness budgets managed under a single London "brand".
Planning:
There are three broad options for change:
A. Significant additional powers - would allow the Mayor to direct boroughs on local plans and become the development control authority for defined classes of strategic planning application or in relation to defined strategic sites.
B. More limited new powers - the Mayor would be able to direct boroughs' local plans in relation to defined strategic issues, and would be able to decide specific categories of strategic planning applications.
C. Minimal change.
Waste Management/Planning:
There are three options for changing the current arrangements for managing London's waste:
A. The Mayor's proposal to establish a single waste authority for London, accountable to him as a functional body of the GLA
B. Establishing a single, London-wide body comprising a committee of representatives from the boroughs and a representative of the Mayor. The body would not be accountable to the Mayor
C. Extending the sub-regional arrangements operating in some parts of the capital London-wide.
There is also a "no change" option.
On waste planning, there are four options for change:
A. Making the Mayor responsible for waste planning in London
B. A single, London-wide statutory joint waste planning authority, responsible for all waste planning in London
C. Statutory sub-regional joint waste planning authorities
D. Existing waste planning authorities retain development control functions, but the Mayor's existing planning powers would be enhanced.
There is also a "no change" option.
Related links to this article: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Greater London Authority The full consultation package is at this link Book your seats & tables at the e-Government National Awards & Conference 2005
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