About the GLA

1. Vision and objectives

The Mayor’s vision is to develop London as an exemplary sustainable world city

This vision is based on the following three elements:

strong and diverse economic growth
social inclusivity to allow all Londoners to share in London’s future success
fundamental improvements in environmental management and use of resources

The Mayor’s vision will be achieved through the following objectives:

a prosperous city in which all share in the benefits of wealth created in London’s dynamic economy
a city for people with safe attractive streets, where goods and services are within easy reach, and where everyone feels safe and secure
an accessible city with fast, efficient and comfortable means of transport, and access to affordable homes, education and training, health, leisure and recreation
a fair city showing tolerance and abolishing all forms of discrimination, where neighbourhoods and communities have a say in their futures
a green city making efficient use of natural resources and energy, respecting the natural world and wildlife, using to the full the varied pattern of open space, eco friendly design and constriction methods, recycling waste and creating new green industries

2. The Mayor and the London Assembly

The GLA has a directly elected Mayor, and a separately elected London Assembly. Both the Mayor and the London Assembly are elected for fixed terms of four years.

What can the Mayor do?

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.

Setting strategies for London

The Mayor sets out plans and policies for London covering transport, buildings and land use, economic development and regeneration, culture, and a range of environmental issues (including biodiversity, ambient noise, waste disposal and air quality). These plans and policies must also contribute to sustainable development and the health of Londoners.

Funding services for London

The Mayor sets the annual budget for the following bodies:

the Greater London Authority
the Metropolitan Police (who provide policing in the capital under the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Authority)
Transport for London (which is responsible for managing London’s buses and the underground, river services and some light rail services, maintains London's main roads, regulates London's licensed taxi and private hire services.
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 budgets total over Ł9 billion.

Appointing people for London

While staff in the Greater London Authority are appointed by the London Assembly, the Mayor appoints the boards of Transport for London and London Development Agency. The police and fire authorities are independent bodies, but the Mayor appoints some members of the police authority, following nominations by the London Assembly. The Mayor also appoints the fire authority, following nominations by the London Assembly and London boroughs.

A Cultural Strategy Group, now superseded by the London Cultural Consortium, appointed by the Mayor develops the Mayor's cultural strategy, which covers everything from sport to architectural heritage and the performing arts in London.

The boards directly appointed by the Mayor are chosen on merit, but also broadly mirror London in their representation of black and Asian people, women, and people with disabilities.

Other powers and duties

The Mayor's Spatial Development Strategy known as the London Plan, sets out the policies for new building and land use in London. Major planning applications have to be referred to the Mayor by London boroughs, and the Mayor can direct refusal of those that are not in accordance with the GLA's policies. The Mayor also has control over the management of two of London's most important public spaces, Trafalgar and Parliament Squares.

What is the London Assembly?

The London Assembly is a scrutinising body with 25 elected members.

The electoral system used to elect the London Assembly members is complex. It takes account of the London boroughs (which are grouped for this purpose into 14 constituencies), party lists and independent candidates. It is designed to produce a distribution of seats that will always be proportional to the total votes cast across London.

What does the London Assembly do?

The London Assembly:

provides a check and a balance on the Mayor
has powers to amend the Mayor's budget subject to a two-thirds majority decision
appoints the GLA's Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, Chief Finance Officer and all other members of the GLA's staff
investigates issues of Londonwide significance and makes proposals to appropriate stakeholders
scrutinises the Mayor's performance and makes proposals to the Mayor
has a power to summon the Mayor, senior staff of the GLA and functional bodies, and people with contracts with the GLA or receiving grants from the GLA
provides members to serve on the Metropolitan Police Authority, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and the London Development Agency
provides the Deputy Mayor, who is chosen by the Mayor

How does the London Assembly keep a check on the Mayor?

The Mayor must:

consult the London Assembly when preparing strategies
inform the London Assembly of all major decisions and the reasons for them
submit the GLA budget to the London Assembly for approval
attend ten question time sessions each year at which the Mayor and members of the administration can be questioned by the London Assembly about their actions

The London Assembly reviews the Mayor’s draft strategies and give its views on them in meetings that are open to the public.

The London Assembly scrutinises the Mayor’s budget and votes on whether to approve it in open meetings. Meetings take place before the end of February each year. Budget decisions have an effect on London’s council taxes and council tax bills which go out in March.

How is the London Assembly accountable to Londoners?

The London Assembly is elected every four years, at the same time as the Mayor. London Assembly members are required to take decisions as far as possible in full public view. For example, the records of meetings and papers submitted to the London Assembly and its reports are made available to the public on the GLA web site or on request from the GLA.

The Mayor and the London Assembly attend a twice yearly People's Question Time at which the public are able to put questions to the Mayor and the London Assembly. The meetings are held in different locations around London and are open to all.

The London Assembly plenary sessions and committee meetings are open to the public.

The results of London Assembly scrutinies are published.

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