Subject: Core Secretariat Performance and Budget Monitoring (second quarter 2005/06) Report Number: 10

Report to: Business Management and Appointments Committee

Date: 13th October 2005

Report of: Executive Director of Secretariat

1. Recommendation

1.1 That the Committee notes and comments on the Core Secretariat performance and budget monitoring information for the second quarter of 2005/06 (1 July – 30 September).

2. Background

2.1 This report provides details of Core Secretariat performance and budget monitoring for the second quarter of the 2005/06 financial year, that is the period 1 July 2005 to 30 September 2005. It covers activity, outputs and funding of the work of the Core Secretariat (the Scrutiny, Committee Services, Assembly Media Office and Administration teams).

3. London Assembly and committee activity

3.1 London Assembly Mayor’s Question Time (MQT) 3.1.1 Two Assembly Mayor’s Question Time (MQT) meetings were held during this period – on 20 July and 14 September. In total, 293 questions were asked of the Mayor (not including subsequent inter-meeting questions).

3.1.2 On 20 July, the Mayor was questioned on the London bomb attacks and the London Olympics 2012.

3.1.3 On 14 September, among the topics on which the Mayor was questioned were under-16s free travel, arms fairs, the London deficit and police and community safety officers.

City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA Enquiries: 020 7983 4100 minicom: 020 7983 4458 www.london.gov

3.2 London Assembly Plenary

3.2.1 Two Plenary meetings of the London Assembly were held during this period - on 13 July and 8 September.

3.2.2 Before the meeting on 13 July, Assembly Members and the Mayor held a minute’s silence following the terrorist attacks on 7 July. At the meeting Assembly Members put questions to Mike Lee, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, London 2012, on questions relating to London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

3.2.3 The Assembly meeting on 8 September was an additional meeting to allow Assembly Members to put questions relating to the 2012 Olympics to the following panel:

• Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London • Keith Mills, Chief Executive, London 2012 • Mary Reilly, Chair, London Development Agency (LDA) • Tony Winterbottom, Executive Director of Regeneration and Development, LDA • David Lunts, Executive Director of Policy & Partnerships, GLA • Neale Coleman, Director Business Planning and Regeneration, GLA

3.3 London Assembly – events and school visits 3.3.1 The Secretariat on behalf of the Assembly took the lead, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion, in organising the GLA's ceremony on 15 August 2005 (VJ Day) to dedicate the new City Hall War Memorial to London government employees who lost their lives on active service. The ceremony was attended by over 300 invited guests, including MPs, local dignitaries and more than 100 veterans of the far east conflict in the Second World War. The service was conducted by the Canon Pastor of Southwark Cathedral, with contributions from faith representatives. Sally Hamwee, Chair of the Assembly, gave the welcome address and Brian Coleman, Deputy Chairman, laid a wreath. The ceremony was followed by a reception in London's Living Room.

3.3.2 On 26 September, pupils from Ashmole School, LB Barnet, visited City Hall partly hosted by the Secretariat on behalf of the Assembly. A book was presented on behalf of Brian Coleman, constituency Member.

3.4 2004 Elections Review Committee 3.4.1 The Elections Review Committee met informally on 14 September to consider its draft report. The final meeting to sign off the report is expected take place on 19 October.

3.5 Audit Panel 3.5.1 There were no meetings of the Audit Panel during this period.

3.6 Budget Committee 3.6.1 The Budget Committee met twice during this period – on 27 July and 15 September. On 11 July members of the Budget Committee met informally with American academics to discuss the scrutiny and management of budgets in New York.

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3.6.2 On 7 July the Budget Monitoring Sub-Committee met briefly to agree to defer the meeting due to the serious events on that day and that questions would be submitted in writing to officers.

Pre-Budget Scrutiny Project

3.6.3 The Committee is due to issue its pre-budget report in November setting out its main issues for the 2006/07 budget and criteria against which it will consider the Mayor’s consultation draft budget. At its meeting on 27 July the Committee considered the Mayor's Budget Guidance and questioned officers from LDA, LFEPA and MPA on issues, new initiatives and assumptions for the 2006/07 budget. On 15 September the Committee questioned representatives from Camelot, LDA, TfL and Neale Coleman, Director of Business Planning and Regeneration, Mayor's Office, on the financial implications of the 2012 Olympic Games. 3.6.4 In addition to gathering evidence at meetings, the Committee has written to external stakeholders seeking their views on budget issues and commissioned NOP World Ltd to consult Londoners via six focus groups.

3.7 Business Management and Appointments Committee

3.7.1 The Committee met twice during this period – on 19 July and 7 September.

3.7.2 At its meeting held on 19 July, the Committee agreed:

• to note the Core Secretariat performance and budget monitoring information for the first quarter of 2005/06; • to approve an additional term of reference for the Planning and Spatial Development Committee; • to note the Planning and Spatial Development Committee’s work programme for 2005/06; • to approve expenditure of £9,500 for desktop research to review trends and consistency in decisions that the Mayor has taken on strategic planning applications and their consistency with other Mayoral strategies; • to endorse the findings of the former Safer London Committee in relation to its scrutiny of the co- ordination of emergency plans in London; • to note the contents of the GLA Race Equality Scheme (2005 - 2008); • to approve expenditure of up to £10,000 by the Transport Committee to appoint an academic to undertake a piece of comparative research into industrial relations in other world city public transport networks in support of the Committee’s review of industrial relations on the London Underground; • to approve expenditure of up to £10,000 by the Environment Committee to appoint technical consultants to undertake an analysis of the appropriateness of draft alterations to the London Plan on waste and minerals; and • to approve expenditure of up to £10,000 for external consultancy assistance to review the consistency of the Sub-Regional Development Frameworks for the North, East, Central, South and West regions of London with each other and the London Plan.

3.7.3 At its meeting on 7 September, the Committee agreed:

• to note action taken to improve the Corporate Governance Framework and Handbook in line with the Executive Director of Finance and Performance’s delegated authority; • to note progress made on implementing the recommendations from the 2004 Annual Corporate Governance Report; • to note the position on complaints received during 1 April 2005 - 30 June 2005 and action taken as a result of complaints received for this quarter; • to note that the GLA’s Complaints and Comment Policy was updated in May 2005; 3

• to note the terms of reference for Angie Bray’s investigation as rapporteur into the effects of the introduction of the European Union Directive on “Droit de Suite” and its effect on the London 20th Century Art Market, and to approve expenditure of up to £5,000 should it be necessary for the timely conclusion of this work; • to appoint Tony Arbour AM as a rapporteur to the Planning and Spatial Development Committee to investigate the Blue Ribbon Network; • to appoint Mike Tuffrey AM as a rapporteur to the Environment Committee to respond to the Mayor’s Draft Food Strategy and investigate sustainability issues in the London food industry; • to note the contents of the report on the Assembly’s plans to approach scrutiny of the Olympics in the period leading up to the 2012 Games; • to receive reports from the standing Assembly Committees at its November or December meeting which will set out proposals for scrutiny of the London Olympic Games over the next twelve month period, at which time Assembly co-ordination issues will be considered; • to approve the payment of an on-call allowance of £2,100 per annum to Facilities Management managers; • to agree the measures for reducing the use of fixed term contracts; • to convert the following posts from fixed term to permanent status on the establishment: SASPAC Support Officer (DMAG, Corporate Services), Research and Statistical Analyst – census (DMAG, Corporate Services), Senior Cultural Strategy Officer (Culture Strategy, Mayor’s Office), Events Co-ordinator - two posts (Events for London, Mayor’s Office), Senior Project Officer (Older People’s Resource Facility, Mayor’s Office) and Project Officer (Older People’s Resource Facility, Mayor’s Office; • to require that performance review information be reported on an annual basis in future years; • to note progress made against the recommendations in the OPM Review; • to approve the revised probation procedure; and • that Fiona Campbell, Head of Scrutiny and Investigations, be permitted to continue in her appointment as non-executive director on the board of the Centre for Public Scrutiny.

3.8 Commission on London Governance 3.8.1 The Commission met five times during the period (either as the full Commission or in informal panel sessions) – on 12 July, 19 July, 22 July, 6 September and 13 September, taking evidence from a variety of London stakeholders and expert witnesses. On 12 July the Commission put questions to Rosemary Scanlon, Former Deputy State Comptroller for the City of New York, and Ester Fuchs, Special Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg, on how the system worked in New York. Guests for this period have also included Sir Michael Lyons, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP and Sarah Weir, Executive Director of Arts Council England – London.

3.8.2 Two further panel sessions will be held in October with the Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, and Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales. The Commission is currently drafting a formal response to the ODPM review of the powers of the Mayor and GLA. The Commission’s final report will be produced by January 2006.

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3.9 Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism (EDCS&T) Committee 3.9.1 The Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism (EDCS&T) Committee met twice - on 12 July and 6 September.

The London Development Agency’s childcare work programme

3.9.2 At its meeting on 12 July the Committee discussed the London Development Agency’s childcare work programme with representatives from stakeholder organisations, as part of its review of the programme.

3.9.3 On 12 September the Committee visited Mudchute Farm Nursery and the Wetherell Nursery and met with staff and parents. Through the London Development Agency (LDA) Neighbourhood Nursery gap funding initiative, Mudchute Farm nursery was granted £50,000. This contributed to a new extension and refurbishment work which resulted in the creation of an additional 64 nursery spaces. Wetherell Nursery was opened in April 2005. Through the LDA and NNI gap funding initiative, Wetherell Nursery was awarded £95,000 for capital works. This contributed to the refurbishment costs of the nursery building and, as a result, has been able to create 70 new childcare places.

3.9.4 The Committee also met representatives of Childcare4Business. Since 2001, Childcare4Business has been funded by the LDA through the Cross River Partnership to promote the benefits of childcare and family friendly working to employers in four central London boroughs. It is a partnership initiative incorporating the Children’s Information Services of the Corporation of London, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster.

3.9.5 The Committee’s report on the LDA’s childcare work programme is expected to be agreed and published by the end of the 2005/06 municipal year.

Outer London Tourism

3.9.6 The Committee agreed the terms of reference for its review of outer London tourism on 12 July. At its meeting on 6 September, the Committee was joined by representatives from stakeholder organisations for a discussion on outer London tourism. The Committee agreed to commission a focus group or a number of focus groups with borough tourism officers and representatives of the tourism industry, such as hoteliers, from the outer London sub-regions to discuss relevant issues and feed in to the Committee’s deliberations. The Committee agreed to seek approval from BMAC for expenditure of up to £12,000 from the Scrutiny Programme Budget for this purpose.

3.9.7 The Committee’s report on outer London tourism is expected to be agreed and published during the first half of 2006.

London 2012 Olympics

3.9.8 The Committee agreed to undertake a review of the business opportunities arising from the London Olympics and Paralympic games for London firms with a special emphasis on small and medium sized businesses in London, with a view to discussing the issue at its meeting on 15 November and producing a report in 2006.

3.9.9 The Committee agreed to hold an additional meeting on 7 February 2006 to discuss a further Olympics-related topic, to be determined at the Committee’s meeting on 15 November.

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London’s night time economy

3.9.10 The Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chair, Dee Doocey, in agreement with the members of the Committee, to approve the scrutiny report London’s Night Time Economy. This report is expected to be agreed and published by December 2005.

Rapporteurship on the EU Droit de Suite

3.9.11 The Committee agreed the terms of reference for the rapporteur investigation by Angie Bray into the impact of the EU Droit de Suite on London’s 20th Century Art Market. The rapporteur’s report is expected to be published by the end of 2005.

Casinos

3.9.12 The Committee’s report on Casinos in London is expected to be agreed and published early in 2006.

Access to employment for over 50s in London

3.9.13 The Committee’s report on access to the labour market for those aged over 50 is expected to be published later this year.

Apprenticeships

3.9.14 The Committee has agreed to commission focus groups to discuss issues relevant to its review of apprenticeships in London. The Committee is expected to publish its report early in 2006.

Other Decisions

3.9.15 The Committee agreed to allow The London Sports Forum the use of London’s Living Room (from the four allocations the Committee receives per year) to hold its annual Sport’s Awards Evening.

3.10 Environment Committee

3.10.1 The Environment Committee met twice - on 26 July and 6 September. The work of the Committee during this period is detailed below.

Power to the People – small-scale renewable energy in London

3.10.2 At its meeting on 26 July, the Committee agreed its report 'Power to the People' on renewable energy in London. The report is available to download from the Assembly’s website:

http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment/power_to_the_people.pdf

Environmental Aspects of the Mayor's Planning Decisions

3.10.3 On 26 July, the Environment Committee discussed environmental aspects of the Mayor's planning decisions with representatives from the Mayor’s Office, the GLA Planning Decisions Unit and the GLA Environment Team. The Committee had commissioned a piece of technical analysis of the Mayor’s planning decisions since the London Plan came into force, and is now in the process of soliciting views and information from stakeholders in response to the research. The Committee is expected to agree and publish its report early in 2006.

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Crazy Paving - the environmental impact of the loss of London's front gardens

3.10.4 The Chair was given delegated authority to approve this report, which was published in late August and noted by the Committee at its meeting on 6 September. The report was particularly well received, attracting extensive media coverage and positive feedback from the Mayor and other stakeholders. The report is available to download from the Assembly’s website, at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/environment/frontgardens.pdf

Development on Derelict Land

3.10.5 The Environment Committee met on 6 September to discuss issues relating to development on derelict land in London. Representatives from the GLA Housing Team, the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the London Development Agency attended the meeting. The Committee is expected to agree and publish its report by the end of 2005.

Playing Fields

3.10.6 The Committee agreed to recommend to BMAC the appointment of Murad Qureshi as a rapporteur to investigate the loss of London’s playing fields. This proposal appears elsewhere on this agenda for BMAC’s consideration and approval.

Food sustainability issues

3.10.7 The Committee agreed to recommend to BMAC the appointment of Mike Tuffrey to act as a rapporteur to review food sustainability issues in London, including responding on behalf of the Assembly to the Mayor’s draft food strategy for London. This proposal was approved by BMAC at its last meeting.

Heathrow Masterplan consultation

3.10.8 The Committee submitted a response to the Planning and Spatial Development Committee on the BAA Heathrow Consultation on Terminal 5.

3.11 Health and Public Services Committee 3.11.1 The Health and Public Services Committee has met once during this period on 13 September.

Sexual health of young people

3.11.2 The Committee is expected to publish its report on the sexual health of young people during the third quarter of 2005/06.

Youth provision

3.11.3 At its meeting on 13 September, the Committee discussed Youth Provision for 13-18 year olds in London and the implications of aspects of the Government's Green Paper 'Youth Matters'. Representatives from the YMCA and Partnership for Young London attended the meeting. The Committee is expected to publish its report by the end of 2005.

Smoking in public places

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3.11.4 The Committee has approved and published its rapporteur report on Smoking in Public Places. Angie Bray voted against the report. The report is available from http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/scrutiny/health_ps_smoking.jsp

Health & Safety of Construction Workers

3.11.5 On 13 July members of the Committee visited Canary Wharf Learning Centre run by the Union of Construction and Allied Technical Trades (UCATT), and supported by Lewisham College, as part of its scrutiny into Health & Safety in Construction. Members held a discussion with members of staff at the centre, UCATT and Lewisham College. Further details about the scheme can be found at http://www.learningservices.org.uk/national/learning

3.11.6 Members also met informally with a representative from the Health and Safety Executive on 27 July to discuss their role in monitoring and enforcing health and safety on construction sites. It is anticipated that the Committee’s report will be published in the third quarter of 2005/06. MRSA 3.11.7 The Committee received an update on the progress of the MRSA rapporteur project, led by Elizabeth Howlett, at its meeting on 13 September. It is anticipated that the report will be published for agreement by the Committee at its meeting on 13 October.

Changes to the work programme

3.11.8 The Committee agreed to discuss “Commissioning a Patient-led NHS” and its repercussions for health services in London at the meeting on 1 November. This will lead to the postponement of the Committee’s discussion of intensive care units for babies until December and February, and of speech and language therapy until the next municipal year.

3.11.9 The Committee has agreed to appoint Joanne McCartney, Darren Johnson and Geoff Pope as a panel to investigate availability and quality of public toilets in London, subject to the approval of BMAC.

3.12 Former Safer London Committee

Work of the former Safer London Committee: prostitution, late night licensing, and coordination of emergency plans across London

3.12.1 The Assembly, at its Annual Meeting held on 11 May, agreed to wind up the Safer London Committee. BMAC at its meeting on 29 June agreed a delegation of authority to Richard Barnes (the Chair of the former Safer London Committee), in consultation with the Party Group Spokespeople on the former Safer London Committee, to approve the Committee’s report on Prostitution in London, to approve the report to the Assembly on Co-ordinating Emergency Plans across London and to write to the Chair of the Assembly in respect of the issues identified during that Committee’s hearing on late night licensing and crime and safety. The report on prostitution is at the draft stage and is expected to be published during the third quarter of 2005/06. Richard Barnes wrote to the Chair of the Assembly regarding late night licensing, and it has been agreed by BMAC that issues arising from that review will be fed into the work of the Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee’s work on the late night economy in London.

3.12.2 At its meeting in July, BMAC agreed to refer a number of reviews planned by the former Safer London Committee to other Committees. The Transport Committee has agreed to consider safety at suburban rail stations in December. The Health and Public Services Committee has considered a proposal to carry out a review of the safety of public sector workers, but is not expected to carry out this work in the current municipal year.

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3.13 7 July - London Resilience Committee

3.13.1 The London Assembly, at its meeting held on 8 September 2005, established the London Resilience Committee, with Richard Barnes as Chair and Sally Hamwee as Deputy Chair, to review communications issues arising from the London bombings on 7 July. Informal meetings have been held to discuss the Committee’s work programme and the first formal meeting of this Committee is due to be held on 3 November 2005.

3.14 Planning and Spatial Development Committee

3.14.1 The Committee met on 14 July and 7 September.

Sub-regional development frameworks

3.14.2 At its meeting on 14 July 2005 the Committee was advised that the Mayor was publishing consultation on Sub-Regional Development Frameworks for London’s five sub-regions: Central, North, East, South and West London. The Committee questioned representatives from the Greater London Authority on the processes for developing the Sub-Regional Development Frameworks. At its meeting in September, the Committee agreed to delegate authority to the Chairman of the Committee, in consultation with the Deputy Chair and Party Group Spokespeople, to respond to the Mayor’s consultation on the Sub-Regional Development Frameworks.

3.14.3 The Committee agreed to request approval for funds to commission external consultancy assistance to review the consistency of the Sub-Regional Development Frameworks for the North, East, Central, South and West regions of London with each other and the London Plan. BMAC approved expenditure of up to £9,500 from the scrutiny programme budget for this purpose at its last meeting and the project is now being progressed by officers.

Blue Ribbon Network

3.14.4 The Committee agreed to recommend to BMAC the appointment of Tony Arbour to act as a rapporteur to investigate the Blue Ribbon Network. This proposal was approved by BMAC at its last meeting.

Strategic views

3.14.5 The Committee agreed at its meeting in July to recommend to BMAC the appointment of Tony Arbour as a rapporteur on strategic views. Work is now underway to take forward this project.

The Mayor’s planning decisions

3.14.6 The Committee agreed to request funds to commission desktop research to review the trends of and consistency in the decisions that the Mayor has taken on strategic planning applications and their consistency with other Mayoral strategies. BMAC approved expenditure of up to £9,500 on this project.

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Heathrow Masterplan consultation

3.14.7 At its meeting in September, the Committee questioned witnesses concerning the Heathrow Airport Interim Masterplan and agreed that a report be submitted to the meeting of the Assembly on 12 October 2005 on the Assembly’s response to the Interim Masterplan. The Committee delegated authority to the Chairman, in consultation with the Deputy Chair and Party Group Spokespeople on the Committee, to submit the report to the Assembly.

Draft London Plan alterations on housing capacity

3.14.8 The Committee also discussed at its September meeting the Mayor’s consultation on the Draft Alterations to the London Plan Policies on Housing Capacity, and agreed to delegate authority to the Chairman, in consultation with the Deputy Chair and Party Group Spokespeople, to respond to the Mayor’s consultation on the Draft Alterations to the London Plan policies on Housing Capacity. A response was submitted on 20 September by the Chairman on behalf of the Committee.

Work programme

3.14.9 At its meeting in July, the Committee agreed its work programme for the forthcoming year, and agreed to recommend to BMAC a change in the Planning and Spatial Development Committee’s terms of reference. This was approved by BMAC at its last meeting.

3.15 Transport Committee 3.15.1 The Transport Committee met on 21 July.

Metronet

3.15.2 Keith Clarke, the new Chief Executive, and Andrew Lezala, the new Chairman of Metronet, attended the Committee’s meeting in July to speak to the Members and answer questions on its restructuring of its senior and capital project staff and the impact these changes will have on its ability to deliver its projected programme of renewal. This hearing was part of the Committee’s ongoing accountability brief in relation to the Underground, and will feed into future work by the Committee on the subject.

Bus consultation

3.15.3 The Committee invited representatives from London Buses, the London Borough of Lambeth, the London Transport Users Committee and the Waltham Forest Public Transport Liaison Committee to discuss how London Buses communicate and consult with local communities and representatives over proposed changes to the bus service. The hearing prompted London Buses to contemplate pulling together consultation material to aid local representatives on how best to lobby London Buses for a new route or an alteration. The Committee is expected to agree and publish its report in November for formal agreement at the Committee’s meeting on 1 December.

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Industrial relations on the London Underground

3.15.4 The Committee agreed terms of reference for its review of industrial relations on the London Underground. The Committee has sought written evidence from various unions including ASLEF and the RMT, London Underground and the Infracos. The Committee has also commissioned some independent researchers to examine how industrial relations compare in other major cities. The research will focus on Madrid, Paris and New York and will report back at the end of September. The research will then form part of the Transport Committee’s brief for the evidentiary hearing on the subject to be held on 20 October 2005.

Bus Driving Standards and the Passenger’s Journey

3.15.5 Following the Transport Committee’s site visit and evidentiary hearing in June, the Committee’s report on bus driving standards has now been circulated to members for comment and will be put to the Transport Committee for formal approval at its meeting on 20 October 2005.

London Cycle Network Plus

3.15.6 Over the summer Darren Johnson has led a rapporteur scrutiny into the London Cycle Network, conducting a series of informal meetings with representatives from TfL and stakeholders. A report is being drafted in preparation for formal approval at the Transport Committee’s meeting on 20 October 2005.

Public Carriage Office

Peter Hulme Cross is leading a rapporteur review of the Public Carriage Office (PCO). Since it became part of TfL in 2000, the PCO has implemented policies including increased night time and weekend fares, revising The Knowledge syllabus and mandatory fitting of receipt printers in taxis, and is currently implementing the taxi emissions strategy (to comply with the Mayor’s Low Emission Zone), due for completion by 2008. The aim of this review is to assess the performance of the PCO since it became part of TfL in 2000. It will seek to establish how effective the PCO has been in legislating for the trade and achieving the Mayor’s objectives. Peter Hulme Cross has received written submissions from the Mayor, the PCO, taxi fleet operators and taxi trade representatives as well a number of individual taxi drivers. There have been four informal meetings organised, taking place in the second half of September. All members of the Transport Committee have been invited to attend and all meetings will be transcribed and submitted as formal evidence to the whole Committee. The rapporteur’s report will be presented to the Transport Committee for approval on 1 December 2005.

London Transport Users’ Committee (LTUC)

The Committee agreed to issue legal advice to LTUC and recommend that LTUC take this advice into account in deciding whether to adopt a new brand name.

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3.16 Publications

3.16.1 Four reports were issued in the second quarter of 2005/06. Summary details of these published reports are shown below in Figure 1. The Secretariat also published the first London Assembly e- bulletin in August 2005, which was distributed to Londoners interested in the work of the Assembly.

Figure 1: Reports issued July – September 2005 Report Date Assembly Committee issued The Mayor’s environmental strategies – a letter to the July Environment Mayor Crazy paving – the environmental importance of London’s September Environment front gardens Towards a smoke-free London (rapporteur) September Health & Public services London plan alterations – housing capacity – a letter to the September Planning Mayor

3.16.2The following reports are expected to be published during the third quarter of 2005/06 (figure 2, below):

Figure 2: Reports expected to be published October – November 2005 Report Date Assembly Committee issued 2005 general election October Elections Review Flooding October Environment London Cycle Network October Environment London plan alterations – waste and minerals October Environment MRSA (rapporteur) October Health & Public Services Bus driving standards October Transport Pre-budget report November Budget Prostitution November Former Safer London Health and safety of construction workers November Health & Public Services Sexual health of young people November Health & Public Services Heathrow Masterplan November Planning Sub-regional development frameworks November Planning TfL consultation on bus services November Transport Port of London Authority November Transport Public Carriage Office November Transport

3.16.3 Figure 3 (in Appendix 1 at the end of this report) shows meeting dates together with scrutiny business that the committees have conducted this financial year (April 2005 to March 2006). Figure 4 (also in Appendix 1) shows scrutiny outputs – scrutiny reports, conferences and workshops, site visits, focus group work – reflecting the wide range of activity being undertaken by the London Assembly’s scrutiny committees.

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4. Public Engagement Strategy 4.1 The Business Management and Appointments Committee approved a public engagement strategy for the London Assembly at its meeting on 13 April 2005. The strategy set out a number of actions to be taken over the course of 2005/06 to increase and improve the participation of Londoners in the Assembly’s scrutiny work. Progress against the strategy was reported at BMAC’s meeting in July 2005. The following paragraphs provide a further update.

4.2 The Assembly e-bulletin was launched in August and disseminated to a wide range of Londoners and other stakeholders.

4.3 The Assembly Committee pages of the website have been rewritten in order to remove jargon and make the text more user-friendly and accessible. Further work on the website will be carried out in the remaining two quarters of the year.

4.4 A new leaflet about Assembly Members has been designed and is in the final stages of production. It is expected to be printed in October. A further leaflet is planned on the work and achievements of the Assembly, and Secretariat officers are working with the GLA design team to prepare a new template for summary leaflets of the Assembly’s reports, for distribution to the public at City Hall and other locations and events.

4.5 Committee Chairs, at their meeting in July, considered whether to adopt a standard practice for inviting questions from the audience at meetings. It was informally agreed that the approach should be flexible according to the topic under discussion.

4.6 A standard annex is now included in scrutiny reports listing previous reports from the Committee (the first example being the Environment Committee’s report Crazy Paving). Reports now also include an invitation to readers to provide feedback and responses to the recommendations. Committee Chairs will be invited at their next meeting to consider a standard process for inviting, reporting and, where appropriate, acting upon feedback on reports.

4.7 Following informal discussion among Committee Chairs, committees are now invited when approving reports to consider whether to recommend to the Assembly that any proposals to the Mayor be made under section 60 of the GLA Act. This would require the Mayor to include a response to those proposals in his next Mayor’s report to the Assembly. This process will make publicly transparent the Assembly’s role in making proposals to the Mayor as a result of its scrutiny and investigation work.

4.8 Specific efforts have been made to encourage participation in Assembly scrutiny by a wider range of Londoners. For example, the Budget Committee is consulting widely on the Mayor’s spending priorities for 2006/07, including with the private sector via umbrella organisations such as the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the voluntary and community sector. The Health and Public Services Committee has been working with young people to identify ways in which they might be productively engaged in the scrutiny and investigation work of the Committee.

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5. London Assembly Media Office 5.1 During the July to September period, the London Assembly Media Office has achieved national and local press, broadcast coverage, articles in trade magazines and on websites for Assembly Members and the work of the Assembly and its committees.

5.2 Since July, the team has worked on a number of scrutinies and achieved coverage in the press, radio and television, particularly for Assembly scrutinies on:

• The loss of London’s front gardens • Childcare in London • 2012 Olympics • Outer London tourism

and on the VJ Day ceremony to dedicate the new City Hall War Memorial.

5.3 The Environment Committee’s report on the loss of London’s front gardens achieved a large amount of coverage across national newspapers and magazines, trade publications, local newspapers, radio stations and websites.

5.4 Darren Johnson was extensively interviewed and quoted in articles in the Guardian, Guardian Unlimited website, PR Week, Parking Review, Evening Standard [x2], Evening Standard Lite, Barnet and Potters Bar Times, Time Out, Ham and High Express, South London Press, Planning Magazine, Surveyor, Property News, Horticulture Week, Public Finance website, This is local London website and various other websites.

5.5 The Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee’s childcare investigation received coverage on London Today, with Dee Doocey interviewed live in the studio; she was also interviewed by Capital and LBC. The Committee visited nurseries in Tower Hamlets and Hackney and attracted photographers from the East London Advertiser and Tower Hamlets Recorder.

5.6 A number of London’s local newspapers have reported on the outer London tourism investigation. London Tonight also covered the story and the programme focused on Croydon’s tourist attractions.

5.7 As well as working on media strategies ahead of committee meetings and issuing news releases after meetings where newsworthy items were raised, the team has been involved in other events that help keep Assembly Members in the public eye.

5.8 In August, the media office was involved in the Dedication of the War Memorial Service at City Hall. Various media were briefed and a three-minute package on the ceremony appeared on London Today/Tonight including an interview with Sally Hamwee, who was also interviewed by LBC.

5.9 The Media Office worked hard to exploit media coverage of high profile guests appearing before the full Assembly or a committee. The Assembly Plenary and Committee meetings on the 2012 Olympics attracted a number of journalists to City Hall, which showed how they continue to use the Assembly as a good source of information for stories.

5.10 In a bid to expand ways to ensure that Assembly Members are seen as experts on topics relevant to Londoners and transparent in their work, numerous letters were sent to local newspapers to encourage Londoners from all walks of life to take part in Assembly investigations. Also a number of quotes from Assembly Members reacting to events that impact on the capital were sent to the Press Association’s wire service, BBC London, London Today, LBC, Capital Radio and numerous other key media correspondents.

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5.11 Meetings were held with Sharon Thomas from ITV London and the News Editor and Editorial Director of LBC and Heart 106.2, to continue the Media Office’s strategy of communicating effectively the role of the London Assembly and its relationship with the Mayor and the GLA. The Media Office continues to work with Assembly Members, Scrutiny Managers and Committee Services to ensure that Assembly scrutinies are focused and relevant to Londoners.

5.12 Media Officers produced the popular daily ‘What the papers say‘ service for Assembly Members and Secretariat and the team remained on call throughout the three months, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

6. London Assembly web pages Web-site statistics

6.1 The Web Team produces monthly statistics about the number of visits1 to the Assembly web- pages on www.london.gov.uk. As more people become aware of the London Assembly they have been encouraged to visit the London Assembly web-site, which is promoted on letter and email correspondence. Journalists, representatives from key London organisations and members of the public are encouraged to visit the web-site to access information about the work of the London Assembly.

6.2 The most recent statistics are for the period 18 March to 1 September 2005. The hits on the Assembly web page for individual months were as follows:

March/April 45,352 April/May 43,664 May/June 38,851 June /July 36,140 July/August 47,768 August/September 44,469

The figure of 47,768 for July/August is the highest recorded total of visitors to the Assembly web- site. The most popular page as expected remained the London Assembly home page. Other popular pages include those providing information about Assembly Members, meetings and scrutinies. The statistics for each monthly period are outlined below:

18 March –14 April 2005

Total number of visits 45,352 Average number of visits per day 1,619 Average visit length 1 6 minutes 6 seconds

Top three pages:

1. London Assembly home page 5,660 2. London Assembly Members 1,928 3. About the London Assembly 1,544

1 A visit is the number of times that a visitor comes to your web site. They can view as many pages as they like during that visit but it will only count once. 15

Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits Tennis in London report 217 201 London Water Supply 316 149 Transport Committee visit to Paris 324 138

15 April – 12 May 2005

Total number of visits 43,664 Average number of visits per day 1,559 Average visit length 16 minutes 8 seconds

Top three pages:

London Assembly home page 6,388 London Assembly Members 2,169 About the London Assembly 1,643

Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits Tennis in London report 241 220 Transport Committee visit to Paris 400 171 London Weighting 407 151

13 May – 9 June 2005 Total number of visits 38,851 Average number of visits per day 1,387 Average visit length 15 minutes 26 seconds

Top three pages:

London Assembly home page 5,239 London Assembly Members 1,689 About the London Assembly 1,238

Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits Tennis in London 210 201 London Weighting 414 169 Parking in Enforcement in London 361 162

10 June – 7 July 2005 Total number of visits 36,140 Average number of visits per day 1,290 Average visit length 14 minutes 40 seconds

Top three pages:

London Assembly home page 5,292 London Assembly Members 1,472 London Assembly Meetings 1,102

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Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits A Review of London Governance 763 366 Tennis in London 329 302 Parking Enforcement in London 1,088 177

8 July – 4 August 2005 Total number of visits 47,768 Average number of visits per day 1,706 Average visit length 15 minutes 45 seconds

Top three pages:

London Assembly home page 8,205 London Assembly Members 2,206 About the London Assembly 1,623

Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits Parking Enforcement in London 2,188 230 Tennis in London 233 217 A Review of London Governance 264 162

5 August - 1 September 2005 Total number of visits 44,469 Average number of visits per day 1,588 Average visit length 19 minutes 37 seconds

Top three pages:

London Assembly home page 8,205 London Assembly Members 2,206 About the London Assembly 1,386

Most downloaded files: Downloads Visits Parking Enforcement in London 1,799 197 Tennis in London 199 185 London Weighting 396 171

7. Budgets Scrutiny Programme budget – position at end of September 2005 7.1 The budget for consultancy and other external services for 2005/6 is £240,000 of which £161,500 has already been allocated by BMAC. This is 67 per cent of the total budget for the year. £100,730 has been contractually committed. A further £35,000 of expenditure has been proposed and is awaiting approval from BMAC. If approved, this would bring total approved expenditure to £196,500, leaving £43,500 unallocated to projects. The following table (overleaf) summarises the current position.

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Approved projects Project Committee Amount Contractually Predicted approved Committed spend in by BMAC 2005/06 Smoke-free London rapporteur Health & Public 5,000 4,995 4,995 Services Commission on London Governance – Commission on 52,000 52,000 52,000 Assembly contribution London Governance Public engagement strategy 15,000 7,500 Mayor’s budget for 2006/07 Budget 20,000 19,000 19,000 Apprenticeships EDCST 10,000 10,.000 Brochure on role of the Assembly 5,000 5,000 5,000 Mayor’s planning decisions Planning & SD 9,500 9,500 Sub-regional development frameworks Planning & SD 10,000 10,000 London plan alterations – waste and Environment 10,000 9,750 9,750 minerals Industrial relations on London Transport 10,000 9,985 9,985 Underground EU Art Levy EDCST 5,000 500 7 July review Resilience 10,000 TOTAL APPROVED PROJECTS 161,500 100,730 138,230

Projects awaiting approval Project Committee Proposed expenditure Playing fields Environment 8,000 Youth provision Health & Public 15,000 Services Outer London tourism EDCST 12,000 TOTAL 35,000

Budget still unallocated to projects £43,500

Assembly and Secretariat Budget 2006/7

7.2 The Mayor’s Budget Guidance for 2006/7 asked GLA Directorates to identify 4% reductions in controllable budgets for 2006/7. The controllable budget total for the Secretariat (including LTUC) is £7,996,000. The Mayor confirmed to the Chair of the Assembly that the ring fence agreement remains in place for Mayor’s Office and Secretariat salary costs. If salary costs are removed from the Secretariat budget the remaining figures are

Secretariat £ 805,000 LTUC £ 1,541,000

Total = £ 2,346,000

4% of this figure is £ 93,840

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7.3 The response to the guidance proposes that to meet this 4% reduction the following cuts are made:

• Scrutiny Programme Budget - reduce by £32,200 to £290,800 (a reduction of 4%) • LTUC Budget – reduce by £61,640 (a reduction of 4%)

7.3 The reduction on the Scrutiny Programme Budget could potentially restrict the Assembly’s scrutiny programme next year although the current forecast for expenditure this year (as at month 6) does show an underspend.

7.4 The implications of a reduction of 4% in the LTUC budget will be considered by the Transport Committee, as part of LTUC’s Business Programme for 2006/7. The Transport Committee will also consider any growth proposals that LTUC submit as part of their Business Plans. LTUC have identified savings of £28,000 in their budget for 2006/07. Last year LTUC indicated that they would bid for an additional £10,000 for communications and the Railways Act 2005 has put a requirement on LTUC to meet the costs of appointing a representative to the new Rail Passengers Council. The current estimate of these costs is around £16,000. It should be noted that the Budget Guidance makes clear that any growth proposals should be met by commensurate saving elsewhere in the budget.

7.5 A review of the Scrutiny team took place approximately 12 months ago and the structure of Group support staff was looked at following the 2004 elections. No review of the remainder of the Secretariat has been undertaken for a number of years. The Executive Director of Secretariat therefore intends to carry out a review of these sections of the core Secretariat to ensure that resources are allocated to support current objectives. This review will be cost neutral.

8. Financial implications 8.1 The financial position for the 2005/06 Scrutiny Programme Budget is as set out in Section 7 above. The budget will be monitored during 2005/06 to ensure that any changes required to the budgets in the light of work being carried out in-house are reflected in the 2006/07 budget submissions.

8.2 The budget guidance for the preparation of the 2006/07 budget identified the need to consider net reductions of 4% against the controllable budget of £43.24m and to pay particular attention to the identification of efficiencies in line with the Government’s requirement on local authorities to deliver 2.5% efficiencies each year.

8.3 The salary budgets included in the ringfence agreement between the Mayor and Assembly total some £9.1m, i.e. 21% of the controllable budget. The exclusion of these budgets from any reductions package will severely restrict the Authority’s ability to submit budget proposals in line with the Mayor’s guidance of the 2005/06 precept plus 5.5%.

9. Legal implications

9.1 Under S.59 of the Act, the London Assembly has a statutory duty to keep under review the Mayor’s exercise of his powers. The duty includes investigation and preparation of reports into matters such as the actions and decisions of the Mayor and staff members of the Authority, the principal purposes of the Authority, statutory functions exercisable by the Mayor and any other matters that the Assembly considers to be of importance to Londoners. In doing this, committees may examine whether the Mayor has chosen to use his powers to address such issues.

9.2 Under S.54 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (the Act), the London Assembly may arrange for any of its functions to be discharged on its behalf by a committee or sub-committee, or by a single member of the Assembly. 19

Background documents All the scrutiny reports referred to in this report can be found at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/publications.jsp

Contact officers Meetings and events: Ed Williams, Committee Services Manager 020 7983 4399 [email protected] Scrutiny programme and programme budget: Fiona Campbell, Head of Scrutiny and Investigations 020 7983 4390 [email protected] Commission on London Governance: Richard Derecki, Director Of Studies 020 7983 4899 [email protected] Media office: Jim Chrystie, Interim Head of London Assembly Media Office 020 7983 5769 [email protected] London Assembly webpages: Richard Davies, Assistant Scrutiny Manager 020 7983 4199 [email protected]

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APPENDIX 1 Figure 3: SCRUTINY INPUTS LONDON ASSEMBLY scrutiny business undertaken by meeting date 2005/06 April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March

2005 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 Audit and TBA TBA TBA Inspection 8: Postal 2004 Voting 20: Postal 19 – Report Elections 23: Postal Voting Approval Review Voting Assembly 11: Annual 6: TfL 15: Met Police 13: Olympics Plenary Meeting 19: IT 22: External Installation, Audit Plan; Squares Ethical and Management, 11: Internal 31: Internal Audit Panel Financial Business Audit Audit Governance; Continuity & Anti Fraud Annual Risk /Corruption Review 28: TfL; Work Programme; 5: GLA Budget Consultation 27: Mayor 8: MPA & TfL and Business budget - Budget 15: Financial 15: 2: Plan; external 26: Inquorate Guidance; FB Imps for 18: LFEPA, 22: Draft Consultation Consultation 21: Budget efficiencies stakeholders meeting issues, new Olympics LDA, GLA Budget – budget - budget - key Procurement and saving initiatives & decision agree pre- Mayor issues across GLA 10: assumptions budget report Group; Consultation European budget - FB Social Forum 5: 10: 8: Sir Michael 7: Grass roots homelessness Corporation of Lyons 14: Urban Commission 12: Business – London 14: Sir Peter 6: Arts parishes 11: TBA 13: Full 14: Full on London London First 24: Health Gershon 15: Full 8: Full Hearing 20: LSCs 18: TBA Hearing Hearing Gov (+ ALG) 19: Sir Sandy 31: LA Chief 19: Waste Hearing 28: Lord Bruce Execs 26: Residents Heseltine Lockhart Assoc Economic Development 24: 6: Outer 15: Olympics Additional , Culture Apprentice- 12: LDA London – business 31: TBA 14: TBA meeting tba Sport and ship Tourism opportunities Tourism 7: Flooding and Thames 1: Sustainable 11: London 29: 17: Air 28: Climate 5: Mayor’s 6: Green Environment Gateway Design and Plan Sustainable Quality/ Low Change Planning Spaces 26: Work Construction Alterations Procurement Emission Zone Agency programme

City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA Enquiries: 020 7983 4100 minicom: 020 7983 4458 www.london.gov

April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March

2005 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 7: Health & Health and 13: Provision 13: Provision 1: Changes to 13: Intensive 21: Intensive 19: Work Safety of Public 26: Cancelled of Youth of Youth health services Care unit Care unit Programme construction Services Services Services in London provision provision workers Planning 14: Work 7: Heathrow 2:TBA 8:TBA Committee Programme 29: BMAC to Safer 11: Committee approve

London disbanded prostitution in London report 21: Work Programme; 1: Safety at 9: Bus Driving 21: Bus 20: Tube 19: Bus Transport Port of suburban rail 2: LTUC, PPP Standards Consultation Industrial Contracts London Relations stations Authority

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APPENDIX 1 Figure 4: LONDON ASSEMBLY SCRUTINY OUTPUTS: scrutiny reports and other outputs 2005/06 April May June July August September October November December January February March

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 Audit & Audit & Inspec- Inspection tion 2004 Postal voting Elections in London Review Prostitution in London Assembly Heathrow (Safer Plenary London) Masterplan

10: Response Pre Budget to Mayor’s Budget Report consultation budget Com- Capital Life mission on An interim Final Report London Gov review Outer Apprentice- London Economic ships Tourism

Develop- Site Visit: Late night ment, Heathrow Over 50s economy Casinos Childcare

Culture, Construction employment

Sport and Training EU Art levy London’s Olympics

Tourism Theatres business (BB) opportunitie s Air Quality Sustainable Mayor’s design and Development Power to the Letter to planning Construction on derelict Climate People: Mayor on decisions land Sustainable Change Environment Green sustainability Front Flooding Procurement Agency Energy in the of new gardens Food home buildings Commission (MT) Playing fields Health & Safety of Site visit to construction Health and Smoking in Provision of Site Visit to Site Visit to Canary Wharf workers Intensive Public Public Places MRSA (EH) Youth UCL Hospital Arsenal FC learning Care Unit Services (JA) Sexual Services centre Health of Young People

APPENDIX 1 Figure 4: LONDON ASSEMBLY SCRUTINY OUTPUTS: scrutiny reports and other outputs 2005/06 April May June July August September October November December January February March

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 London plan Planning alterations –

Committee housing capacity Parking in London London Cycle PPP: Two Network Port of Years In (DJ) London Public Safety at Authority Industrial Bus Transport Carriage suburban rail Site Visits to Bus driving Relations Contracts Office (PHC) stations Bus Driver standards Bus Training Consultation Facilities & Congestion Charge Zone

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