MINUTES

Meeting: Budget and Performance Committee Date: Friday 19 March 2021 Time: 10.00 am Place: Virtual Meeting

Copies of the minutes may be found at: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/budget-performance

Present:

Susan Hall AM (Chairman) AM (Deputy Chair) Siân Berry AM AM AM Dr Alison Moore AM Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM Dr AM AM (Observer)

1 Apologies for Absence and Chairman's Announcements (Item 1)

1.1 The Chairman explained that in accordance with Government regulations the meeting was being held on a virtual basis, with Assembly Members and guests attending remotely.

1.2 The Clerk read the roll-call of Assembly Members who were participating at the meeting. No apologies for absence were received.

1.3 The Chairman explained that, in accordance with Standing Order 8.2, Navin Shah AM had been invited to attend the meeting as an observer and participate in the discussion with invited guests at Item 6.

City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA Enquiries: 020 7983 4100 minicom: 020 7983 4458 www.london.gov.uk v1 2015 Greater London Authority Budget and Performance Committee Friday 19 March 2021

2 Declarations of Interests (Item 2)

2.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

2.2 Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

3 Minutes (Item 3)

3.1 Resolved:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 10 December 2020, 16 December 2020 and 5 January 2021 be signed by the Chairman as correct records.

4 Summary List of Actions (Item 4)

4.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

4.2 Resolved:

(a) That the completed, closed and ongoing actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee be noted.

(b) That, pursuant to Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the information set out at Appendices 5A, 8 and 9 to the report be excluded from publication, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972, and it is considered that in the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, and to note the information.

Exclusion of the Press and Public (Item 4a)

4.3 See minute 4.2 above.

Summary List of Actions - Appendices 5A, 8 and 9 (Item 4b)

4.4 See minute 4.2 above.

2

Greater London Authority Budget and Performance Committee Friday 19 March 2021

5 Action Taken Under Delegated Authority (Item 5)

5.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

5.2 Resolved:

(a) That the action taken by the Chairman under delegated authority, in consultation with party Group Lead Members and Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM be noted, namely to:

i. Agree the Committee’s report entitled MOPAC & MPS COVID-19 Budget Review;

ii. Agree the Committee’s report entitled The OPDC - Undelivered plans and the financial challenges of COVID-19;

iii. Agree the Committee’s report entitled COVID-19 and the London Fire Brigade’s finances;

iv. Agree the Committee’s report entitled LLDC’s finances during the COVID-19 crisis; and

v. Agree a submission to the Mayor’s 2021-22 GLA Group Budget consultation.

(b) That the following responses be noted, namely those of:

i. The Chief of Staff to the Committee’s letter regarding the Draft GLA Budget 2021-22; and

ii. The Mayor to the Committee’s submission to the Mayor’s 2021-22 GLA Group Budget consultation.

(c) That authority be delegated to the Chairman, in consultation with party Group Lead Members and Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, to agree a response to the letter received from the Mayor regarding the Committee’s submission to the Mayor’s 2021-22 GLA Group Budget consultation.

6 The 2021-22 GLA Core Budget Review (Item 6)

6.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat as background to putting questions on 2021-22 GLA Core Budget Review to the following invited guests:

3

Greater London Authority Budget and Performance Committee Friday 19 March 2021

 David Bellamy, Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Greater London Authority (GLA);  Mary Harpley, Chief Officer, GLA; and  David Gallie, Executive Director of Resources, GLA.

6.2 A transcript of the discussion is attached as Appendix 1.

6.3 During the course of the discussion, the Committee requested that the Chief of Staff:  Review the Authority’s vetting processes for potential improvement;  Provide further information on the impact of the reduction in event spend;  Provide further information on funding allocated to the Green New Deal and a reduction in the number of environmental programmes;  Clarify what legal advice was sought in respect of the Assembly following the publication of the budget guidance in summer 2020; and  Provide further information surrounding the circumstances of the initial omission of the International Relations Team from the Budget.

6.4 The Committee also requested that the Chief Officer:  Confirm on which date the break clause was exercised regarding City Hall; and  Share survey evidence regarding staff morale and any expected staff attrition rate linked to the relocation to The Crystal.

6.5 The Committee also requested that the Executive Director of Resources:  Clarify whether, and when, GLA Finance Officers communicated with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) regarding the business rate safety net threshold figure; and  Provide a detailed breakdown of the calculation behind the reduction in premises costs in 2021/22.

6.6 Resolved:

(a) That the report and discussion be noted; and

(b) That authority be delegated to the Chairman, in consultation with party Group Lead Members and Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, to agree any output from the meeting.

4

Greater London Authority Budget and Performance Committee Friday 19 March 2021

7 Quarter 3, 2020/21 GLA Group Monitoring Reports (Item 7)

7.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

7.2 Resolved:

That the monitoring reports for Quarter 3 of 2020/21 be noted.

8 Payments over £250 (Item 8)

8.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Resources.

8.2 Resolved:

That the report be noted.

9 Mayor's Decision Lists: 6 November 2020 to 4 March 2021 (Item 9)

9.1 The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

9.2 Resolved:

That the Mayor’s Decision Lists for the period 6 November 2020 to 4 March 2021 be noted.

10 Mayor of London's Capital Spending Plan for 2021-22 (Item 10)

10.1 Resolved:

That the Mayor of London’s Capital Spending Plan 2021-22 be noted.

11 Date of Next Meeting (Item 11)

11.1 The ’s Annual Meeting, due to take place on 14 May 2021, would decide which committees to establish for the 2021/22 Assembly Year and a timetable of meetings for those committees.

5

Greater London Authority Budget and Performance Committee Friday 19 March 2021

12 Any Other Business the Chairman Considers Urgent (Item 12)

12.1 There were no other items of business.

12.2 Noting it to be the last Budget and Performance Committee meeting of the municipal year, the Chairman expressed her thanks to Members of the committee, as well as officers.

13 Close of Meeting

13.1 The meeting ended at 1.00pm.

Chair Date

Contact Officer: Fiona Bywaters, Committee Services Manager; Telephone: 0207 983 4425; Email: [email protected]

6