Item 3 MINUTES

Meeting: London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time Date: Wednesday 21 May 2008 Time: 10.00am Place: Chamber, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA

Copies of the minutes may be found at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/meetings_names.jsp

Present:

Jennette Arnold (Chair) Len Duvall

Darren Johnson (Deputy Chair) Roger Evans

Tony Arbour Nicky Gavron

Gareth Bacon Jenny Jones

Richard Barnbrook Kit Malthouse

Richard Barnes Joanne McCartney

John Biggs Steve O’Connell

Andrew Boff Caroline Pidgeon

Victoria Borwick Navin Shah

James Cleverly Valerie Shawcross

Brian Coleman Richard Tracey

Dee Doocey Mike Tuffrey

City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA Enquiries: 020 7983 4100 minicom: 020 7983 4458 www.london.gov.uk Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008

1. Apologies for Absence and Announcements (Item 1)

1.1 Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Murad Qureshi AM.

1.2 The Chair recorded the Assembly’s condolences to the victims of both cyclone Nargis in Burma and the Sichuan earthquake in China.

1.3 The Chair informed the Assembly of the recent death of James Lemkin CBE. Mr Lemkin had represented Uxbridge on the Greater London Council from 1973 to 1986 and was High Sheriff of Greater London from 1992 to 1993.

2. Declarations of Interests (Item 2)

2.1 Resolved:

(a) That the relevant Assembly Members’ membership of Functional Bodies and London Borough Councils, as set out in Item 2 on the agenda, be noted and recorded as personal interests; and

(b) That the following declarations of gifts and/or hospitality received by an Assembly Member since 12 September 2007 from the bodies indicated, and as also reflected on the register of gifts and hospitality, additionally be noted as personal interests, insofar as they relates to Agenda Item 4 (Questions to the Mayor):

• Nicky Gavron AM: from the Urban Land Institute and Sir Robert McAlpine (in relation to Question No: 932 / 2008); and the European Commission, Land Securities, NEA Energy Group, National Grid, Carbon Trust, Greenpeace and the Energy Network Association (in relation to Question No: 933 / 2008)

3. Mayor’s Report (Item 3)

3.1 Resolved:

That the Mayor’s Report for the period 28 February – 4 May 2008 be noted.

3.2 In accordance with Standing Order 5.4 A, the Chair had asked the Mayor to give an oral update on matters occurring since the publication of his report. The record of the oral update, the supplementary questions put to the Mayor by Assembly Members, and the answers to those questions is set out at Appendix 1.

4. Questions to the Mayor (Item 4)

4.1 The record of the discussion, including oral answers given by the Mayor to Members’ questions, is attached as Appendix 2.

4.2 The written answers to those questions not asked or answered during the meeting are attached as Appendix 3.

2 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008 4.3 At 12.30pm, the Chair proposed and it was agreed that Standing Order 2.9 B be suspended to allow the extension of the meeting in order to consider the remaining business on the agenda.

4.4 The issue of Groups' allocated time for putting questions to the Mayor was raised with the Chair and it was noted that this was to be the subject of further discussion with Group Leaders.

5. Appointments to Functional Bodies (Item 5)

5.1 Resolved:

That the following appointments to Functional Bodies made by the Mayor, as reported by the Mayor to the Chair of the Assembly in his letter dated 9 May 2008, be noted:

(a) To the Authority, for the period from 12 May 2008 to 30 September 2008:

Richard Barnes AM Kit Malthouse AM Steve O’Connell AM Richard Tracey AM Victoria Borwick AM James Cleverly AM Len Duvall AM Jennette Arnold AM Navin Shah AM Dee Doocey AM Caroline Pidgeon AM Jenny Jones AM

(b) To London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, for the period from 17 June 2008 to 16 June 2009:

Brian Coleman AM (as Chairman) Roger Evans AM Tony Arbour AM Navin Shah AM Valerie Shawcross AM Murad Qureshi AM Caroline Pidgeon AM Darren Johnson AM

6. Petitions (Item 6)

6.1 It was

Resolved:

That it be agreed to suspend the Standing Order relating to the receipt of petitions at Mayor’s Question Time for the duration of the meeting to allow the petitions listed in the report to be received. 3 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008

6.2 Tony Arbour AM then presented a petition with the following prayer:

"Don’t run the S3 Bus via The Manor Drive”

We petition the Mayor of London:

“We, the undersigned strongly oppose the proposal from TfL to run the S3 Bus, via the Manor Drive. There could be serious risks to children and residents, as there is already congested traffic at the Parochial School and Doris Venner Centre. We ask the Mayor and GLA to review the route."

6.3 Resolved:

That the petition be referred to the Mayor and Transport for London for response.

7. Motion (Item 7)

7.1 Richard Barnes AM moved and Roger Evans AM seconded the following motion set out on the agenda for the meeting:

“This Assembly condemns the decision by Post Office Limited to close the following 156 Post Offices in London following a cosmetic consultation exercise where the real views of Londoners were ignored and the results largely predetermined. It also condemns the short-sighted policies of the Labour Government that have lead to this move which this Assembly believes will have disastrous consequences for communities across the whole of the capital: Bennetts Castle Lane, Broad Street, Dollis Valley, Potters Road, Childs Hill, East Finchley, High Road (435), Nether Street, Pennine Parade, Watford Way, Brampton Road, Foots Cray, Cricklewood, Court Parade, Roe Green, Brentfield Estate, Harrow Road (1000), Stonebridge Park, Albemarle Road, Walden Road, Carlton Parade, Crofton Lane, Pratts Bottom, Englands Lane, Hampstead Heath, Highgate High Street, Crowndale Road, High Street (298), Bensham Lane (104), Central Hill, Selhurst Road, South Streatham, The Parade, Chipstead Valley Road (217), Greenford Green, The Avenue, Boileau Parade, Churchfield Road, Haven Green, Norwood Green, Park Parade, Town Road, , , Green Street, Hadley Wood, , High Street Eltham, Plumstead Common Road, Bostal Hill, Blackheath Hill, Woolwich Road, Blackstock Road, Lower Clapton Road (235), Stoke Newington Road, Cassland Road, Chatsworth Road, Murray Grove, Wilton Way, Askew Road, Goldhawk Road, Fulham Road, Alexandra Park Road, Ferme Park Road, Salisbury Road, Weston Park, West Green Road (434), Buckingham Road, Headstone Road, Headstone Gardens, Pinner Green, The Hill, Hylands, Gobions, Camborne Avenue, Emerson Park, Woodhall Parade, Bath Road, Cranford Parade, Uxbridge Road, High Street, Ickenham Road, Moorfield Road, Uxbridge Common, Chiswick High Road, Old Isleworth, Park Avenue, Caledonian Road (100), Caledonian Road (492), Ladbroke Grove, Stratford Road, Burlington Road, Hook Rise, Norbiton Common, Plough Green, Surbiton Park, Chestnut Grove, Abbeville Road, Streatham Place, Acre Lane (154), Clapham High Street, Hither Green Lane, Lee Nr Station, New Cross Road, Green Lane, Sherwood Park Road, Coombe Lane (350), Wimbledon High Street, Woodside Parade, Katherine Road, Romford Road, Barking Road, Field Road, High Street Plaistow, Portway, Woodford Nr Church, Fencepiece Road, Hainault, Woodford Avenue, Meads Lane, Broad Street, Cambridge Parade, The Common, Melbourne Grove, Nunhead Nr Station, Old Kent Road, Peckham Road, Dockhead, East Street, Ilderton Road, Maddock Way, Bishopsford Road, Carshalton Road, Gander Green Lane, Mitcham Junction, Wrythe Lane, Heylyn Square, Whitechapel, Devons Road, The Quarterdeck, Watney Street, Coventry Parade, Grove Green Road, Leyton Green, Battersea Park Road (268), New 4 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008 Covent Garden, 209 Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge Road (279), Balham High Road, Garratt Lane, Mitcham Lane (274), Trinity Road, Leinster Terrace, Harrow Road, Lisson Grove, Ludgate Circus Crown Post Office. And this Assembly further notes with alarm that the threat of closure still hangs over the following 7 branches: Bollo Bridge Road, Chingford Road, Forest Road, Gipsy Road, Masterman Road, Orford Road, Formosa Street. And agrees to make representations to the Government and Post Office Limited calling on them to rethink their policy and calls on Postwatch to oppose the entire process with vigour. The Assembly believes that post offices are an essential part of the community and should be fully supported."

7.2 Joanne McCartney AM moved and Caroline Pidgeon AM seconded the following amendment to the motion: Add to last paragraph: “and we invite the new Mayor to follow through on the initiative proposed by his predecessor, Ken Livingstone, to continue with the legal challenge and to explore alternative funding streams, including the possible use of GLA funds, for post offices under threat.”

7.3 Following the debate on the proposed motion and amendment, and in accordance with Standing Order 3.6A, Richard Barnes AM accepted this amendment.

7.4 Upon being put to the vote, the motion as amended, namely: “This Assembly condemns the decision by Post Office Limited to close the following 156 Post Offices in London following a cosmetic consultation exercise where the real views of Londoners were ignored and the results largely predetermined. It also condemns the short-sighted policies of the Labour Government that have lead to this move which this Assembly believes will have disastrous consequences for communities across the whole of the capital: Bennetts Castle Lane, Broad Street, Dollis Valley, Potters Road, Childs Hill, East Finchley, High Road (435), Nether Street, Pennine Parade, Watford Way, Brampton Road, Foots Cray, Cricklewood, Court Parade, Roe Green, Brentfield Estate, Harrow Road (1000), Stonebridge Park, Albemarle Road, Walden Road, Carlton Parade, Crofton Lane, Pratts Bottom, Englands Lane, Hampstead Heath, Highgate High Street, Crowndale Road, High Street (298), Bensham Lane (104), Central Hill, Selhurst Road, South Streatham, The Parade, Chipstead Valley Road (217), Greenford Green, The Avenue, Boileau Parade, Churchfield Road, Haven Green, Norwood Green, Park Parade, Town Road, Chase Side, Freezywater, Green Street, Hadley Wood, Palmers Green, High Street Eltham, Plumstead Common Road, Bostal Hill, Blackheath Hill, Woolwich Road, Blackstock Road, Lower Clapton Road (235), Stoke Newington Road, Cassland Road, Chatsworth Road, Murray Grove, Wilton Way, Askew Road, Goldhawk Road, Fulham Road, Alexandra Park Road, Ferme Park Road, Salisbury Road, Weston Park, West Green Road (434), Buckingham Road, Headstone Road, Headstone Gardens, Pinner Green, The Hill, Hylands, Gobions, Camborne Avenue, Emerson Park, Woodhall Parade, Bath Road, Cranford Parade, Uxbridge Road, High Street, Ickenham Road, Moorfield Road, Uxbridge Common, Chiswick High Road, Old Isleworth, Park Avenue, Caledonian Road (100), Caledonian Road (492), Ladbroke Grove, Stratford Road, Burlington Road, Hook Rise, Norbiton Common, Plough Green, Surbiton Park, Chestnut Grove, Abbeville

5 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008 Road, Streatham Place, Acre Lane (154), Clapham High Street, Hither Green Lane, Lee Nr Station, New Cross Road, Green Lane, Sherwood Park Road, Coombe Lane (350),

Wimbledon High Street, Woodside Parade, Katherine Road, Romford Road, Barking Road, Field Road, High Street Plaistow, Portway, Woodford Nr Church, Fencepiece Road, Hainault, Woodford Avenue, Meads Lane, Broad Street, Cambridge Parade, The Common, Melbourne Grove, Nunhead Nr Station, Old Kent Road, Peckham Road, Dockhead, East Street, Ilderton Road, Maddock Way, Bishopsford Road, Carshalton Road, Gander Green Lane, Mitcham Junction, Wrythe Lane, Heylyn Square, Whitechapel, Devons Road, The Quarterdeck, Watney Street, Coventry Parade, Grove Green Road, Leyton Green, Battersea Park Road (268), New Covent Garden, 209 Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge Road (279), Balham High Road, Garratt Lane, Mitcham Lane (274), Trinity Road, Leinster Terrace, Harrow Road, Lisson Grove, Ludgate Circus Crown Post Office. And this Assembly further notes with alarm that the threat of closure still hangs over the following 7 branches: Bollo Bridge Road, Chingford Road, Forest Road, Gipsy Road, Masterman Road, Orford Road, Formosa Street. And agrees to make representations to the Government and Post Office Limited calling on them to rethink their policy and calls on Postwatch to oppose the entire process with vigour. The Assembly believes that post offices are an essential part of the community and should be fully supported and we invite the new Mayor to follow through on the initiative proposed by his predecessor, Ken Livingstone, to continue with the legal challenge and to explore alternative funding streams, including the possible use of GLA funds, for post offices under threat."

was carried unanimously.

8. Any Other Urgent Business (Item 8)

8.1 It was noted that the Chair, in accordance with section 100(B)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, had agreed to accept the following items, which were set out on the supplementary agenda, as urgent business, in order to allow these matters to be considered at the earliest opportunity:

• Item 8(a): Appointments made by the Mayor under Section 67(1)(b) of the GLA Act • Item 8(b): Appointment to the Office of Chairman of the London Development Agency • Item 8(c): Action Taken Under Delegated Authority • Item 8(d): Changes to Committee Memberships • Item 8(e): Future Meetings of the Assembly • Item 8(f): Nominations to the London Regional Arts Council • Item 8(g): International Parliamentary Governance Seminar

6 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008

9. Appointments made by the Mayor under Section 67(1)(b) of the GLA Act (Item 8a)

9.1 Resolved:

That the receipt of letters from the Mayor which advised of the appointment of the following, under Section 67(1)(b) of the GLA Act 1999 (as amended), be noted:

• Ian Clement (Deputy Mayor – Government Relations) • Ray Lewis (Deputy Mayor – Youth and Opportunity) • Guto Harri (Director of Communications) • Munira Mirza (Director, Arts and Culture Policy) • Kulveer Ranger (Director, Transport Policy)

9.2 Letters from the Mayor to the Chair of the Assembly dated 9 May and 20 May, advising of the above appointments, were formally tabled at the meeting and are attached as Appendix 4]

10. Appointment to the Office of Chairman of the London Development Agency (Item 8b)

10.1 Resolved:

(a) That the letter dated 15 May from the Mayor to the Chair of the Assembly which advised of the proposed appointment of Harvey McGrath to the office of Chairman of the London Development Agency be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that the Chair, in accordance with the authority delegated to her, has agreed to hold a confirmation hearing in respect of this appointment, the provisional date for which is 5 June 20081.

11. Action Taken Under Delegated Authority (Item 8c)

11.1 During the course of the discussion on this item Andrew Boff AM suggested that Standing Orders be amended to make it clearer that the Chair had delegated authority in respect of making appointments to committees where the size composition of that committee had been agreed by the Assembly. The Chair agreed that this issue would be examined when Standing Orders were next reviewed.

11.2 Resolved:

(a) That the recent action taken by the Chair of the Assembly, Jennette Arnold AM, under delegated authority be noted; and

(b) That the appointments of the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the EDCST and Planning committees made by the Chair under delegated authority and set out at paragraph 3.5 of the report be ratified.

1 This meeting date was subsequently confirmed. 7 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008

12. Changes to Committee Memberships (Item 8d)

12.1 Resolved:

(a) That, further to the London Assembly Green Group’s nomination, Darren Johnson AM be appointed as a member of the London Assembly’s Business Management and Administration Committee, to replace Jenny Jones AM;

(b) That Jenny Jones AM be appointed as a substitute member of the Business Management and Administration Committee, to replace Darren Johnson AM; and

(c) That Darren Johnson AM be appointed Chair and Jennette Arnold AM be appointed Deputy Chair of the Business Management and Administration Committee for the 2008/09 Assembly Year.

13. Future Meetings of the Assembly (Item 8e)

London Assembly (Plenary) – 9 July 2008

13.1 Resolved:

That consideration of proposals in respect of 9 July 2008 London Assembly (Plenary) meeting be deferred pending further consideration by the Assembly’s party Groups of the proposed business, with a report to be submitted to the next meeting of the London Assembly.

14. Nominations to the London Regional Arts Council (Item 8f)

14.1 Resolved:

(a) That the advice received from the Arts Council regarding the Assembly’s nominations to the London Regional Arts Council be noted; (b) That the Mayor be requested to put forward Dee Doocey AM and Joanne McCartney AM, together with any other nominations from the Conservative and Green Groups, as his nominees to the London Regional Arts Council; (c) That it be noted that Richard Barnbrook AM would contact the Mayor to request that he be put forward as one of the Mayor’s nominees to the London Regional Arts Council.

8 Greater London Authority London Assembly – Mayor’s Question Time 21 May 2008

15. International Parliamentary Governance Seminar (Item 8g)

15.1 Resolved:

(a) That it be agreed that Members may attend sessions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Parliamentary Governance Seminar in Westminster from 15 to 20 June 2008 as observers; and

(b) That it be agreed to delegate authority to the Chair of the Assembly, in consultation with the Deputy Chair and Group Leaders, to nominate Members to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International Parliamentary Governance Seminar as observers, noting that there is provision for one Assembly Member to attend each day of the seminar between 15-20 June.

16. Date of Next Meeting (Item 9)

16.1 It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Assembly (Mayor’s Question Time) would be held on Wednesday 18 June 2008 at 10.00am in the Chamber, City Hall.

17. Close of Meeting

17.1 The meeting ended at 1.16pm.

Chair Date

Contact Officer: Rebecca Arnold Committee Team Leader GLA Secretariat, City Hall The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA Telephone: 020 7983 4421 Email: [email protected]

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