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 improvements 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.
The Mayor sets out plans and policies for London covering transport, planning and development, economic development and regeneration, culture, and a range of environmental issues including biodiversity, ambient noise, waste disposal and air quality.
These individual plans fit together to help deliver the Mayor’s policies. Between them, these plans must also contribute to sustainable development and the health of Londoners.
The Mayor sets the annual budget for:
- the Greater London Authority;
- the Metropolitan Police, who provide policing in the capital, under the oversight of the Metropolitan Police Authority
- Transport for London, who provide buses, river services, London Underground, and some light rail services, maintain London’s main roads and regulate London’s licensed taxi service
- 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.
While staff in the Greater London Authority is appointed by the London Assembly, the Mayor appoints the Board of Transport for London (TfL) and recruits its senior managers, including the Commissioner for Transport. TfL is the body responsible for much of the capital’s transport system. Its role is to implement the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for London and manage the transport services across the capital for which the Mayor has responsibility. The organisation is directed by a Management Board whose Members are appointed by the Mayor of London, who chairs the TfL Board.
The Mayor has a general duty to develop and implement policies that encourage safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within London. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy for London contains his policies and proposals.
The London Mayor also appoints the Board of the London Development Agency.
See HOUSING, PLANNING AND COMMUNITY REGENERATION section.
The Police and Fire Authorities are independent bodies, but the Mayor appoints some members of the Police Authority, following nominations by the London Assembly. He also appoints members of the Fire Authority, following nominations by the London Assembly and London boroughs.
The Cultural Strategy Group was appointed by the Mayor to develop the Mayor’s cultural strategy, which covers everything from sports, to architectural heritage, to performing arts in London.
Although the Mayor has no direct power or responsibility in relation to education, a number of his strategies and initiatives cover issues which aim to impact on education, including his strategy on Children and Young People, work on London schools and Black children, and the provision of affordable housing for teachers and other workers through the London Plan.
The Mayor is responsible for producing a number of environmental strategies and he must also ensure that all his policies are consistent with the principles of sustainable development. The strategies cover air quality, biodiversity, municipal waste management, noise and energy.
The Mayor must also produce a four-yearly report on the state of London’s environment, including information on:
the quality of air, water and land in the capital energy use and London’s contribution to meeting climate change targets ground water levels traffic levels and emissions.
The London Assembly scrutinises the Mayor’s approach to environmental issues and comments on his strategies.
The Mayor has responsibility for strategic planning in London. One of the main responsibilities of the Mayor is to produce a Spatial Development Strategy (the ‘London Plan’), to ensure that boroughs’ Unitary Development Plans fit with the London Plan. He must also be consulted on planning applications of strategic importance and he has the power to refuse permission on strategic grounds. The Mayor also has a strategic role to play in planning the future provision of housing within the capital and this forms part of his Spatial Development Strategy.
The Mayor appoints a member of the London Assembly to be Deputy Mayor. The current Deputy Mayor is Richard Barnes – the leader of the Conservative Group.
The Mayor is elected for a fixed term of four years. The next election of Mayor and Assembly will be in 2012. The Current Mayor is the Conservative, Boris Johnson.
The Office of the London Mayor,
City Hall,
The Queen’s Walk
London
SE1 2AA
Tel: 020 7983 4000
Email: mayor@london.gov.uk
