 Mr Livingstone has a strategic role as mayor of London |
Ken Livingstone could be made head of the Metropolitan Police's scrutiny body and be given more powers to shape London.
Ministers believe many people already think Mr Livingstone is responsible for the performance of Britain's biggest police force.
Making him head of the MPA would give the body high visibility and a direct link to local people, a consultation document said.
It is part of a package of measures giving more powers to the GLA - created by an act of Parliament in 1999.
The act gave the mayor mainly strategic powers over the fire and police services, transport, regeneration and planning.
 | Housing The key question is should the Mayor decide the allocation of the affordable housing portion of the Regional Housing Pot in London? |
The Government is examining ways to shift powers away from Whitehall giving the Greater London Authority (GLA) more control on key strategic issues affecting the capital.
| Learning and Skills There are four options for giving the Mayor a greater say over learning and skills in London: A a stronger regional partnership, making more of the LDA's role on the Regional Skills Partnership B strengthening of the Mayor's role in the LSC's regional tier C an enhanced leadership role for the Mayor on skills in London D Mayor's preferred option of rationalising the five London LSCs into one organisation accountable to him, with all learning, skills and worklessness budgets managed under a single London 'brand' |
Proposals issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reveal that Ministers are willing to consider major decentralisation but only if the result is improved quality of life in London.
In summary they are:
- more planning powers
- control of housing investment
- single London waste authority
- skills and training
Chair of Metropolitan Police Authority Now Londoners are being asked for their views on a package of changes and options giving the Mayor greater freedom of choice and more influence over delivery of key services.
These include housing, skills, planning and waste, while preserving the appropriate balance of power between the Mayor, Assembly and the boroughs.
| Planning There are three broad options for change: A significant additional powers - would allow the Mayor to direct boroughs on local plans and become the development control authority for defined classes of strategic planning application B more limited new powers - the Mayor would be able to direct boroughs' local plans in relation to defined strategic issues, and would be able to decide specific categories of strategic planning applications C minimal change |
The consultation paper 'The Government's proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and Assembly' also offers the London Assembly the chance to play a bigger role in policy development and scrutiny.
A move aimed at maintaining the balance of power between the two parts of the GLC.
The review focuses on the powers and functions of the GLA rather than on London governance structures as a whole.
Many of the proposals set out in the paper would mean devolving powers from central Government to the Mayor.
| Waste Management/Planning There are three options for changing the current arrangements for managing London's waste: A the Mayor's proposal to establish a single waste authority for London, accountable to him as a functional body of the GLA B establishing a single, London-wide body comprising a committee of representatives from the boroughs and a representative of the Mayor. The body would not be accountable to the Mayor C extending the sub-regional arrangements operating in some parts of the capital London-wide. fact here there is also a 'no change' option |
However, Ministers have signalled they are keen to explore giving the Mayor a greater say over some specific functions currently carried out by the boroughs.
Specifically where a convincing case can be made that change would improve the planning and delivery of services.
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