Urgent changes proposed to improve accountability in the Mayor's Office - Lib Dems

2.27.00pm GMT Wed 5th Mar 2008

Today's scrutiny hearing with the Mayor's Chief of Staff and Policy Adviser on Economics and Business revealed a worrying insight into the way decisions are made in the Mayor's Office. London Assembly Liberal Democrats have put forward five proposals to improve accountability in the Mayor's Office in response to revelations about Mayoral advisers intervening without proper controls.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, Mike Tuffrey commented:

"Only by adopting these proposals, will the current and subsequent Mayor show the public that his personal advisers are operating in a clear and honest fashion. There is no doubt that the Mayor has been damaged by recent allegations and action needs to be taken to ensure that the Mayor's Office is made open and democratic.

"It is time that positive steps are taken so that the Mayor's Office can return to working for Londoners, rather than constantly having to defend its internal workings."

The five proposals for the Greater London Authority are:

1. A GLA group-wide register of interests should be established.

2. All staff appointed under Greater London Authority Act s67 (1) (a) and (b) should have their registered interests made public, to reflect the nature of their political roles.

3. A Code of Conduct for Mayoral Advisers should be drawn up and made publicly available, similar to the controls in place over ministerial special advisers.

4. A protocol should be established with clear rules over how Mayoral advisers can intervene in the workings of functional bodies. This should be limited to engagement at directorial level to protect more junior staff from improper pressure. Any advice given should be formally recorded and reported.

5. The board of functional bodies, notably the London Development Agency and Transport for London, should follow normal local government practice and meet in public, with commercially confidential or sensitive personal matters reserved for a private session.

END

Notes to Editors:

1. The GLA Act s67 (1) (a) and (b) refers to Mayoral advisers.

2. The Mayor's Chief of Staff is Simon Fletcher. John Ross is the Mayor's Policy Adviser on Business and Economics.