Councils in London are advocating for expanded devolution powers to enable shared decision-making with the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Councillor Claire Holland, chair of the London Councils group representing the city’s local governments, has suggested implementing a Combined Board model akin to those in Manchester and the West Midlands.
Holland expressed that this approach would facilitate quicker, more efficient decision-making and expedite funding processes, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Nonetheless, a report from the GLA in September indicated that such proposals could result in some areas of London being excluded from key decision-making processes.
At present, collaboration between borough councils and the GLA is optional, leading to initiatives like the Warmer Homes Programme. “We have a strong partnership with the mayor, but the voluntary nature of this collaboration means there’s no formal integration within decision-making, potentially extending timelines,” Holland remarked at an event during the Labour Party conference on 30 September.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced by the government in July, aims to grant additional powers to the GLA, but not to the borough councils of London.
A report from the GLA’s Oversight Committee appeared to dismiss Holland’s proposals, highlighting that London is “a significantly larger and more complex city, with 33 local authorities,” in contrast to cities like Manchester, which has only 10.
The report stated, “Managing a strategic authority with 34 decision-making bodies would clearly be impractical.”
It concluded that adding further layers of decision-making could lead to governance confusion, reduced transparency, and diminished accountability.
A representative for the Mayor of London remarked that “Sadiq has established a strong rapport with London’s local authorities” and emphasized a commitment to ongoing collaboration with local government entities. The mayor also pledged to partner with London Councils to implement the integrated settlement, offering the GLA more flexibility in its allocation of central government funds, the spokesperson noted.
