londonchamber.co.uk Our Business is Your Business Club of European Metropolitan CCI London meeting 30 th - 31 st October 2013 How London is governed londonchamber.co.uk Our Business is Your Business

Common administrative area created in 1965 now with various tiers: Local level: 32 Borough councils and ‘City of London’ Corporation Regional level: Mayor of London and 25 Assembly Members Parliament: 73 MPs attending Westminster Government: 24 National Ministerial Departments Europe: 8 MEPs attending Brussels/Strasbourg Our Business is Your Business ‘Greater’ London – differing layers of governance

32 councils that run most local services Known as the “Boroughs” Responsible for Schools, social services, waste, roads Policed by Metropolitan Police Service Dominated by three main political parties City of London Corporation has unique status dating back to 1225 Often referred to as “The City” or “Square Mile” 7,000 population Own dedicated Police Force Most voters are representatives of businesses Our Business is Your Business Local: = 33 authorities

1858 councillors elected every four years Our Business is Your Business Local – current political control of councils

Greater London Authority (GLA) created in 2000 as strategic authority for transport, policing, economic development and fire & emergency planning Office of Mayor with executive powers Assembly Chamber to scrutinise mayoral activity Aim to enhance coordination between boroughs Jurisdiction does not include City of London Corporation area Mainly funded through central government grant Our Business is Your Business Regional: looking after 8.3million people

Incumbent Boris Johnson first elected in 2008 The London Plan Transport for London (TfL) Policing & Crime Fire & Emergency London Business Board Our Business is Your Business Regional: The Mayor of London

25 Members elected every four years Our Business is Your Business Regional: current political make-up of Assembly

73 MPs now elected every five years Our Business is Your Business Parliament: London House of Commons seats

London’s weak local/regional governance means many important decisions are ‘filtered’ through national government departments Partly due to limited financial power enshrined in Office of Mayor of London Battle for attention of Ministers against many competing interests from other UK regions as well as public policy influencers Prime example was effort to seek to protect London transport funding at the Government Spending Review in June 2013 Our Business is Your Business ‘Limited’ London: impact of a centralised UK

Example: “Grow London - Tell George””

London Chamber believes the Office of Mayor of London should have greater control over financial resources Agree with broad thrust of London Finance Commission chaired by Professor Tony Travers London Chamber actively engaging with political parties now UK Westminster General Election scheduled for May 2015 Our Business is Your Business Looking ahead

londonchamber.co.uk Our Business is Your Business Club of European Metropolitan CCI London meeting 30 th - 31 st October 2013 Sean McKee, LCCI Political London – an outline londonchamber.co.uk Our Business is Your Business