Agenda and minutes
London Assembly (Mayor's Question Time) - Monday 23 February 2015 10.00 am

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chairman.

1.1  There were no apologies for absence.

1.2  During the course of the meeting, the Chairman welcomed to the public gallery journalism students from City University London, politics students from AHA International and pupils from St Christopher’s School, Camden. 

The Assembly is recommended to:

(a)  Note the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  The Assembly received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

2.2    Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Assembly is recommended to confirm the minutes of the London Assembly meetings held on 21 January 2015 (Mayor’s Question Time) and 28 January 2015 (Plenary) to be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the London Assembly meetings held on 21 January 2015 (Mayor’s Question Time) and 28 January 2015 (Plenary) be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as correct records.

(Circulated separately)

The Final Draft Consolidated Budget 2015/16 has been circulated for the Assembly’s consideration.

The Mayor will present the Final Draft Consolidated Budget 2015/16.

4.1  The Assembly received the Mayor’s Final Draft Consolidated Budget 2015/16 for the GLA Group and an oral statement from the Mayor on the Budget.  A transcript of the Mayor’s oral statement is attached as Appendix 1.

4.2  Sir Edward Lister, Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4a

Assembly Members will put questions to the Mayor on the six sections of the Final Draft Consolidated Budget document.

4.4  Assembly Members put questions to the Mayor on his Final Draft Consolidated Budget.  The transcript of the questions put by Members and the Mayor’s answers is attached as Appendix 2.

4.5  At 11.03am, in accordance with Standing Order 2.12, the Chairman adjourned the meeting following a disturbance in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4b

The Assembly is under a duty to consider the Mayor’s Final Draft Consolidated Budget and to approve it, with or without amendment, in accordance with paragraphs 8(3) and (7) of Schedule 6 of the GLA Act 1999 (as amended).

In accordance with Standing Order 6.8 the following substantive motion will be before the Assembly:

“To approve the Final Draft Consolidated Budget for 2015/16 with or without amendment.”

[Note: In accordance with GLA Standing Order 6.12 B, the motion set out above shall be considered without being proposed or seconded by a Member. The motion may be amended by a Budget Amendment, in accordance with the procedures described in Standing Orders 6.10, 6.12 and 6.16. The Assembly will consider amendments to the Final Draft Consolidated Budget, and budget-related motions (if any).

If a Budget Amendment is carried by the requisite majority (a two-thirds majority of Members present and voting in favour) then the Substantive Motion shall fall and the Final Draft Consolidated Budget shall be deemed agreed as amended.

If no amendment is agreed, or if the Substantive Motion is not passed (whether put to the vote or not) then the Assembly is deemed by law (Paragraph 8(5) of Schedule 6  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4c

4.6  Following the Mayor’s departure, the Assembly debated the Mayor’s Final Draft Consolidated Budget 2015/16.

4.7  The substantive motion before the Assembly was: “To approve the Final Draft Consolidated Budget for 2015/16 with or without amendment.”

4.8  During the course of the debate John Biggs AM referred to a letter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4c

The Assembly is recommended to note the Mayor’s Report covering the period from 8 January to 9 February 2015.

5.1  Resolved:

That the Mayor’s Report covering the period from 8 January to 9 February 2015 be noted.

(Circulated separately.)

The Assembly is recommended to note that written answers to all questions submitted to this meeting under the Mayor’s Question Time procedure will be provided on 2 March 2015.

[Note: the Assembly agreed at its meeting on 21 January 2015 to accept written answers to all questions submitted to this meeting under the Mayor’s Question Time procedure, in order to devote time to the discussion of the Mayor’s Final Draft Consolidated Budget under Item 4.]

6.1  Resolved:

That it be noted that written answers to all questions submitted to the meeting under the Mayor’s Question Time procedure would be provided on 26 February 2015, as agreed by the Assembly at its meeting on 21 January 2015.

[Note: The written answers provided following the meeting are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The next scheduled meeting of the London Assembly will be the Plenary meeting which will take place at 10.00am on Wednesday 11 March 2015 in the Chamber, City Hall.

7.1  The Assembly noted that its next scheduled meeting would be the Plenary meeting which would take place at 10.00am on Wednesday 11 March 2015 in the Chamber, City Hall.

8.1  There was no urgent business requiring consideration.

8.2  The Chairman placed on record his thanks to the GLA’s security staff and to the police for their assistance in dealing with the demonstrations outside City Hall and disturbances in the Chamber during the meeting.

9.1  The meeting closed at 12.14pm.