Transparency of the GLA Group and Family

In June 2013, the GLA Oversight Committee published Transparency of the GLA Group, the results of an investigation carried out by John Biggs AM. The report concluded that, while the GLA Group had made some steps towards greater transparency in recent years, there was inconsistency between organisations in the Group, and several areas where improvements were needed. The initial response from the Mayor and the GLA Group was positive, and there were some indications that important changes were being made in response to the report.

This publication is a follow-up investigation into the 2013 report. ‘Transparency of the GLA Group’ - assesses what progress had been made and ensures that momentum is maintained.

This investigation examined the transparency of ten organisations ^[1] which are part of, or receive funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) Family. It found;

• Transport for London (TfL) has made good progress – but it must provide a consistent level of transparency across all parts of its organisation. It should now start publishing the contracts and Board and committee papers of Crossrail, and make a commitment that Crossrail 2 will be transparent and open to scrutiny.
• The lack of information published by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) is of concern. The next Deputy Mayor for Police and Crime should review the decision-making information MOPAC publishes and propose improvements. Greater openness at the MPS needs to be progressed as a part of this.
• Information released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act should be made publically accessible. Searchable FOI logs would allow more people to find this information at minimal cost.
• We urge the newly formed Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) to learn from our findings, in order to avoid a situation like the controversy over the London Legacy Development Corporation’s (LLDC) Olympic Stadium contract.

1. The ten organisations examined are; GLA Group - Greater London Authority (GLA), London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), Transport for London (TfL), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC). GLA Family - London & Partners (L&P), London TravelWatch, London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA), London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and Museum of London.
2. Members of the GLA Oversight Committee recommended the appointment of John Biggs AM as a rapporteur, to carry out a follow up investigation into the 2013 report ‘Transparency of the GLA Group’ to assess what progress had been made and ensure that momentum is maintained on this important issue.