Key information
Decision type: Director
Reference code: DD2146
Date signed:
Decision by: Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Executive Director of Development, Enterprise and Environment
Executive summary
This DD seeks approval for expenditure of up to a maximum of £133,500 on the development, consultation, design and launch of the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy (EDS). Spend will take place over 2017-18 and the first half of 2018-19, in accordance with the timescale for the launch of the EDS.
Decision
That the Executive Director for Development, Enterprise & Environment approves expenditure of up to £133,500 to deliver the EDS through the elements set out in section 2 of this report.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1 Section 333F of The Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended by The Localism Act 2011) requires the Mayor to prepare and publish an Economic Development Strategy for London, including appropriate consultation as follows:-
333F Economic development strategy for London
(1) The Mayor shall prepare and publish a document to be known as the “Economic development strategy for London”.
(2) The Economic development strategy for London is to contain—
(a) the Mayor’s assessment of the economic conditions of Greater London, and
(b) the Mayor’s policies and proposals for the economic development and regeneration of Greater London, including the Mayor’s strategy for—
(i) promoting business efficiency, investment and competitiveness in Greater London,
(ii) promoting employment in Greater London, and
(iii) enhancing the development of skills relevant to employment in Greater London.
The references in this subsection to Greater London include its rural parts as well as its non-rural parts.
(3) In preparing or revising the Economic Development Strategy for London the Mayor must consult—
(a) such persons as appear to the Mayor to represent employers in Greater London, and
(b) such persons as appear to the Mayor to represent employees in Greater London.
1.2 Publication of the strategy requires a budget to fund underpinning research, consultation and engagement activities, design, launch and printing costs, as set out in section 2 below.
2. Objectives and expected outcomes
2.1 The publication of the Mayor’s EDS will provide the overarching framework for the GLA’s policies and work on economic development in London for the period 2018-41. This strategy is a call to action to everyone with a stake in the future of London’s economy to get behind the Mayor’s vision for the economy, to help sustain London’s position as the world’s greatest city for business, and to ensure that the proceeds of economic prosperity are more fairly distributed.
2.2 The table below sets out the activities involved in the development and publication of the EDS and indicates the maximum overall costs and budgets from which the funding will be drawn for each activity:-
2.1 This work programme will contribute to:
• The development of EDS policies and outcomes, through commissioning research into future trends, including artificial intelligence and the implications for London’s future economy.
• Complying with consultation requirements, through commissioning consultancy support to ensure efficient analysis of the formal consultation responses and a launch budget to engage Londoners and businesses in the draft and final strategies.
• Complying with equality considerations, through commissioning an ‘easy read’ version of the strategy, through printing the strategy (for those who do not have online access), producing a video to engage Londoners who would not usually be engaged in strategy development, and additional consultation work in collaboration with the LEAP to engage Londoners who would usually be harder to reach.
• The production of the EDS through making provision for design costs, including infographics and other visuals.
3.1 Under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as a public authority, the Mayor of London must have ‘due Regard’ of the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not.
3.2 Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities are enshrined within the GLA’s programmes and activities according to the Mayor’s Framework for Equal Life Chances (June 2014) and the new mayor’s forthcoming Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The framework aims to bring Londoners together rather than dividing them. It promotes outcomes for a diverse range of communities that seek to bring real changes to the quality of life for all Londoners. The development and production of the EDS will be informed by an Integrated Impact Assessment, which includes consideration of equalities.
3.3 The EDS will look to maximise its positive impact on equality for all Londoners though policies related to ‘economic fairness’ such as:-
• Challenging gender inequality in employment and skills acquisition.
• Promoting exemplary standards in pay and employment rights for workers.
• Seeking to expand opportunities for people with disabilities to work and gain skills.
3.4 Securing the budget of £133,500 will enable the Mayor to widen engagement and consultation plans during the development of the strategy - demonstrating his commitment to lead the most engaged and accessible administration.
These plans include:
• Consultancy support to analyse the formal consultation responses;
• The production of a video to engage Londoners in the key messages of the strategy;
• Commissioning an ‘easy read’ version of the strategy;
• Printing the strategy, for those who do not have online access;
• Consultation work in collaboration with the LEAP and the GLA’s Opinions Research team to engage Londoners who would usually be harder to reach;
• A launch budget to engage Londoners and businesses in the draft and final strategies.
4.1 Key risks and issues
4.1.1 There is a risk that not all Londoners and businesses will feel engaged in the strategy and its development. This risk is being mitigated through requesting a budget to commission additional consultation and engagement activities, and through close working with GLA’s Communities & Intelligence (in particular the Opinions Research team and the Diversity and Social Policy team), experts on the LEAP and others to ensure we reach out to groups that would not usually be easily reached.
5.1 The estimated cost up to £133,500 for this strategy will be funded from the Infrastructure & Skills budgets held within the Economic Business Policy Unit (£73,500) and the LEAP Strategies budget (£60,000) for 2017-18.
6.1 The foregoing sections of this report indicate that:
6.1.1 the decisions requested of the Mayor fall within the GLA’s statutory powers concern the exercise of the GLA’s general powers, falling within the GLA statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, or conducive or incidental to the promotion of economic and social development, wealth creation or the promotion of the improvement of the environment in Greater London. In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:
a. pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;
b. consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and
c. consult with appropriate bodies.
6.2 In taking the decisions requested, the Mayor must have due regard to the Public Sector equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not share it and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it) section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report.
6.3 Section 2 of this report indicates that the expenditure of £133,500 amounts to payment for supplies and services. Officers must ensure that services or supplies required must be procured by Transport for London Procurement (who will determine the detail of the procurement strategy to be adopted) in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code. Officers must liaise with Transport for London Procurement in this regard and ensure that appropriate contracts are put in place between and executed by the GLA and the successful bidders before the commencement of any such services or supplies.
Signed decision document
DD2146 Economic Development Strategy (signed)