Key information
Executive summary
This MD seeks Mayoral approval for distinct elements of the GLA Environment Team’s 2017-18 work programme and associated expenditure of up to a maximum of £903,000.
Decision
That the Mayor approves the proposed activities and associated expenditure of up to £903,000 to deliver the elements of the Environment Team’s 2017-18 work programme (as set out in section 2 of this report).
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1 The Environment Team is required to undertake a range of activities as part of delivering on statutory functions and manifesto commitments as well as supporting the implementation of the London Plan and the forthcoming statutory London Environment Strategy (LES). The team also provide inventories of data (such as the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory) that other stakeholders can use to deliver Mayoral priorities.
1.2 As set out in the Mayor’s Vision for London ‘A City for All Londoners’ The Environment Team’s work programme has two objectives: To make London a resilient, healthier, greener city and a more resource efficient city. These support the mayor’s vision of ‘Good Growth’ in London.
1.3 The Environment Team’s work programme will assist with achieving the Mayor’s vision of London being “one of the greenest cities” through converting Mayoral commitments into policy and delivery. This will include:
• Delivering environmental commitments and strategies, using our strategic perspective and analysis to maximise impact and value for money
• Delivering on statutory responsibilities, both devolved national responsibilities and statutory strategies
• Working with key stakeholders to encourage and enable them to work more coherently together to deliver on the Mayor’s priorities
• Providing critical support to mayoral priorities such as tackling air quality and a net zero carbon London
1.4 All the elements of the work-programme have been preliminarily authorised through the budget prioritisation process and as such form part of the agreed Environment budget and DE&E Minor Programmes Budget (MD2091)
2.1 This work programme will contribute to:
• the efficient delivery of LES policies and outcomes
• support the efficient delivery of London Plan and other Mayoral strategies including the Mayor’s Transport and Economic Development policies and targets
• the transition to a low carbon and green economy, securing investment and creating jobs
• delivery on wider policy agendas including the Diversity and Inclusion and Health Inequalities Strategy.
Relevant targets will be released alongside the LES, current draft targets include:
A Resilient, Healthier, Greener city:
• London achieving legal compliance with UK and EU limits on air quality as soon as possible
• By 2050, more than half of London’s area is green
A resource efficient city:
• By 2030, London will achieve a 65% recycling rate for municipal waste
• By 2050, London will be a net zero carbon city
2.2 The table below sets out the main elements of the work programme, overall costs and immediate expenditure related decisions. As the table does not cover the entire Environment budget (e.g. The Green Infrastructure and elements of the Energy for Londoners programme are not included) there will be additional decisions required throughout the financial year, covering other areas. These will utilise all the remaining budget, or may relate to any additional income or expenditure. The table also does not include expenditure that has already been signed off through, for example – MD1288, DD2064, MD2109, or other external funding or carry forwards.
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 Environment projects and programmes stem from the current work on the LES which is informed by a full Integrated Impact Assessment, which includes a consideration of equalities.
3.3 As a result Environment programmes and projects look to maximise their positive impact on all Londoners, through for example: reducing the health impact of air quality, reducing fuel poverty, maximising energy security while keeping bills down, through to ensuring the resilience of London’s critical infrastructure and most vulnerable communities
4.1 Key risks and issues
4.1.1 Delays in undertaking any of the activities listed above (due to not having budgets or contracts in place) are likely to lead to an interruption in service provision that may have a negative reputational impact on the Mayor. Mitigation: The timelines and expected costs for all activities have been reviewed. In addition, risk registers will be drawn up for individual projects (where appropriate) to identify and monitor risks. High value / high risk projects will be monitored through the Environment Delivery Board (see below) and lower value / lower value risks will be monitored through the Environment team’s monitoring and review process.
4.1.2 Staff resources have been identified within the GLA Environment team to manage and take forward the projects set out in 2.3. These are set out in the Environment Team’s business plan and will be monitored and reviewed by the Environment Team’s management team.
4.1.3 The Environment Team is establishing a new internal Environment Delivery Board specifically to ensure the delivery of all high value projects.
4.2 Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
4.2.1 The Environment Team’s 2017-18 work programme will contribute towards:
• The efficient and effective delivery of Mayoral commitments
• The diversification of the economy (principally through supporting the transition to the Low carbon economy), driving investment and job creation
• The efficient and effective delivery of policies and targets in the London Plan and commitments in the forthcoming LES.
Relevant Mayoral Commitments include:
Climate change mitigation and energy
• Commit London to an ambitious target of becoming a net zero carbon city by 2050
• Establish Energy for Londoners, a not-for-profit company
• Provide a comprehensive range of energy services to help Londoners generate more low-carbon energy and increase their energy efficiency
• support local and community energy enterprises
• making the most of the city’s roofs, public buildings and land owned by TfL for energy generation by producing a solar energy strategy
Air quality
• London will achieve legal compliance with UK and EU limits on air quality as soon as possible
Waste
• Reinvigorate efforts to increase the amount London recycles, so that we get back on track with hitting the 65 per cent target by 2030, including seeing waste as an opportunity to create jobs in reuse, repair, remanufacturing and materials innovation.
4.3 Impact Assessments and consultations
4.3.1 The LES, from where much of the Environment Team’s work programme has been drawn, has been through a pre consultation exercise and integrated impact assessments have been undertaken. A formal consultation will take place in the summer.
5.1 This Mayoral Decision paper is seeking approval for the expenditure of Environment team’s 2017-18 programme budget totalling £903,000, as detailed in the main body of this report. £145,000 of this request will be funded from DE&E Minor Programmes Budget 17/18.
5.2 If budget is required for new projects or there is an increase in expenditure then officers should use the Environment programme budget approved in this MD as the first port of call and should consider re-prioritisation of projects before making any more budget bids.
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 characteristics 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 there may be contributions towards the costs of third party projects which amount to the provision of grant funding and not payment for works, supplies or services. Officers must ensure that:
6.3.1 the funding is distributed fairly, transparently, in accordance with the GLA’s equalities and in manner which affords value for money in accordance with the Contracts and Funding Code; and
6.3.2 appropriate funding agreements are put in place between and executed by the GLA and the recipient of the funding before any commitment to fund is made.
6.4 All other 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.
6.5 Officers must ensure that they comply fully with all GLA HR/Head of Paid Service protocols in respect of any staffing proposals, in particular the need to gain all necessary approvals for the creation of any new posts.
Signed decision document
MD2137 Environment Team Programme 2017-18 (signed) PDF