• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Again, I think a number of us here will find that very reassuring too. May I finally ask a more parochial question? I was grateful to see your comments about community engagement. I represent a constituency in south London, which includes Crystal Palace, which is not going to be one of the principle sites. I wonder what steps you are going to be taking to deal with those parts of London which, on the face of it, may not be receiving a direct benefit in terms of legacy but who will be contributing through their council tax, to try and...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I suppose I should therefore additionally declare, Chair, that I was encouraged to apply to be a member of the Olympic Delivery Authority Planning Committee from several directions but was then not short-listed for it. This is not a cause of personal grief for me, but I would not want there to be any uncertainty at any later date that I had a confusion between my individual interests and those of my role as a representative to the area. The question again, I will state, is that obviously you are appointed by the Government and therefore the appointments were made...

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Good morning. This is the honeymoon period, obviously, and the Chairman has asked us to be nice to you on your own this morning, not that we ever would not be of course. You have mentioned these 10 points over the coming year; you listed them fairly cleanly and clearly and I can understand them. The best laid plans of men go often awry; can you tell us, bearing in mind things like Wembley and what Bob (Neill) just mentioned about the Dome, when and if they go wrong or look like the are going to, will we have that...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I have a supplementary question about transparency and accountability. Are you going to make sure that all of your board papers are published on the internet so people can understand these issues, and can you give an example of an issue where there is pressure from one or more of the local authorities which is presenting a challenge in terms of your corporate objectives to meet the delivery targets for the plan for the Olympics?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

So as far as you are concerned, there is no duplication? The ODA does not acquire land; that is solely the responsibility of the LDA?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

I see. Finally, on the question of ownership and existence after the Games have finished, as far as you are concerned, the ODA will have no say in legacy at all?

• Question by: Bob Neill
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Can I welcome you, Mr Higgins, both from myself and my colleagues in the Conservative Group. The ODA has been described as the people who build the stage and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) puts on the show. I just wonder if you can help me a little more in terms of what overlap you envisage in terms of operational work, of any kind, or budgets?

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Well I had always known that John Biggs was a big cheese of the local community, it is quite clear he sees himself as the Big Mac of the local community. This question, Mr Higgins, I am raising because you described to my colleague Bob Neill the crossovers between yourselves, LOCOG, and the LDA. I am really concerned that the crossovers should always be crossovers, rather than areas of conflict. I am particularly interested in the relationship between yourselves and the LDA, particularly as you have already told us this morning that they are responsible for the land assembly as...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

You have told us that you are not going to exist, you think, immediately after the Games. You think it is going to wind up, so that freehold which you have will be transferred to whom?

• Question by: Damian Hockney
• Meeting date: 14 June 2006

Of these 10 points, which do you think are at the greatest risk of possibly, not going wrong, but where there may be problems in the coming six to nine months, where you may have to take action?