At a meeting today, the GLA Oversight Committee has summonsed documents to provide further detail in relation to the true costs of the relocation of City Hall.
The summons has requested information from Mary Harpley, Chief Officer, Greater London Authority, including correspondence with the Landlord of old City Hall on the reduced rent offer received in 2020 and additional costs (if any) that have been incurred to allow the Mayor’s Question Time and Plenary meetings to take place at the new City Hall, on the 20th and 26th of January 2022.
The documents need to be provided no later than two weeks from the date of the notice. The full list of requested documents is:
- Part 2 of Mayoral Decision (2705);
- Part 2 of Mayoral Decision (2843) on the settlement of dilapidation costs with More London;
- The correspondence with the Landlord of old City Hall on the reduced rent offer received in 2020;
- A detailed project plan showing what was expected, by when for the original opening date for the new City Hall– ‘Full occupation by October 2021’;
- A detailed project plan showing the current position, as of 31 January 2022, in relation to occupation of the new City Hall;
- A mapping showing where staff accommodated at Union Street and the old City Hall will be based following the relocation;
- The additional costs (if any) that have been incurred to allow the Mayor’s Question Time and Plenary meetings to take place at the new City Hall, on the 20 January 2022 and 26 January 2022.
Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM, Chair of the GLA Oversight Committee said;
“We have grown weary waiting for the full picture of the move to a new City Hall and have been left with no option but to finally summons these documents.
“The London Assembly scrutinises the decisions of the Mayor of London and without this information, we simply cannot properly scrutinise the true costs and ascertain whether the move is a sensible decision or not.
“These documents have been promised and a commitment has been made to provide this information, so we look forward to receiving them in order to move forward with a proper investigation of the pros and cons of the relocation of City Hall.”
Related documents
GLA Oversight Summons Notice 010222
Notes to editors
- Caroline MBE Pidgeon AM, Chair of the GLA Oversight Committee, is available for interview.
- A copy of the summons is attached.
- Find out more about the GLA Oversight Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
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