FOI - Deputy Mayor for the Environment [Aug 2024]

You requested:

Appointment of Mete Loban as Deputy Mayor for the Environment.

1. Are the press reports regarding this appointment correct (Evening Standard last week)?

2. The reported salary to be paid is £147,000 per annum. What are other benefits, if any, attached to this job?

3. What are the specific terms of reference for this appointment and how long is the contract for?

4.How will Londoners and taxpayers know if this appointment has been a success?

5. How was Mete Loban recruited for this job and what special skills does he have that make him a suitable appointment?

6. Given that £147k per annum is more than headteachers, GP's and most senior civil servants earn how was the figure of £147k pa arrived at?

Our response:

I can confirm that the GLA holds this information within scope of your request and the response is as follows:

1. Are the press reports regarding this appointment correct (Evening Standard last week)?

• Yes, Mete Coban joined the GLA as Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy effective from 25^th July 2024.

2. The reported salary to be paid is £147,000 per annum. What are other benefits, if any, attached to this job?

• The salary is confirmed as £147,770.
• Benefits are the same as any other GLA staff positions and can be found on our website. Why work for us? | London City Hall

3. What are the specific terms of reference for this appointment and how long is the contract for?

• Each Deputy Mayor is employed as an adviser to the Mayor under the terms of the GLA Act.
• Our role and powers are set out in the GLA Act 2007 which may be located on our website https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/how-we-work-london.   Part 8, sections 37-44 relate to Environmental Functions.
• The role of a Deputy Mayor is to support and advise the Mayor, and they are accountable to him for their performance in this role. In turn, the Mayor is held to account by the London Assembly and Londoners in general for the performance of his administration, aided by the wide range of performance and transparency information we publish.
• The contract is until the end of the Mayoral term.

4. How will Londoners and taxpayers know if this appointment has been a success?

• The role of a Deputy Mayor is to support and advise the Mayor, and they are accountable to him for their performance in this role. In turn, the Mayor is held to account by the London Assembly and Londoners in general for the performance of his administration, aided by the wide range of performance and transparency information we publish.

5. How was Mete Loban recruited for this job and what special skills does he have that make him a suitable appointment?

• Mete was appointed by the Mayor following a merit-based process which included an interview, in-line with the established procedures for the appointment of Mayoral advisors under the requirements of the GLA Act.

6. Given that £147k per annum is more than headteachers, GP's and most senior civil servants earn how was the figure of £147k pa arrived at?

• The salary was set by the Mayor and is the same salary for all Deputy Mayors.