Commission for London Governance reports

The Commission on London Governance comprised cross-party representatives from the Association of London Government and the London Assembly. Below are reports produced by the Commission between April 2004 and February 2006.

A New Settlement for London

February 2006A New Settlement for London Vol 1 - main report - PDF (430k)A New Settlement for London Vol 2 - minutes of evidence - PDF (1.49MB)A New Settlement for London Vol 2 - minutes of evidence - RTF (2.88MB)

Following one of the most comprehensive reviews of government arrangements in London since the 1960s, the Commission on London Governance's final report sets out a package of measures designed to give Londoners a greater say in their own affairs, increase the accountability of public service delivery in the capital and reinvigorate local government.

The report is in three volumes:

1. the main report,
2. transcripts from the Commission's evidentiary hearings, and
3. written evidence submitted to the Commission - view list of those who submitted evidence. If you would like a full copy of evidence submitted, please contact Richard Derecki, email [email protected], or write to Secretariat Directorate, PP10, City Hall, The Queens Walk, London SE1 2AA.

Making London Work Better

October 2005Making London Work Better PDFMaking London Work Better RTF

The Commission on London Governance has released its submission to the Government's review of the powers and responsibilities of the GLA and the Mayor. Entitled 'Making London work better', the wide ranging report sets out the Commission's proposals for how changes could be made to London's governance arrangements to better deliver public services. Proposals are made across the sectors including policing, health, skills and the arts. More accountable services are more effective and more integrated with local communities. This is an historic moment for London; it is important to get London's government right for the challenges ahead.

Capital Life

June 2005Capital Life PDFCapital Life RTF

Twenty years since the last significant review of London’s governance, Commission Members from the Association of London Government and London Assembly have set out a new blueprint for how the capital should be run. Capital Life, the interim report, has clear and powerful arguments for:

• Returning business rates in London to local control
• Scaling down the size and role of the Government Office for London (GoL), particularly where its functions overlap with London’s local and regional government
• Re-structuring the health service in London, including the establishment of a single Strategic Health Authority for the capital
• Improvements to the way funds are distributed for housing in London

The Commission identifies ‘a democratic deficit’ in London, partly due to the many unaccountable quangos in its governance system, such as GoL, the Learning and Skills Council and Arts Council London.

Is London Working?

February 2005Is London Working? PDFIs London Working? RTF

This consultation paper sought views on how London's government arrangements affect the delivery of public services and the impact on the things that matter to Londoners.

What is London?

October 2004What is London PDFWhat is London RTF

This publication contains presentations given by Michael Heseltine, Iain Sinclair, Tony Travers and Anthony Mayer at the Commission on London Governance's What is London? seminar, held on 2 April.

What is London? MORI poll

April 2004What is London - presentation, PDF only

This presentation gives the results of an opinion poll that was published for the 'What Is London?' seminar on 2 April 2004.

Two out of three people living within the M25 consider it to be the natural boundary of London. This view is expressed equally strongly by those who live outside the capital but within the orbital motorway as by Londoners themselves.

A majority of those questioned agreed that:

• London should have greater control over its affairs in line with Scotland and Wales
• They would be happier about the taxes they pay to the Government if more were spent on public services in the capital
• The capital's heritage and cultural diversity are what they feel most pride in

Londoners also expressed high levels of satisfaction at living in the capital, with nearly three out of four saying they are happy here. Seven out of 10 Londoners also feel that they have a different outlook to people in the rest of the country, putting this down to a faster way of life and the capital's more multicultural environment.