Letter to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

The Mayor of London, London Councils and the London Assembly co-signed a letter sent to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, making a united case for further devolution to London from central government.

The letter puts forward a devolution package for London outlining agreement between the three bodies, which if adopted, will lead to more streamlined and efficient governance in London and significant savings for the taxpayer.

The letter outlines:

• The priorities for the Mayor are the transfer of HCA London and LDA functions and resources to the GLA and the establishment of the Olympic Park Legacy Company as a Mayoral Development Corporation;

• The priority for London Councils is to bring resources and decisions as close to Londoners as possible. This will be reinforced by greater borough representation on pan-London bodies; and

• The priority for the Assembly is to see that robust transparency and accountability arrangements are embedded in any devolution package. The Assembly’s powers should be strengthened, particularly in relation to the Mayor’s strategies and budget.