Trusting London to deliver: our place in the Government’s devolution reforms

The GLA Oversight Committee has published the report ‘Trusting London to deliver: our place in the Government’s devolution reforms’, after conducting an investigation to examine the potential impacts of the Government’s devolution proposals, as outlined in the English Devolution White Paper and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

The Committee makes 14 recommendations in its report which include:

• Amending the Bill to allow London to implement a tourism levy on overnight accommodation, with revenues ringfenced for investing in infrastructure and services that enhance London’s appeal as a place to live and visit.
• Exploring and developing a standardised model for tax increment financing (TIF) to allow for infrastructure investment in the capital.
• Strengthening the London Assembly’s scrutiny powers, including by giving it broader powers to summons representatives and information from key service providers, including privatised utility providers.
• Establishing a Joint Commission to review the GLA Act in detail and propose amendments, including identifying additional devolved powers to be requested by the Mayor.