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Mayor in bid to increase powers Mayor in bid to increase powers
(40 minutes later)
Mr Johnson wants the mayor's office to control Olympic Legacy plansMr Johnson wants the mayor's office to control Olympic Legacy plans
Mayor Boris Johnson has set out plans which would give some of the government's powers to his office and the Greater London Authority (GLA). London Mayor Boris Johnson has set out plans which would give some of the government's powers to his office and the Greater London Authority (GLA).
He plans to scrap the London Development Agency, the GLA's business wing, and bring its functions in-house.He plans to scrap the London Development Agency, the GLA's business wing, and bring its functions in-house.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company will become the Mayoral Development Corporation, reporting directly to him. The Olympic Park Legacy Company would become the Mayoral Development Corporation, reporting directly to him.
He also proposes Royal Parks Agency and the Port of London Authority to be devolved from Whitehall to City Hall. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said he supported decentralisation of power.
The proposals would be subject to government approval and changes in legislation. Mr Johnson also proposes the Royal Parks Agency and the Port of London Authority should be controlled by City Hall.
'Greater powers''Greater powers'
The proposals, aimed at removing "needless bureaucracy and overlapping functions", would be subject to government approval and changes in legislation.
The plans were revealed as Mr Johnson met borough leaders for the first time since the general and local elections in May.The plans were revealed as Mr Johnson met borough leaders for the first time since the general and local elections in May.
He also wants to see the London region of the Homes and Communities Agency devolved to the GLA and the mayor given a greater say in traffic control and the awarding of rail franchises on routes coming into London.
Mr Johnson said: "The capital is a global powerhouse with a population as large as Wales and Scotland combined, yet despite providing this world city with clear leadership, the mayoralty has few formal powers, despite substantial informal powers. This will no longer do.Mr Johnson said: "The capital is a global powerhouse with a population as large as Wales and Scotland combined, yet despite providing this world city with clear leadership, the mayoralty has few formal powers, despite substantial informal powers. This will no longer do.
"Too much is controlled by Whitehall and measured by standards that don't apply specifically to Londoners, meaning our devolution settlement has remained weak with much room for improvement."Too much is controlled by Whitehall and measured by standards that don't apply specifically to Londoners, meaning our devolution settlement has remained weak with much room for improvement.
"This is why I am proposing a re-shaped GLA group and a new chapter in the devolution of Whitehall functions to City Hall, including greater powers to the boroughs and enhanced scrutiny functions to the assembly". "This is why I am proposing a reshaped GLA group and a new chapter in the devolution of Whitehall functions to City Hall, including greater powers to the boroughs and enhanced scrutiny functions to the assembly."
The plans also aim to replace the Metropolitan Police Authority - the governing body of the Metropolitan Police - with a policing board. The executive powers would go to the mayor's office and the London Assembly would take on the scrutiny functions and have a greater say in strategy development.
'Genuine decentralisation'
Mr Johnson also proposed that the City Hall should have more say in health provision in the capital and that the London Skills and Employment Board, which is headed by the mayor, should have the power to approve the allocation of the adult skills budget.
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "The new government is committed to genuine decentralisation of power.
"In London, this means transferring power and responsibility down from Whitehall and its quangos progressively downwards to City Hall, to London boroughs and to local neighbourhoods.
"I now want to build a political consensus for further devolution of power, and our Localism Bill in the autumn will provide an opportunity to amend legislation accordingly."
Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat member in the London Assembly, said it was "good to cut out layers of bureaucracy".
"But with more powers for the Mayor's Office, their must also be enhanced accountability for Londoners on the London Assembly."