Press Release

Boris Johnson and London Councils sign City Charter agreement
10-6-2008   287

Mayor of London Boris Johnson and London Councils today agreed a new set of principles that will enable them to work together more effectively in delivering first class services to all Londoners.

The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ sets out clear guidance for future working that will ensure improved relationships across all of London government, resulting in a better service for the public.

The Mayor and Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, signed the new agreement today during the Mayor’s first appearance at the London Councils Leaders Committee. The Mayor addressed the committee and underlined his commitment to working closely with London’s borough Leaders.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“I am very pleased that we have agreed a positive new approach to working together. I originally met with London Councils and borough leaders a few weeks ago to start the process so I am utterly impressed by the speed at which we have agreed this understanding.

“Over the next few months we will build on this and deliver a City Charter for London which will look at a wide range of important policy areas that can make a real difference to governance in the capital. We are all committed to serving Londoners in the best way possible and I am confident that the London City Charter will achieve maximum results for all Londoners. “

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, said:

“Londoners expect those that they elect to govern this great city to work together for all their interests. While the tiers of London government have distinct roles, this document sets out how we can bring them together to harness the full potential of the capital’s public services.

“Our vision is to work together to develop solutions to the big challenges facing the capital – solutions that meet the expectations of the city as a whole but are still consistent with the differing wishes of all London’s communities. We are excited at taking this first step, and look forward to working with the Mayor to deliver on this city’s ambition.”

The memorandum of understanding also sets out plans to develop two significant proposals:

1. A Congress of London’s elected leaders which will involve the leaders of London’s 33 local authorities and the Mayor of London meeting at least twice a year to discuss and develop solutions for the major challenges facing the capital.
2. A delivery board which will bring together all the leaders of London’s public services – including councils, the NHS, police and transport operators – to reflect the priorities decided by the Congress and deliver excellent and improved services for all Londoners.

Both the Congress and the Board will help ensure that the Mayor and London Councils are addressing serious issues across the capital and working together to provide better public services for all Londoners. This builds on the proposals first outlined in London Councils’ prospectus Trusting devolution.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed today by London Councils Chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, at London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee.

The Memorandum sets out six principles for governing London:

1. London’s elected leaders will ensure that government decisions are made as close to people as possible
2. London’s elected leaders recognise that each tier of London government has a unique contribution to make to improve the lives of Londoners
3. London’s elected leaders will respect the differing aspirations of the different communities that make London a successful global capital
4. Each institution of London government commits itself to ever increasing effectiveness in the service of Londoners through a commitment to working together towards shared improvement
5. Each institution of London government pledges to uphold and develop the highest standards of transparency and openness in the way that it reaches decisions and spends public money
6. London’s elected leaders recognise that while the governance of London may be complex, the people of London are entitled to expect clear and simple accountability for pan-London results irrespective of institutional boundaries.

The document also sets out several actions for London’s elected leaders including setting up the Congress and a Delivery Board, and the development of the London City Charter.

The London City Charter will focus on specific policy areas such as working together to deliver a single non-emergency number for London.

For a copy of the full memorandum, please contact either the London Councils or Mayor of London press office.

The full memorandum is available from the Mayor of London website.

Trusting Devolution was issued to all those standing for office in the 2008 London elections. It sets out how the biggest challenges facing the capital can be successfully addressed by through locally-developed solutions, rather than centrally-dictated controls. Further information on Trusting Devolution.

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