MD1629 The GLA budget for 2016-17

Background
1.1 The GLA budget for 2016-17 is being agreed by the Mayor in March 2016 via this decision form – having first been considered by the London Assembly in its various drafts in the period between November 2015 and February 2016 – so that it is in place before the beginning of the 2016-17 financial year on 1 April 2016 and so that the accompanying detailed budgets at unit level can be communicated to budget holders accordingly.

1.2 All budget holders will be expected to sign off their budget allocation – alongside their staffing establishment – in late March or early April 2016. This is so that there is a record of budget holders affirming the level of resources allocated to them.

1.3 The GLA business plan for 2016-17 will be finalised in late April 2016 in readiness for the new Mayoral administration in early May 2016.

GLA budget for 2016-17
1.4 The GLA budget for 2016-17 is at Appendix A. It sets out the detailed allocations to units.

1.5 In the light of the Government’s announcement of its intention of a land transfer to the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), the OPDC has requested a further £6m for 2016-17 in order to undertake the legal, environmental and property due diligence and land surveys that will be necessary for OPDC to be satisfied before any land can be formally transferred. This funding will be drawn from the reserve held for Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs).

GLA budget carry forward requests from 2015-16 to 2016-17

1.6 The GLA budget carry forward requests from 2015-16 to 2016-17 are at Appendix B.

1.7 In keeping with the practice of previous years, a delegation is sought to the Executive Director of Resources to agree additional GLA budget carry forward requests from 2015-16 to 2016-17 arising from the accounts closedown process, on the basis that they will be recorded and published in a Director Decision form.

GLA fees and charges for 2016-17
1.8 The schedule of GLA fees and charges for 2016-17 is at Appendix C. The level of GLA fees and charges in place across the Authority are kept under review and the proposed levels for 2016-17 are set out in the appended schedule.

2.1 Compliance with the Equality Act is an iterative process. In setting the GLA Budget, the process includes identifying and actively considering potential detrimental impacts (if any) that may arise for individual protected groups in the implementation of individual policies, programmes and projects and what mitigations (if any) could be implemented to address them at a level proportionate to the decision being taken.

3.1 Financial issues are integral to this decision.

4.1 Section 127 of the GLA Act requires the Authority to make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs; and secure that one of its officers (its chief finance officer) has responsibility for the administration of those affairs. The Scheme of Delegations, the Contracts Code and the Financial Regulations are consistent with, and assist the Authority in meeting, the requirements of that section.

4.2 A delegation is proposed to the Executive Director of Resources to agree GLA budget carry forwards from 2015-16 to 2015-17. Under section 38 of the GLA Act, any function exercisable on behalf of the GLA by the Mayor shall also be exercisable by bodies or persons including any member of staff of the GLA, if or to the extent that the Mayor so authorises.

Appendix A: GLA budget for 2016-17
Appendix B: GLA budget carry forward requests from 2015-16 to 2016-17
Appendix C: GLA fees and charges for 2016-17