Agenda and minutes
GLA Oversight Committee - Thursday 9 July 2015 2.00 pm

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from Navin Shah AM, for whom Valerie Shawcross CBE AM attended as a substitute Member, and from Roger Evans AM.

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

2.2  In accordance with Standing Order 2.2D, the Chair took the next item in a different order than that set out on the agenda.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Katie Smith; [email protected]; 020 7983 4423 

The Committee is recommended to note the report and discussion.

3.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

3.2  In attendance for the first part of this item were:

·  Isabel Dedring – Deputy Mayor for Transport;

·  Howard Carter - General Counsel, Transport for London (TfL); and

·  Graeme Craig - Director of Commercial Development, TfL.

3.3  In discussion, the Committee requested:

·  That TfL considers asking its Board members to advocate specific areas of interest beyond their existing experience, background or skills;

·  That in undertaking its review, TfL asks Deloitte to identify possible models for a Board?level strategic role in developing customer services; and

·  That TfL gives consideration to establishing a governance mechanism to prevent Board members with conflicts of interests seeking to influence TfL decision-making informally outside the committee system.

3.4  A transcript of the discussion is attached as Appendix 1.

3.5  In order to accommodate the availability of a third guest for this item, and in accordance with Standing Order 2.2D, the Chair took the next five items of business at this point of the meeting.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meetings of the Devolution Working Group held on 18 June 2015 and 22 June 2015, to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

4.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Devolution Working Group held on 18 June 2015 and 22 June 2015 be signed by the Chair as correct records.

5.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

5.2  Resolved:

That the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the GLA Oversight Committee be noted.

Report of the Director of Communications and External Affairs

Contact: Dáire Basra; [email protected]; 020 7983 4033

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note and comment on the proposals for People’s Question Time, on Thursday 26 November contained in the report, particular views are sought on: (i) the geographical area; and (ii) the Chair of the event; and

(b)  Provide any views, ideas or suggestions on further ways to improve People’s Question Time as a consultative event.

6.1  The Committee received the report of the Director of Communications and External Affairs.

6.2  The Greater London Authority’s Assistant Director, External Relations explained that the next People’s Question Time (PQT) event would be held on Thursday 26 November in the London Borough of Hillingdon, and that, in consultation with the chair of the event, Dr Onkar Sahota AM, the Beck Theatre in Hayes had been provisionally booked for the event. 

6.3  In response to concerns about transport to the venue, it was explained that due to the nature of transport links in Hillingdon, which were primarily bus and roads-related, the local authority had been consulted in identifying the Beck Theatre as the best suitable venue. Although the venue was very well known locally, marketing information for the event would include travel information for attendees.

6.4  The Assistant Director, External Relations, also advised Members that future PQTs would benefit from the lessons that had been learnt from the last PQT event, such as rehearsals with the Chair, improved lighting and sound, and the use of paddleboards for identifying questions in the audience. The Chair also asked that security concerns arising from previous PQT events would also be considered.

6.5  Andrew  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report of the Head of Paid Service

Contact: Juliette Carter; [email protected]; 020 7983 4194

The Committee is recommended to note the report.

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Head of Paid Service.

7.2  Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Katie Smith; [email protected]; 020 7983 4423 

The Committee is recommended to

(a)  Approve expenditure up to a maximum of £10,000 from the 2015/16 scrutiny programme budget, to commission external contractors to carry out the technical advice and support outlined at paragraph 3.3 of the report, namely to conduct research into rent stabilisation models in London.

(b)  Note that the Executive Director of the Secretariat, in consultation with the Chair of the Housing Committee, will commission the external contractors, subject to the Committee approving this expenditure.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

8.2  Although the majority of the Committee expressed agreement for the proposals set out in the report, the GLA Conservative Assembly Members considered the proposed expenditure unnecessary given that they viewed, under the present Conservative Government, a national policy on rent controls unlikely.

8.3  Darren Johnson AM responded that the majority view of the Housing Committee had been that, even if there would not be a policy change during the current term of Government, four years would be a relatively brief period of time in which to develop a lobbying case and that having an evidence-based report to support that work would be beneficial. Jennette Arnold OBE AM suggested that the work would be a vehicle for raising awareness of the issue and encouraging best practise, and Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM added that, as the scope of the report was broader than just rent controls, it would provide a helpful evidence base for the Assembly’s work on the issue.

8.4  Andrew Boff AM requested details of the Housing Committee’s preferred contractor for the proposed report, including background details of their previous work.

8.5  Resolved:

(a)  That expenditure be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.1  The Committee resumed this item in order to put questions to the following guests:

·  Howard Carter - General Counsel, TfL; and

·  Graeme Craig - Director of Commercial Development, TfL.

9.2  In discussion, the Committee requested:

·  That Assembly Members be allowed access to the Commercial Development Advisory Group, as appropriate; and

·  Clarification on whether the proposed setting up of joint ventures in the form of limited liability partnerships would be less transparent and expose TfL to more speculative risks.

9.3  A transcript of the discussion is attached as Appendix 2.

9.4  Resolved:

That the report and discussion be noted.

10.1  The Committee received the oral update of the Head of Paid Service.

10.2  The Head of Paid Service commended the work of the Authority on the way in which the commemorative events for the tenth anniversary of the 7 July London attacks had been organised and conducted.

10.3  The Committee was updated on recent devolution activities and advised that an imminent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the devolution of planning powers was anticipated. The Committee was also informed that an update report on devolution matters would be received at the next meeting of the Congress of Leaders and the Head of Paid Service undertook to circulate it to the Committee once it had been made available.

Report of the Head of Paid Service and Executive Director of Resources

Contact: Tom Middleton; [email protected]; 020 7983 4257

The Committee is recommended to comment on the draft GLA Annual Governance Statement for 2014?15.

11.1  The Committee received the report of the Head of Paid Service and Executive Director of Resources. In attendance for this item was the GLA’s Head of Governance and Resilience.

11.2  Resolved:

That the draft GLA Annual Governance Statement for 2014-15 be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  John Barry; [email protected]; 020 7983 4425

The Committee is recommended to note its work programme for 2015-16 and identify any additional issues it wishes to consider at future meetings.

12.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

12.2  Resolved:

That the work programme for the remainder of 2015-16 be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on Thursday 17 September 2015 at 2.00pm in the Chamber.

13.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to be held on Thursday 17 September 2015 at 2.00pm in the Chamber.

14.1  There were no items of urgent business.

15.1  The meeting finished at 4.02pm.