Carbon offsetting at City Hall

In 2023 the Greater London Authority (GLA) Oversight Committee examined the scale and nature of GLA international and domestic trips, and the GLA’s approach to selecting and scrutinising such trips.

It then published a letter with several recommendations which included that the GLA should ensure that effective carbon offsetting is in place when travel costs are covered by external sponsors.

In July 2024, the Directorate of Audit, Risk and Assurance (DARA) completed a review which included:

• The establishment of a Sustainable Travel Policy will assist in better management of carbon emissions and associated environmental impacts, improve safety and wellbeing when traveling and reduce overall travel expenditure.
• It is suggested that a review is carried out of the current provider and benchmarked to other providers to ensure the current carbon offsetting contract is providing the best possible means of carbon offsetting available.
• It is suggested that the benefits of foreign trips are formally recorded on a Travel Evaluation Form. There is a need for periodic evaluation of and reporting on the impact and benefits of foreign travel.
• To further improve transparency, details of GLA trips should be reported to the Audit Panel.

On Monday, the London Assembly Audit Panel will discuss internal and external audit reports, as well as examine the Future Neighbourhoods programme, GLA Business Continuity Plans, the Corporate Risk Register and follow-up reports on Solar Together and the Adult Education Budget. The guests are:

• Chloe Wilkinson, Audit Senior Manager,
• Enver Enver, Interim Chief Finance Officer, GLA
• David Esling, Head of Audit Assurance - Risk Management, MOPAC
• Mark Woodley, Group Audit Lead, MOPAC
• Karen Welsh, Senior Risk and Assurance Auditor, MOPAC
• Helen Ewen, Executive Director - Secretariat
• Catherine Barber, Assistant Director – Environment and Energy
• Chris Harris, Facilities Manager – Support Service
• Beth Cushion, Head of HR
• Joao Rodrigues, Head of Strategic Resourcing and Talent – People Function
• Jem McKenna-Percy, Principal Programme and Policy Officer – Transport & Environment
• Paula Mulraney, Principal Programme Officer – Adult Education Budget

The meeting will take place on Monday, 15 July 2024 from 2pm, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

1. Read the agenda papers
2. Neil Garratt AM, Chairman of the Audit Panel, is available for interview.
3. Find out more about the work of the Audit Panel.
4. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For more information, please contact Alison Bell in the Assembly Media Office on 07887 832 918. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.