Greater London Authority

The Greater London Authority (GLA) Act 2007

The Greater London Authority Act, which gained Royal Assent on 23 October, brings into law a broad package of additional powers for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

The Act builds on the success of the GLA since its creation in 2000 to give the Mayor new lead roles in housing and tackling climate change, strengthened powers over planning and waste, and enhanced powers in health and culture.

Under the provisions of the GLA Act 2007 the Mayor will:

Publish a London housing strategy, setting out his strategic housing investment priorities for London;
Be able to determine planning applications of strategic importance in London;
Publish a strategy for reducing health inequalities between Londoners;
Be subject to a duty to address climate change, and publish a London climate change mitigation and energy strategy and an adaptation to climate change strategy for London.

The Mayor's new power to determine strategically important planning applications will be implemented through changes to existing secondary legislation. The Government will consult on a draft version of the order in question later this year.

The Assembly will also be subject to a duty to address climate change, and will be able to hold confirmation hearings in order to scrutinise candidates for key appointments the Mayor intends to make.

Additionally, the Act provides for the establishment of a London Waste and Recycling Board to promote the production of less waste in the capital and encourage recycling and re-use of waste.

Read the full Greater London Authority Act and the accompanying Explanatory Notes on the Office of Public Sector Information website (see the link on the right).