The GLA Oversight Committee met to discuss mayoral mandates and delivery plans, the GLA workforce report, and the committee's work programme for the coming year. The committee noted the action taken by the Chair under delegated authority regarding expenditure for the committee's visit to Paris. They also agreed to note the list of offices held by Assembly Members as disclosable pecuniary interests.

Mayoral Mandates and Delivery Plans

The committee discussed the objectives and utilisation of the mandates and delivery plans with Richard Watts, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London ¹. The mandates commission major programmes that the GLA will deliver and will be put into operation through Programme Delivery Plans. The meeting served to scrutinise the progress on producing the mandates and delivery plans, their expected impact, and the interaction between these documents and other strategic governance arrangements, including statutory strategies, missions, and the government's plans for an integrated settlement.

Caroline Russell AM asked about the Mayor's engagement with London Councils² and whether it needed to shift as devolution is taken forward. Richard Watts said that the Mayor supports the strong mayoral model, and does not want to muddy that with governance structures that are very unclear to the public and where decision-making cannot be made transparently and in public. He added that the Mayor should work closely with the boroughs, and that formalised governance should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

Emma Best AM asked how a formal line could be drawn of where it is appropriate and where it is not to make a formal constitutional set up. Richard Watts replied that it was a very good question, but that he was not sure of the answer. He said that it works best when looking pragmatically at how to work with London boroughs to solve problems, and where there is a role for joint decision-making over committing joint resources to that.

Alessandro Georgiou AM asked whether the Government had padded out its thinking on London's bespoke arrangements within the Devolution White Paper. Richard Watts said that part of bespoke arrangements relies on a whole bunch of the mechanics of other things in the White Paper as well, and that the primary aim of including that wording in the legislation was to make clear that there is not going to be a fundamental rewrite of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended).

Elly Baker AM asked about integrated settlements, and how it might affect money that has already been allocated, for instance, the Transport for London (TfL) settlement, and the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP). Richard Watts replied that it has been confirmed that London will get an integrated settlement, and that the principle of an integrated settlement is welcome. He said that the London integrated settlement will have the same pillars to it as the Greater Manchester and West Midlands integrated settlements: local growth and place, local transport, adult skills and employment support, housing and regeneration, and buildings retrofit/Warmer Homes. He added that they have never asked for the TfL capital funding deal to be part of the integrated settlement, and that they would like to see more significant Government funding schemes like the AHP moved into the integrated settlement.

Caroline Russell AM asked how they are lobbying for further fiscal powers, given that there is fairly limited reference to fiscal devolution in the White Paper, which powers they are targeting, and whether they have made any progress. Richard Watts replied that fiscal devolution is central to comparing London as a global city, because you need money to be able to do anything, and that they are looking specifically at long-term infrastructure funding and an overnight accommodation levy³.

Hina Bokhari OBE AM asked if there had been any pushback at all on the idea of having a tourist tax or a visitor levy. Richard Watts replied that there is always a conversation one needs with the range of stakeholders about the introduction of any levy like this, whether that is industry, or with a whole range of people who then may cotton onto the fact it raises money and then may want some of the money to go on whatever their area of interest is.

Emma Best AM asked about rent control, and whether that is a fiscal power or whether there are any powers in relation to fiscal devolution that the Mayor is asking for in that. Richard Watts replied that they do not consider rent control a fiscal devolution matter, and that is a separate conversation that they have not taken forward as part of the English devolution White Paper.

GLA Workforce Report

The committee reviewed the GLA Workforce Report: Workforce Data Report for the Year Ending 31 March 2025. The report provided a comprehensive set of data relating to the GLA workforce and guides their actions.

Key points from the report:

• Headcount increased by 9% from 1,396 (1,353 FTEs) in 2024 to 1,525 (1,481 FTEs) in 2025.
• Agency workers comprised 6% of staff, down from 8% in March 2024.
• Overall turnover rate was 11%, the same as the previous year.
• 40% of staff with declared ethnicity were from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, up from 37% in March 2024.
• 19% of staff who disclosed their disability status identified as disabled, aligning with London's working-age population.
• The average value of recognition payments to white staff was higher than to Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic staff, prompting a review by the Corporate Management Team.
• A refreshed 2025-2028 EDI strategy was launched in April 2025, with a new corporate action plan published in July 2025.

The report also highlighted a new approach to induction and mandatory training, and the mid-course evaluation of the GLA's first accelerated two-year development programme, Aspiring High.

Summary List of Actions

The committee reviewed the Summary List of Actions arising from previous meetings.

Of note, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor of London was still to confirm whether a reply had been received to the June 2025, Tourist Levy letter signed by the Mayor and other regional Mayors and sent to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Action Taken Under Delegated Authority

The committee noted the action taken by the Chair under delegated authority, in consultation with party Group Lead Members, to agree the expenditure of up to £2,423.49 for the purposes of the Committee's visit to Paris as part of its investigation on London's place in the Government's devolution reforms.

GLA Oversight Committee Work Programme

The committee noted its work programme for 2025/26, which includes regular items such as the Assembly Budget and Scrutiny Work Programme, Staffing Consultations and Appointments, and scrutiny of the Chief Officer function. Additional scrutiny topics were scheduled for upcoming meetings.

Other Business

The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled for 23 October 2025.