By Suzanne Cumberbatch The Government has been accused of ‘stitching up’ London’s councils over new powers it has given to the capital’s mayor. Council leaders and London Assembly members have both expressed concern about the power shift away from boroughs, with complaints centring on mayor Ken Livingstone’s new planning powers to direct changes to borough local development plans and determine planning applications of strategic importance. ‘There are two questions to ask,’ said Association of London Government chairman, Merrick Cockell. ‘Where is the evidence boroughs have failed on planning, and where is the proof he will improve the situation?’ Mr Cockell also said housing powers the mayor gained from the Government Office for London to produce a strategy for the capital could lead to a conflict of interest. ‘How can he separate his housing and planning role? How does he decide priorities, and what checks will be put in place?’ Assembly chairman, Brian Coleman, said: ‘Relinquishing responsibility from Whitehall to City Hall with one hand, while snatching power away from London’s boroughs with the other, is scarcely a consistent approach to devolution.’ But local government secretary, Ruth Kelly, said: ‘The mayor cannot act on a whim. ‘He will act in line with government guidelines and come under scrutiny from the assembly.’ Mr Livingstone was disappointed in his single London-wide waste authority bid. Current sub regional authorities will remain but the mayor will lead a new capital-wide waste and recycling forum with the boroughs. He said: ‘I will continue to fight for more powers in the future.’ Ministers have also reduced the five learning and skills councils for London to one, and handed powers to the mayor. He will chair a new London Skills and Employment Board and prepare a skills strategy for the capital. s.cumberbatch@hgluk.com
