Leading Labour policy guru Lord Adonis will spearhead an independent review into the flagship West London tri-borough services partnership, following Labour's dramatic electoral victory in Hammersmith and Fulham.
The west London deal was brokered between the three boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster when the three were all under Conservative control.
In the run up to the election, Hammersmith and Fulham's Labour party manifesto acknowledged the benefits of working with other boroughs, but complained partnership arrangements had ‘been implemented too narrowly and has no independent oversight'.
Incoming Labour leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan, pledged to establish an independent Critical Friends Board to review the current structure, establish where it is working or not, and seek further efficiencies.
In addition, the new administration also vowed to extend successful joint-working to other interested council areas and to collaborate with other public bodies and boroughs beyond the tri-borough.
Hammersmith and Fulham Labour member, Cllr Max Schmid, told The MJ the former transport secretary, Lord Adonis, had agreed to lead a genuinely independent review, which could begin quickly.
‘There is no timesecale as yet, but it's the most important review that we have planned in terms of overarching policy,' Cllr Schmid said.
Cllr Philippa Roe, leader of Westminster City Council, said she remained extremely positive over the future of the arrangements.
She described the new Hammersmith and Fulham leader, with whom she had talked over the weekend, as ‘someone with whom we can have a constructive relationship'.
‘He [Cllr Cowan] seems to be coming from the perspective of making sure we've got all the value for money we could have out of it, and can we make greater savings,' Cllr Roe told The MJ.
Cllr Nick Paget-Brown, leader of Kensington and Chelsea RLBC, said: ‘Clearly there will be much to discuss in the weeks and months ahead but we are hopeful that we will be quickly able to establish an effective working relationship with our new colleagues across the border.'
