Ken Livingstone wields the powers of a European city boss, like his Frankfurt counterpart Petra Roth. They are a far cry from the old-style civic dignatories. By Amanda Sutton
The wrangles between Ken Livingstone and the government over control of the Tube show just how much power an elected city mayor can wield.
Livingstone’s remit is very different from that of the traditional civic dignitory, complete with gold chains and scarlet robe, who presides over every local authority in the country.
As the elected Mayor for London, Livingstone has considerable executive powers. He can influence policy making, take a stand on any issue affecting the capital, and even make decisions on behalf of the Greater London Authority.
Last month, he flexed his muscle as London’s ultimate planning authority by rejecting Frogmore’s proposal for One Westminster Bridge, SE1. Understandably, the property fraternity was dismayed, and is now anxiously awaiting his spatial development plan to see how his policies will affect future development in London.
Peter Wynne Rees, planning officer at the Corporation of London, says the property industry is still trying to learn how it can live with the mayor.
“There is a problem caused by creating another level of bureaucracy – not that we needed any more. We don’t lack help in reaching planning decisions and there could be too many differing opinions to come to a decision. We all want to maintain the health and vitality of London – and this shouldn’t get lost in bureaucracy.”
One man who knows more about the mayoral process than most is Michael Cassidy of law firm Maxwell Batley. A former chairman of the policy committee at the Corporation of London, he was an early candidate in the race to be London Mayor.
“I became aware that this would be a highly political job, essential about party-politics, so I pulled out.”
Cassidy disagrees with Livingstone’s decision on One Westminster Bridge. “I think Ken wanted more affordable housing and planning gain, but this shouldn’t get in the way of important schemes. It’s normally negotiable within the economics of the site.”
But he does regard the job as extremely important for London, and feels London needs a champion in the UK and overseas to support its unique needs. “Part of the mayor’s job is to speak in places where major decisions are made and help to get things done – rather than just talking about it. Ken is doing well; with his Trafalgar Square initiative and road charging he has gone against popularity, and that takes guts.”
Everything Livingstone does is scrutinised by the greater London Assembly before it goes for wider public consultation. After that it is examined by an independent planning inspector before the mayor adopts a final version of the strategy.
Livingstone’s all-encompassing brief is to “promote economic and social development and improve the environment in Greater London”, and he has four years to prove he can deliver before standing for re-election.
The post of London mayor, which pays £84,385 a year, has been modelled on the US and European systems. In London’s rival financial city, Frankfurt, the post of mayor is up for election next week. The present mayor, Petra Roth, has been in power for six years and hopes to be re-elected.
Her political adviser, Dr Matthias Zimmer, explains how the system works: “The region’s mayors are directly elected and work with an executive body called the Magistrat.”
There are nine members in the Magistrat plus the mayor and each has its own department. Each member has departmental powers and the mayor cannot interfere with this. Although the mayor is speaker and chief of the Magistrat she, unlike Livingstone, has limited executive powers. But she can reshuffle the Magistrat and is the head of one department so has her own executive powers.
Roth’s job is to put forward ideas and persuade the cabinet to back them. Zimmer adds: “She can mediate, initiate and try to persuade, but the chancellor within the cabinet is responsible for planning guidelines. She has to find majorities, convince people and pull their arms. We’ve brought unemployment down, but not by dishing out money. The mayor has done it by convincing people and making sure administrative procedures are shortened, to make it easier to get a permit when starting a new business and by creating a business-friendly environment.”
Promoting Frankfurt’s interests
Frank Rueckersberg at Knight Frank’s Frankfurt office thinks Roth is doing a god job. He recalls a situation a few years ago when she got involved in the relocation of a manufacturing business from a residential area. “The mayor helped us to convince the company of the economic possibilities of moving to a more commercial area. She put in energy and power.
“She has definitely helped to put the Frankfurt name outside Frankfurt.”
Rees pointed out that European mayors have great power, and don’t get held back. “I don’t know to what extent the UK would be prepared to give an individual that level of power.
“It has worked in Germany, France and the US – but will the British accept decisions that aren’t made by a committee?”
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The civic dignatories Ian Malcolm, Lord Mayor of Nottingham, has just returned from a six-day trip to Nottingham’s twin city – Minsk in Belarus. He was there to create links between Nottingham’s universities and the university of Belarus. “I looked at issues such as transport and traffic congestion and we learned about each other’s cultures,” Malcolm explains. Malcolm is also a councillor and, unlike Livingstone, he doesn’t get paid for taking on the role of mayor. “Sometimes your fellow politicians don’t take you seriously – they see the post as being mainly a civic role. When you take it off you’re still a councillor and have to think of your constituents. It can be frustration because you have less time to keep up with the day-to-day political issues of the city.” Malcolm will be in office until May, when he is likely to hand over to the deputy mayor. “If there were London-style mayors everywhere it would mean more power in fewer hands and would be more like the American system. This isn’t something to aspire to when you know that a year ago there were 50 mayors in the US on corruption charges.” The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Russell Goodway, often works a 60-hour week in order to complete all his engagements. He is the political leader of the council and therefore has to transform manifesto statements into policy. And it’s been an exciting time. Goodway came to office when many of the 99-year leases on property in the city were coming to an end, an event which created huge opportunities for change. He was instrumental in getting the Millennium Stadium off the ground. “I’m not saying the development was my idea, but we had to convince the council that a stadium would be a good prospect. “We put forward the scheme on the basis of economic regeneration for Cardiff.” The stadium played host to the Rugby World Cup when it opened last year. Goodway says: “When I started in office, unemployment was high. People felt the government would send a cheque down the M4 to sort things out, but that doesn’t work. “The council,” he points out, “is not afraid to put the bulldozers in and be ambitious.” |
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Major London schemes where Ken Livingstone has intervened |
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” One Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Mayor’s first use of blocking powers on Frogmore plan ” 110 Bishopsgate (Heron Tower), City of London Supported this office tower – the second tallest in the City. Called for extra community benefits. ” Taylor Woodrow site, Ealing and Hillingdon Said density of this new urban village was too low, and urged affordable housing higher than 25%. ” Extension to Brent Cross Shopping Centre Agreed with Secretary of State that scheme should be refused because it would damage neighbouring areas Source: www.london.gov.uk |
