The Powers and Responsibilities of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Mayor - Assignment Example

A brief review of the powers and responsibilities of the Greater London ity (GLA) and the Mayor Greater London Authority (GLA) is a document that was published by the government in 2005 as a set of proposals to increase the responsibilities and powers of the mayor and the assembly. The objective of the proposals is to enhance the welfare of people by empowering the Greater London Authority to exemplify more efficient and effective management of pertinent issues that concern the city of London, such as planning, housing and waste management. The Mayor as an appointee of the authority has been designated strategic functions and responsibilities to oversee the performance of various departments within the authority. A significant responsibility of the Mayor is promotion of social and economic development of the city, as well as enhancement of the city’s environment. His ultimate function is to improve the welfare of city residents through formulation and implementation of a strategic framework for improved planning in the city, transport systems and management of waste. Additionally, the Mayor is in charge of the development of financial budgets for funding of the Greater London authority, as well as auxiliary bodies that include the London Development Agency (LDA), the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), Transport for London (TfL), and London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). The mayor is also the final authority for LDA and Tfl appointments. The city of London has a unique composition of cultural diversity and economic import that warrants deliberate initiatives to enhance its significance and value. Indeed the greater London Authority has gone to great lengths in formulation of viable policies that are meant to reduce air and water pollution through regulation of industrial and production activities. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games are of immense concern to the city’s management as it strives to position the city as a first choice destination through exemplary leadership in provision of environmentally sensitive transport, energy and water resources. This can however only be achieved through formulation of policies that consolidate available resources to achieve a truly sustainable environment free from adverse effects of climatic change (Greater London Authority, 2010). An analysis of the policies introduced by the Office of the Mayor of London Policies formulated by the Mayor of London are meant to foster public awareness of city residents on the significance of maintaining a cleaner environment. The recent policy reports focus on environment related developments that have arisen in the last 5 years and challenges that may impact negatively on effective implementation of clean air initiatives. Numerous development issues on environment have been witnessed in the past 5 years. Issues that concern renewable energy, water, air and public transport have particularly received enormous emphasis. In evaluating the authority and responsibility of the Mayor, it is imperative that we assess policy issues of environmental concern that have been presented by the Mayor in the past five year. Initiatives by the Mayor to formulate and implement policy that develops and enhances a sustainable environment cannot be overemphasized. The policy framework instituted by the Mayor includes radical initiatives aimed at ensuring a drastic reduction in greenhouse emissions through prudent management of energy resources especially in energy generation, distribution and use. This is in consideration of the global threat that global warming and associated erratic climatic changes pose to the welfare and wellbeing of humanity in entirety. Additionally, development of viable Solutions to the unprecedented dependency on oil fuels is well behind schedule. Environmental policies as presented by the Mayor not only focus on environmental protection, but more so on conservation of scarce energy resources that are inevitably critical in enhancement of human welfare (Greater London Authority, 2010). The mayor has a statutory obligation to formulate legislation that enforces strategic energy measures and enhances the quality of the city’s environment. Strategic energy policies are essentially intended to facilitate efficient and effective allocation of resources in provision of energy that is environmentally friendly. The city of London is presented by the challenge of gradual increase in population with constraining repercussions on the city’s water, energy and infrastructure. The essence of deliberate policy formulation by the Mayor is to ensure adequate allocation of these resources to deserving residents of the city of London. In his initiative to counter the effects of adverse climatic changes and enhancement of the quality of the city’s environment, the Mayor has formulated five strategic proposals that involve biodiversity, waste management, improvement in the quality of air, cleaner energy and reduced noise levels. In the Climate Change action blue print launched in 2007, the Mayor provided an inclusive evaluation of carbon emissions in the city of London. The mayor pointed out that initiatives to reduce carbon emissions by regulation of the transport and industrial sectors were not meant to compromise living standards, but rather, to reinforce environmental protection measures. The Mayor emphasized the role that must be played by all city residents in reduction of energy wastage (Greater London Authority, 2010). The city’s environmental policy has largely been focused on protection and enhancement of cleaner and greener city, emphasis has been on reduced use of cars for transport, and instead, increased reliance on electronic trains as a preferred mode of transport. The policy document however acknowledges the numerous challenges that face up to initiatives to protect the environment. Considerable challenge has been observed in the initiatives to improve the quality of air, reduction of the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill, cleanliness of city streets, and lower water consumption rates. In the strategy on biodiversity, the underlying objective was to enable Londoners have an easy access to natural green spaces and wildlife, especially in areas that are experiencing a decrease in green space. As it may be deemed appropriate, the focus of new developments should incorporate habitats that are enhanced, or designs that support biodiversity, such as green roofs. In this initiative, the Mayor in partnership with other institutions would employ proactive approaches to protect, promote and mange biodiversity as outlined in the mayor’s strategy on biodiversity. The design and form of all development would be in regard and consideration of biodiversity and conservation of nature. Deliberate initiatives must the n be made to enhance and manage wildlife habitats and natural landscapes, while improving the city residents access to nature (Greater London Authority, 2010). The Mayor’s strategy for water was published in 2011. In the strategy, the mayor implores London’s water management institutions to invest more in management of water and sewerage systems that befits world class standards while creating more jobs. He encourages city residents to be more proactive in saving water and energy, a move that that shall see them make savings on utility bills. His vision in the water strategy is to turn the city’s sewage into a clean energy resource. The mayor’s strategy on water consists of a six-point plan aimed at reducing the city’s demand for water. The mayor’s objective is to increase efficiency in water supply while minimizing wastage so as to balance demand and supply of water. In 2011, the mayor published his strategy aimed at reducing, reusing and recycling business and household waste in London. His plan was to provide residents with information and tools that would enable them take corrective initiatives in management of waste. His vision shifted the city’s waste management from acting as a contributor to climatic change to being a litigator in climate change. To this end, his objective entailed formulating action plans for the city’s waste management to successfully realize the economic value of waste. Initiatives to enhance the rate at which waste was recycled in the city were developed and resulted in more consistency and improved quality in waste recycling services (Greater London Authority, 2010). The strategy on waste management was to ensure there was adequate funding for development of efficient infrastructural facilities that would enable the city’s authorities turn waste material into valuable products including power and low carbon heat. Ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games, the mayors ultimate objective was to make London a cleaner and more pleasant city to visit and live in. In the Business Waste Management Strategy, the mayors strategy was to assist the business community manage waste reserves more effectively and efficiently through programs that unveiled the commercial and financial opportunities available in reducing, reusing and recycling waste material. The mayor aimed at utilizing planning possesses to foster resource efficiency enhancement in demolition and construction sectors. An analysis of the gap between policy, public policy initiatives and general practice among the public The city’s population has certainly increased, the economy of the city has equally expanded, and with the consequence of increasing levels in energy consumption. The rising level of Carbon 1V oxide emissions witnessed in previous years was largely attributed to inefficient use of energy in homes, which accounted for 38% of the emissions in the city. 40% of Carbon 1V oxide emissions in the city were attributed to a combination of commercial and industrial activity (Greater London Authority, 2010). As illustrated in the report presented to the assembly in 2001, and which sought to evaluate the Mayor’s draft on Air Quality strategy, the Mayors objectives and strategy on enhancement of air quality may not be simple to meet as they are not based on targets that are quantifiable. The assembly pointed out the inconsistency in the mayors strategies, and recommended that the mayors economic and transport strategies exemplify clear objectives on development of quality air. The mayor’s strategies have little evidence that confirms that his proposals and policies will enhance the achievement of the city’s objectives for NO2 and PM10 within the targeted timeframes. Indeed the Mayor concurs that achievement of these objectives within the target dates is note foreseeable. The assembly recommends that the mayor develops long-term strategies that exemplify his primary objectives in provision of a healthier and cleaner environment, and they should include strategies for other pollutants that are not related to transport. In the advent of a Low Emission Zone not being foreseeable, the mayor must put in place contingency measures that enhance development of better quality environment (Greater London Authority, 2010). To enhance the effectiveness and viability of the mayor’s strategic initiatives, reductions in emissions must be quantified and incorporated into action plans. The Mayor’s strategies, according to the assembly report, do not provide foreseeable implications on resources available to the mayor and Transport for London (TfL). The Mayor needs to undertake further evaluation of the benefits of his strategy that will be available to all residents of London. The report points out that the Mayor must do more in developing wider policies and strategic policies that are of essence in provision of quality air in London. Tfl and the Mayor must give more priority in implementing strategies on transport for London Road Network (Greater London Authority, 2010). A survey of opinions among students at GSoM concerning the implementation of environmental policies in London The Mayor’s strategy on quality of air focuses on the reduction of the adverse effects of air pollutants on the health of London and creation of cleaner air. To this end the mayor seeks to adopt the objectives of the government on provision of quality air and which are presented in Air quality (England) Regulations 2000. The objectives are viewed by students at GSoM to be immensely challenging especially in their implementation. The challenge the mayor faces is striking a balance in developing strategies that are consistent with other government strategies and initiatives. Of critical importance is the fact that the mayor’s strategies have consistency and objectivity, while giving significant emphasis to other issues that are presented in other strategies. The strategy for instance, identifies that PM10 and NO2 are largely associated with transport activities (Greater London Authority, 2010). But air pollution is not the primary concern and objective of the draft Transport Strategy. The proposals presented in the draft certainly foster improved air quality, but the time frames envisaged in the quality air strategy demand more focused initiatives in implementation of the strategy. Indeed the draft Transport Strategy lays very little emphasis on the achievement of better quality air, and the resources available to the transport sector are not sufficient to support the achievement of air quality objectives. Students at GSoM point out that the cost and shortcomings of introducing the Mayor’s strategies have not been represented in his proposals, with the exception of the congestion charging suggestion. Students however reckon that congestion charging in the absence of other concrete sources of funding may not provide sufficient resources for achievement of considerable improvement in air quality. An evaluation of the benefits and costs of the mayor’s proposals is hence mandatory, especially in regard to small businesses that are the target of congestion charging proposal (Greater London Authority, 2010). A conclusion regarding the GLA and the Mayor of London’ effectiveness in tackling critical matters that relating to “the environment” From the report by published in 2012 by the London South Bank University on the impact of energy policies in London, it is evident that since 2005 there has been a significant change in the activities and understanding of the GLA. Generally, the report illustrates the success and achievements of the mayor’s policies in reduction of CO2 emissions and overall energy consumption. Since the London Plan was introduced, an upward trend has been depicted in collective CO2 savings totaling 135,528 tonnes of CO2 per year, which represents approximately 26% of CO2 savings. Savings have continued to increase over the years, and the report indicates that both the GLA and developers teams have done a great deal of learning and are more informed on how to tackle issues pertaining to energy use (Greater London Authority, 2010). The report goes further to indicate a 21% increase in energy savings attributed to improved efficiency in use of energy and 5.8% due to increased renewable energy. 25% of the city’s development is attributed to 10% of renewable energy. Since the London Plan was implemented, there has been an impressive 0.42 million tonnes reduction in CO2 per year. An evaluation of the savings attributed to energy efficiency indicates that 24% of city development depicts efficiency savings of more than 18kg Co2/m2. The contribution of renewable to energy savings started to increase a year after the London Plan was published and has remained on the increase since then. There has been a tremendous improvement in enforcement of energy regulations and the improvement of developer understanding has led to growth in renewable energy. As illustrated in recent researches on environment, carbon 1V oxide emissions in London have reduced by 1.5% despite an increase in the city’s population. This reduction is attributed to the stringent regulations that have been observed in the industrial and transport sectors. But in regard to the effects of adverse climatic change, the mayor proposes enactment of ambitious strategic initiatives to reduce carbon emissions by 60%. References Greater London Authority, 2010, The Mayor’s State of Environment Report for London. Retrieved Dec 06, 2011, from http://legacy.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/environment/soereport/soe_summary.pdf Read More