Greater London Authority Bill

moved Amendment No. 47: 47: Clause 25, page 26, line 34, leave out paragraph (c) The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this amendment deals with the membership of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. The Bill seeks to reduce the number of appointed members, leaving the Mayor with two extra places to appoint to. Great exception is being taken to that, by London councils in particular. The noble Lord, Lord Tope, in a previous amendment, pointed out how well the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority works and what an example it is considered to be. The membership has been as it is since the Greater London Authority was set up. Ministers have made comments about not making too many changes in the Bill. This is one of the most extraordinary measures in it, and there can be very little reason behind it. A difficulty has arisen with the Mayor’s refusal at 4.30 on Friday afternoon to accept the nominations for the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority; the nominations had to be in by Sunday. One is left breathless at the action taken and the way in which it was taken. I underline the reasons why everyone is so concerned about his interference in the membership. The authority’s members at the moment are, by and large, elected councillors. They are borough nominees; everyone has been democratically elected. The councillors represent voters and residents in ethnically and religiously diverse wards. Their membership is being attacked on all fronts by the Mayor. That does not auger well for the Bill’s proposals. We strongly reject what is proposed. The amendments oppose reducing the membership from 17 to 15; the number of Assembly representatives would be reduced from nine to eight—one out of the Assembly of democratically elected Members—and the number of borough representatives would be reduced from eight to seven. We do not believe that that is appropriate. I beg to move.