Southwark says No to more powers for Mayor

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Oct 2006

Southwark Council's Liberal Democrat led Executive is to oppose moves by the Government to increase the powers of London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

"The best knowledge about local communities comes from the people who actually live and work there," said Cllr Nick Stanton, Liberal Democrat Leader of Southwark Council. "Centralising power in the hands of a mayor at City Hall is taking power away from communities rather the devolving it to them."

"A single Mayor of London cannot possibly know every community in enough detail to make the right decisions. These debates should be held at borough or community council level."

"For example, giving the Mayor additional powers in the area of planning would probably have meant the approval of the development by Berkeley Homes at Potter's Field or the Downtown development. Both of these fly in the face of public opinion and are being strongly opposed by the Council."

"That is not to say we oppose having stronger powers for the Mayor. There are currently many decisions which are taken in Whitehall or by the Government Office for London which ought to be devolved to the Mayor."

"We are pleased that we have the strong support of our Conservative colleagues in the Executive to oppose the Government's plans to centralise decision making powers. Together, we will be bringing a motion to the next meeting of the Council Assembly and we hope to secure the ringing endorsement of all sides to oppose these ludicrous power grabbing plans."