More Power to the Mayor? no thanks

More Power to the Mayor, no thanks
We need more public consultation and democracy in planning not an elected dictatorship.

I wonder if it will make him think a bit more before supporting a development if he knows he will be blamed for it.?
Probably not.

He'll just get someone on his side to write a report supporting it.
That way he can stay hands off and speak for the people, referencing "reports".

not bitter at dumbing-down....not at all

This is great news - less interfering from NIMBY's and their luddite views, less public inquiries and all the pointless expensive bureaucracy surrounding them, less delays and holdups for exciting world class projects, more real progress and development for London.

I'm not sure your anti democratic vision of a city with no planning regulation at all . Is how new labour intend there devolvment of power to an elected mayor to be seen.

Any development doesn't constitute progress.

Cart blanch to corporate interest wouldn't be in the public interest and a lap poodle to central government isn't what the people of London need.


If the mayor was representative of the people of London I would think giving him more power would be a good thing.

As it is im not even sure ken Livingston even likes London. Never mind being fit to run it.

However if giving the mayor more power produces a high calibre of candidate at the next mayoral election.
It may be for the good.
In the long run.
But if the calibre of candidate including non politicians doesn't turn up.
It sound like a recipe for disaster.

I'm starting a petition against this today. Please do sign up and forward on to others if you oppose this decision.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notodictatorshipbykeninlondon

http://andymayer.blogspot.com/2006/07/government-destroys-local-democracy-in.html

I think this is a real blow to democracy - BECAUSE Ken was so intent on being accepted back into the Labour party. I voted for him when he was INDEPENDENT, which is, I consider, the most important thing for the Mayor. But having Labour controlling London by the back door is outrageous. And phasing out the boroughs from decision making is also scary. Not that I hold SUCH a brief for Southwark Council, but having so much power in the hands of one man is unacceptable. Even if you subscribe to some of his views - power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

If he gets more power, how much more council tax will we have to pay, the congestion charge is already high and I've not seen any changes on public transport apart from the fares going up and up.

AndyIntyers, i think this pettition should be more widely circulated - have you put it on 'londonist' yet?

link can be found on the 'other local community websites' bit

The other point about this is that as the last Mayoral election we voted for candidates that wouldent have these new powers.

So we are now getting something we didn't vote for.

The result also suggested that London's don't want the mayor to have to much power.


http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notodictatorshipbykeninlondon

There is a good article in the evening standard graphically showing why ken Livingston is not the right person to be in charge of planning in London.

It also shows the Tate tower but doesn't mention that it might not get built.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notodictatorshipbykeninlondon