The London Assembly has legal power to hold the Mayor to
account. During Mayor's Question Time and full meetings of the
London Assembly, it can quiz the Mayor and officials about their
wide-ranging responsibilities for services in the capital,
including transport, policing, health, housing and emergency
planning. It can conduct detailed investigations through committees
and investigate issues that matter to Londoners. It can also amend
the Mayor’s budget, around £9 billion a year, when two-thirds of
them agree to do so. The London Assembly appoints staff of the
Greater London Authority (GLA), which carries out the Mayor’s
policies.
The Assembly represents Londoners on three key organisations:
the Metropolitan Police Authority, the London Fire and Emergency
Planning Authority and the London Development Agency.
In their investigations, the Assembly gathers information on the
issue, asks Londoners for their views and calls experts to give
their opinions on the topic in question. After investigating, the
Assembly publishes a final report and makes recommendations aimed
at improving life in London. These recommendations are made to the
Mayor, London boroughs, government departments and private-sector
companies.
For example, the London Assembly carried out the only public
inquiry into the response to the London bombings on 7 July 2005, in
particular communications on the day, producing a list of 54
recommendations.
Committees also often do follow-up work after the publication of
a report to monitor progress against the Assembly’s
recommendations. The London Assembly and its committees meet in
public at City Hall.