The Mayor of London is the leader of the City of London Corporation and the mayor of England's City of London. Londoners have the opportunity to elect a mayor and 25 members of the Assembly to oversee many aspects of life in the city, such as police, transport, housing, planning and the environment. In 2003, Ken Livingstone, then Mayor of London, implemented the Oyster electronic ticketing system for Transport for London services. The London City Councils are responsible for providing municipal services to Londoners, including housing, schools, social services, garbage collection, street cleaning, parking permits, city tax collection and birth, death and marriage certificates.
Every borough in London has a ceremonial mayor or an elected mayor in Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets. The Mayor of London is accountable to the London Assembly and works with his cabinet to manage all aspects of life in the capital. Initiatives undertaken by Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London include congestion charges on private vehicles driving through central London from Monday to Friday, the creation of the London Climate Change Agency, the London Energy Alliance and the founding of the International Big City Climate Leadership Group. The Mayor also heads the City of London Corporation which is devoted to making London a better place for everyone who visits, lives or works in it.
Livingstone encouraged sport in London by organizing events such as the London Marathon and 10-kilometer charity races.
