The Mayor of London is a pivotal figure in local government, responsible for setting the budget and creating policies to improve the city for all who visit, live, or work there. Sadiq Khan is the current mayor, and he provides leadership across London while also presiding over Council meetings. The Mayor of London is part of the Greater London Authority (GLA), which also includes the London Assembly. This body is responsible for the strategic governance of Greater London, from policy development to budgeting and from overseeing major programs to promoting London around the world. The Mayor of London is also responsible for managing many areas of life in the city, such as police, transport, housing, planning, and the environment.
The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) works to clarify this process and accountability, giving Londoners a greater say in how their city is controlled. The Mayor's Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for managing London's transport services, including the Tube network, London buses, and the Docklands light rail. London City Councils are directly responsible for many of the services that Londoners use on a daily basis. These include municipal housing, schools, social services, garbage collection, street cleaning, parking permits, city tax collection, and birth, death and marriage certificates. The City of London has preserved its very strong traditions since 1839; its mayor and members of the Common Council Court act on a non-partisan political basis. The Mayor of London also works with the 32 municipalities of London and the City of London to provide everyday services to their local residents.
This includes education, housing, social services, environmental services, local planning and many arts and leisure services. The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) works to clarify this process and accountability, giving Londoners a greater say in how their city is controlled. The Mayor of London also works with the London Fire Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), which runs the London Fire Department and is responsible for advising on fire safety, enforcing fire safety laws, and carrying out various emergency planning activities. The Mayor's Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for managing London's transport services, including the Tube network, London buses, and the Docklands light rail. The Mayor of London also works with the Local Government Association (LGA) when lobbying. The LGA leads on national issues affecting local government while London councils focus on those that have special relevance to London.
The partisan political balance of the London Assembly and of the members of the municipal councils must reflect the partisan political balance of the Assembly and of all London districts.This basic online guide to local government in London describes the roles of the different agencies involved in providing services to eight million Londoners. The mayor's job is to make London a better place for everyone who visits, lives or works in the city. They repair and maintain 95% of London's roads, monitor parking and pay more than 300 million pounds a year so that 1 million elderly and disabled Londoners can travel for free by bus, tube and train.
