027 London

United Kingdom

027 London (United Kingdom)

7.6 million inhabitants according to the UN’s Urban Agglomerations 2003.

1. Territorial Levels, Population and Area

Name Population % of total Area, km2 Density, people/km2

London *7,172,036 11.8% 1,579 4,542
London Metropolitan Region **12,653,500 20.9% 8,382 1,510
United Kingdom *58,789,194 240
100% 244,820
***60,270,708 246
* According to the official census 2001 by National Statistics UK.
** The London Metropolitan Agglomeration used was defined by the Institut d’Estudis Regionals i Metropolitans de Barcelona in their work “Grans
Aglomeracions Metropolitanes Europees” published at Revista Papers, number 37. This research defines 50 European Metropolitan Regions based fixed
criteria on density, conurbation and total population.
*** Estimation offered by the CIA-World Factbook for July 2004.

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2. Administrative Designation and Number of Municipalities

Name Designation Number of Municipalities

London Greater London Authority 33 Boroughs: City of London (GLA), City of Westminter, Barking
and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden,
Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith &
Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow,
Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames,
Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond
upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham
Forest and Wandsworth.
London Metropolitan Region London Metropolitan Region 3 Regions: Greater London, South East y East of England
50 local government units in the three regions
United Kingdom United Kingdom of Great Britain and The United Kingdom is a unitary state that includes four
Northern Ireland constitutive nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
England is composed by:
9 regions
6 metropolitan counties
34 shire counties
41 unitary authorities
36 Metropolitan districts
6 Non-metropolitan districts
29 London Boroughs

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3. Institutional framework and political powers

London
General Aspects
The fundamental responsibilities of the Greater London Authority (GLA) are to promote
economic development, create wealth, develop the city socially and improve the
environment. It thus has powers in the fields of transport, urban and strategic planning,
economic development and regeneration, the environment, police, emergency management,
culture and health. It also exercises certain functions of a regulatory body within its territory.
It works together with the boroughs in the provision of services and also controls their
activities.

Mayor
Has executive power and is responsible for the political management of the Authority. Is
responsible for leading the activities of the GLA in its areas of power and thus defines and
co-ordinates the work areas and development strategies for the city. Is also responsible for
preparing the annual budget for the GLA. To implement his or her initiatives, the Mayor
should co-ordinate both with the borough councils and the public agencies. The Mayor is
elected by direct public vote to serve four-year terms of office.

London Assembly
This chamber examines and oversees the actions of the Mayor. It also has the power to
amend the budget prepared by the Mayor with a majority of two-thirds of the Assembly. The
Assembly can investigate issues it considers important for the city, publish recommendations
and make proposals directly to the Mayor. A large part of its work is done through research
committees. The Assembly is currently made up of 25 members, 14 elected by simple
majority vote in single-member districts. The remaining 11 are elected via a system of
proportional representation for the whole of the city. The term of the members of the
Assembly coincides with that of the Mayor.

Chief Executive
Supervises the public administration of the GLA and ensures it is effective and efficient.

Borough Councils
Each of the 33 boroughs of London directly provides public services such as education,
housing, social services, street cleaning and maintenance, solid waste management, local
urban planning, culture and recreation. However, the framework of definition of all these
areas of power is defined by the government of the United Kingdom. The borough councils
are funded via a direct tax on the population known as the Council Tax and through diverse
funds programmed by the central government. With the Local Government Act 2000, all local
authorities were forced to adopt one of the new forms of government before May 2002. The
three models of government proposed were: a system with a directly elected mayor and
cabinet; a system based on a council, the majority of which would vote the mayor and
cabinet; and a model based on a council and chief executive. These three forms of
government currently coexist in the different districts of the GLA. Up to 1,861 councillors are
elected for a four-year term in the 33 boroughs. The election process for councillors is based
on a simple majority system in multi-member districts.

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Organisations and Companies

Association of London Government
An association committed to improving public resources in London and attracting private
investment to the 33 boroughs. Works as a pressure group that articulates council demands
from the central government. The main deliberative organ is a committee of 33 leaders from
the boroughs.

Greater London Enterprise (GLE)

The GLE is the city’s economic development company and its ownership corresponds to the
33 boroughs. Operates as a private company and thus does not receive public financial
support. Activity depends on commercial results and knowledge about the economic
regeneration of the city in a market environment. It is an influential agent both in the
formulation of new local public policies and the development of new solutions in the sphere
of local development.

Transport for London

This is an organisation that depends on the GLA and is responsible for the planning and
management of the capital’s integrated transport system. The main function is to implement
the transport strategy for London and manage the city’s transport services. It controls the
bus network, underground system, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Trams,
river transport services and the Victoria bus station. Also responsible for traffic management
in a network of 580 km of urban roads and the traffic light system. Transport for London is
managed by a council appointed by the Mayor, who chairs the council.

London Development Agency

An agency that depends on the GLA and works directly on the economic development of the
city with the aim of sustaining and improving London’s role as an international business
centre and thus boost its economic opportunities.

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

An organisation under the control of the GLA responsible for fire control and prevention and
also planning responses to possible emergencies.

London Metropolitan Region

We were unable to identify an institution of a metropolitan sphere whose area of action
includes all of the territory of the London Metropolitan Region. The GLA is normally
considered the metropolitan authority for London, but this is only in the centre of the region,
which also extends to the southeast and east.

United Kingdom
King or Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The monarch is the lifelong, hereditary head of state. He or she usually acts in accordance
with the decisions taken by the government, although the monarch is formally responsible for
appointing the Prime Minister. Symbolic functions include sanctioning laws, signing the
highest State documents and calling and dissolving the sessions of Parliament.

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Prime Minister
Under the PM’s leadership, the government determines and leads the policies of the State.
The PM leads governmental action and is responsible for the execution of laws and thus
responds for the government’s actions before the parliament. The PM is formally appointed
by the monarch, although he or she requires the support of the majority of the House of
Commons to carry out functions. The PM can shorten the length of the sessions of
Parliament.

Parliament
Bicameral organ composed of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The basic
function of the House of Commons is to propose, approve and amend existing legislation.
The 569 MPs are elected in single-member districts under a simple majority system to serve
a maximum term of four years.
In general, the House of Lords has similar functions to the Commons, as it can also legislate,
debate and question the executive. There are two important exceptions: its members do not
represent districts and do not participate in fiscal and financial legislation. The role of the
House of Lords is considered complementary to that of the Commons and is a chamber of
review. The 707 lords are lifelong positions. There are three types of members: institutional
(law lords and members of the Church of England), hereditary peers and peers appointed for
their life’s work upon the proposal of the government.

Government Office for London

An agency that represents the British government and whose mission is to ensure that
national policies aimed at the City of London are duly implemented. Works together with
various public and private organisations to promote government policies and help achieve
their goals. Also acts as a representative of London’s interests within the central
government.

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4. Relevant websites and online documents

Greater London Authority: http://www.london.gov.uk

Transport for London: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/
Association of London Government: http://www.alg.gov.uk
Greater London Enterprise (GLE): http://www.gle.co.uk/
Government Office for London: http://www.go-london.gov.uk
The Official Website of the British Monarchy: http://www.royal.gov.uk
The United Kingdom Parliament: http://www.parliament.uk
National Statistics UK: http://www.statistics.gov.uk
The Electoral Commission: http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk
Local Authorities’ Gateway http://local.gov.uk/
Directgov: http://www.direct.gov.uk

Documents:

Greater London Authority Act 1999 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/19990029.htm

City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/locact02/20020006.htm

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