New Clause 46
Greater London Authority Bill
12:30 pm
Budget and Performance Office (London Assembly)
‘(1) There shall be an office to be known as the Budget and Performance Office (London Assembly) to be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Assembly on a simple majority vote upon the recommendation of an independent Budget and Performance Office Advisory Board.
(2) The Director shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties assigned by the Assembly. The terms of office of Directors appointed shall expire upon each general election of the Assembly. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration of a term shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term. An individual serving as Director at the expiration of a term may continue to serve until a successor is appointed.
(3) The funds available to pay for the expenses of the Budget and Performance Office (London Assembly) during each financial year shall not be less than the equivalent of 10 per cent. of the annual expenditure of the Greater London Authority Finance Department.
(4) The Director shall appoint such personnel and procure the services of such experts and consultants within the funds available as may be necessary for the Director to carry out the duties and functions assigned herein. Such personnel and experts shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Director.
(5) The Director shall be authorised to secure such information, data, estimates and statistics from the functional bodies of the Greater London Authority as the Director determines to be necessary for the performance of the functions and duties of the office, and such bodies shall provide such information, to the extent that it is available, in a timely fashion.
(6) The Director shall not be entitled to obtain records which are protected by commercial sensitivity or material prepared for litigation.
(7) There shall be an independent Budget and Performance Office Advisory Board consisting of 10 members appointed jointly by the chairs of each of the Authority’s functional bodies and the Mayor.
(8) The members of the Budget and Performance Office Advisory Board must have extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of finance, economics, accounting, public administration and public policy analysis, and must include at least one former Finance Director of the Greater London Authority or of a comparable office in another local authority.
(9) It shall be the duty of the Budget and Performance Office (London Assembly) to provide to Assembly Members information which will assist in the discharge of their responsibilities which are related to the budgetary process, including—
(a) information with respect to the budget, consultations, strategies and policies with financial implications;
(b) information with respect to estimated revenues and receipts and changing revenue conditions; and
(c) to the extent practicable, such other information or analyses as may be requested.
(10) The Director, upon the request of Assembly Members, shall complete a financial impact statement of such proposed consultation, strategy and policy.
(11) The Director shall from time to time publish such reports as may be appropriate to enhance official and public understanding of the budgetary process and of the budget documents published in accordance with current legislation. The Director shall from time to time publish such reports as may be necessary or appropriate to provide such information, data, and analysis as will enhance official and public understanding of matters relating to expenditures, financial management practices and related matters.
(12) The Director shall publish an annual report on the performance of the Greater London Authority and the functional bodies of the Greater London Authority.
(13) The Director shall make all information, data, estimates, and statistics obtained in pursuance of subsection (5) and all studies and reports prepared by the office, available for public inspection, both in person and online.’.—[Mr. Pelling.]