Londoners getting good service

Thursday, 25 November 2004 12:00 AM

The Greater London Authority (GLA) and its bodies are providing Londoners with good service, according to a new report from the Audit Commission.

Transport for London (TfL) is rated as 'excellent', the London Development Agency (LDA) as 'good', the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) as 'good' and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) as 'fair'.

The results come as part of the Audit Commission's initial performance assessment of both the GLA and its corporate bodies, which is designed to identify both strengths and weaknesses in the organisations.

TfL was praised as being a "highly capable and well-managed organisation" with a clear understanding of London's transport problems and a vision on how to tackle them. It is though urged to work to improve services on the London Underground.

LFEPA is praised for a "clear focus on the future" with a modernising leadership keen to strengthen London's resilience to major emergencies. But, it is urged to improve engagement with staff and the wider public and strengthen performance management.

The LDA is commended for making an "important strategic contribution to some major projects in the capital such as the new Wembley stadium". It is urged to improve communication both within the organisation and with its partners and to link up redevelopment and regeneration projects.

Of the four, the MPA receives the worst report and is chided for not having paid enough attention to its own organisation. However, it is noted that since its creation in 2000 "the MPA has made policing in London more accountable and more matched to the needs of its diverse communities." But, the Audit Commission concludes that more work is needed to strengthen relationships and build trust with minority ethnic communities.

Minister for London Keith Hill said: "I'm delighted that Londoners are getting a good deal. The GLA group can be proud of what it has already achieved in a relatively short time. This Initial Performance Assessment is all about setting a benchmark for continuous improvement, and it is important that each of the functional bodies learns from their assessment to continue delivering improvements on the ground for Londoners."

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford added that he wanted to see "all the bodies which form the GLA group aspiring for excellence."

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