The Greater London Assembly (GLA) has lashed out at London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s secret meetings with developers and is threatening to force the mayor to hold the meetings in public.
In a report entitled Behind Closed Doors, published today, the GLA’s planning advisory committee claims that Livingstone holds meetings with developers and architects “back to back” with meetings to decide major applications.
The report, drafted by the Conservative chair of the committee, Tony Arbour, said: “This practice leaves the Mayor vulnerable to accusations that his decision making is open to improper influence from a select group of powerful people with privileged access to him.”
The report highlights meetings between the mayor and architect Renzo Piano, developers Stuart Lipton and Gerald Ronson that appeared to be held at the same time as meetings to decide the fate of planning applications in which all three had significant stakes.
Livingstone argued that meetings with developers were not up for consultation and often involved detailed and highly sensitive negotiations that the developers would not want to be made public.
But Arbour dismissed the Mayor’s comments. “What has he got to hide?” he asked.
EGi News 06/06/02
