The document, which is supported by all three main political parties, follows an report for London Councils by PricewaterhouseCoopers which found “billions of pounds” could be saved by devolving greater powers to the capital and allowing London politicians to take more decisions.
Proposals include giving boroughs control over Primary Care Trusts’ non-acute care budgets to allow boroughs to direct those budgets to local need and integrate health other care services with NHS spending and devolving neighbourhood policing budgets to allow boroughs to commission the services their communities need from the Met Police. The full manifesto can be downloaded from the London Councils website.
Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell said: “The global recession has left a new environment. The next government will have to fundamentally change how they respond to the demands and needs of Londoners.
“Achieving this needs radical and brave steps, and our Manifesto for Londoners is a unique cross party demonstration of practical and sensible solutions.
“Councils need more powers to help Londoners find jobs, feel safe on the streets, improve their local areas, get the healthcare they need, and make sure their children are protected.
“Local government has long called for devolution but our proposals in this manifesto are by far the most comprehensive, detailed and ambitious. We are now throwing down the gauntlet to any new government to work with us to drive forward this pioneering vision.”
