Mayor Boris begins City Hall staff shake-up

Ben Lee, PlanningResource, 6 May 2008

A shake up is expected at City Hall as Johnson settles into the office of outgoing Labour mayor Ken Livingstone.

Labour activist Dave Wetzel is one of the first to go, quitting as vice-chairman of Transport for London.

Business organisation London First’s chief executive Baroness Jo Valentine, said she is willing to help Johnson identify senior business leaders to lead the mayoral agencies.

She said: “He has the opportunity to translate fresh ideas into an agenda for the mayoralty and take the time to choose a team of good advisers across his cabinet and executive.”
 
Johnson will now be allowed to grant major London planning permissions - powers which Livingstone pushed for during his time in office.

During his campaign Johnson pledged to build 50,000 affordable homes by 2011, bring back London’s Routemaster buses, invest £6 million in open spaces and plant 10,000 street trees. 

Johnson also has the £450 million London Development Agency budget in his pocket to start work.

He said: “I have instructed members of my team to crack on with implementing our manifesto pledges.

"I will work night and day to deliver change in London. A tireless approach is what Londoners demand."