The GLA Oversight Committee met on Wednesday 21 January 2026 to discuss preparations for the 2028 Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections, review the Greater London Authority's (GLA) budget, and consider the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) shared services arrangements. The Committee also discussed the London New Year's Eve Fireworks Event and the GLA Oversight Committee's work programme.

Preparations for the 2028 Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections

The Committee received an update on the preparations for the 2028 Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections. Mary Harpley, the Greater London Returning Officer, outlined the ongoing work with the Government and the Electoral Commission to implement reforms, noting that some changes would be in place before 2028, while others might be implemented for the first time in 2028, presenting additional challenges. The reinstatement of the second preference vote for Mayor was identified as a key driver for current planning.

Alex Conway, the Deputy Greater London Returning Officer, provided details on the procurement process for electronic vote counting, which has been launched. He confirmed that a plan B for manual counting would be in place if an e-count provider could not be secured. Contingency plans were also discussed for potential combined GLA and General Elections, or if the election were to be postponed.

A significant change discussed was the move to a single venue, the ExCeL London, for the count, citing cybersecurity, cost-effectiveness, and consistency of delivery as key reasons. This move has the full support of the 14 Constituency Returning Officers (CROs).

Discussions also covered the ongoing efforts to remove the ballot mixing requirement, which is unique to GLA elections and applies only to manual counts. While constructive discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the exact timeline for legislative change remains uncertain.

Regarding accessibility for the 2028 elections, Alex Conway stated that the GLA is committed to producing an accessibility plan ahead of the elections, in collaboration with the Electoral Commission and London boroughs. This plan will be informed by the outcomes of the May 2026 local elections and will consider various needs, including those of neurodiverse voters and individuals with hearing impairments.

Plans for public awareness and voter engagement were also discussed, particularly in light of the potential lowering of the voting age to 16. The Committee stressed the importance of clear communication regarding the reintroduction of the second preference vote for Mayor and the distinction between the two types of Assembly votes.

Concerns were raised about the number of spoiled votes in previous elections, with a focus on improving ballot paper design and public testing to ensure clarity and prevent disenfranchisement. The Committee was assured that market testing of educational materials would be conducted.

Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) Shared Services

The Committee discussed the proposed shared service arrangements between the GLA and the OSDC. Rebecca Arnold, Assistant Director for Committee and Member Services, indicated that one additional post and some software would be required to support the OSDO, operating on a recharge model to ensure full cost recovery.

Phil Graham, Executive Director for Good Growth, confirmed that the OSDC is on track to be established by 1 January 2026, with secondary legislation laid and recruitment for key senior roles underway. He acknowledged that not all senior positions would be filled by the establishment date, but interim solutions and support from existing GLA functions would be in place. The salary for the OSDC Chief Executive role was discussed, with Mr Graham explaining it reflected the project's profile, stakeholder challenges, and the need for diverse skillsets.

The purpose and goals of the OSDC were debated, with Assembly Member Emma Best AM pressing for more concrete objectives beyond transformation and regeneration. Mr Graham clarified that the MDC aims to create a more effective visitor destination, generate more footfall and economic activity, and curate the street as a retail environment and visitor destination, with the appointed Chair, Scott Parsons, expected to drive this forward.

Transparency and accountability were key themes, with assurances that the MDC's finances would be transparent and subject to Assembly scrutiny. Ongoing discussions with Westminster and Camden Councils regarding planning responsibilities and board nominations were highlighted, with the GLA stating they are in continuous dialogue to understand and address concerns.

Transport for London (TfL) is developing detailed proposals for traffic and highway changes to facilitate pedestrianisation, which will be subject to public consultation later this year. David Rowe, Director of Investment Delivery Planning at TfL, confirmed that an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) would be conducted, and that considerations for disabled individuals, including taxi pick-up/drop-off locations, were being addressed.

Concerns were raised about crime and public safety risks associated with pedestrianisation, with discussions on mitigating factors and engagement with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). It was confirmed that emergency services would retain access to the street.

The consultation period for the traffic and highway proposals is expected to extend into the New Year, with efforts to ensure broad engagement. Funding for the pedestrianisation project, estimated at £150 million, is being explored through various revenue streams, including potential contributions from local businesses and philanthropic sources, with a separate budget for the OSDC to be established within the GLA group budget process.

London's New Year's Eve Fireworks Event

David Holley, Head of Events for London, reported that the 2024 New Year's Eve Fireworks Event was an overall success, with improved operational delivery and no known instances of individuals entering ticketed areas without a ticket. Extended build times and closer collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) were highlighted as key successes. Challenges around crowding at Waterloo Station were being addressed through a new plan involving a one-way system and a new entrance.

The Committee discussed the performance monitoring of the event production partner, Identity, with assurances that budgets and risk registers are rigorously scrutinised. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include the safe and successful delivery of the event, with extensive planning and testing exercises conducted. The number of attendees for the 2024/25 event was estimated at 75,000-80,000, with a lower dropout rate than in previous years.

Changes to the plan for the upcoming fireworks event include work with the Royal Parks and St James's Park to address issues around park access and damages. The creative content is still being developed by Identity, with input from the Mayor of London's Office on specific song choices.

Regarding security and crowd management, the number of stewards and security staff is expected to be similar to or higher than the previous year. Lessons learned from barrier breaches on Victoria Street are being applied to improve entry flow, and a new plan for Waterloo Station aims to create a one-way system to manage crowd movement.

Communications regarding travel disruptions on New Year's Eve are being coordinated across the GLA, TfL, and other partners, with information available on websites and apps like TfL Go, City Mapper, and Google Maps. Efforts are being made to ensure clear messaging for all travellers, including those without smartphones.

Concerns about counterfeit tickets and scam websites persist, with ongoing efforts to combat them through legal action and improved ticketing technology, including dynamic QR codes. The pricing of tickets was discussed, with Londoners paying £20 or £35, and non-Londoners £55 or £40. Benchmarking against other events suggests London's fireworks remain competitively priced.

Dr Tom Smith, Managing Director of CarnDu Limited, provided an assessment of London's fireworks display in an international context, describing it as iconic and spectacular, with strong safety measures in place.

GLA Oversight Committee Work Programme

The Committee noted its work programme for the Assembly year 2025/26. This includes ongoing oversight of the Assembly's budget and scrutiny work programme, GLA corporate governance, and the activities of senior officers. The Committee will also respond to consultations from the Head of Paid Service and scrutinise the Chief Officer function. Specific scrutiny topics for upcoming meetings include London Assembly Plenary Ways of Working and the GLA Workforce Report.

London Assembly Quarterly Budget Report

The Committee received the 2025-26 Quarter 3 budget report, which indicated an underspend of £324,000 year-to-date. This underspend is primarily attributed to staffing vacancies and the tail end of post-election impacts in Group offices. Secretariat teams are showing underspends across several budget lines, with efforts underway to fill vacancies and utilise available underspends to support delivery in the final quarter. The report also noted that a reduced reserve draw down is anticipated to meet the Assembly's costs for the year.

Action Taken Under Delegated Authority

The Committee noted the action taken by the Chair of the London Assembly, following consultation with the Chair of the GLA Oversight Committee and party Group Lead Members, under delegated authority. This action involved jointly signing a petition with the Mayor of London, addressed to His Majesty the King, seeking the transfer of the former Greater London Council's (GLC) Coat of Arms to the Greater London Authority (GLA).

Summary List of Actions

The Committee noted the completed and ongoing actions arising from its previous meetings. These included actions related to election preparations, the Oxford Street Development Corporation, London's New Year's Eve Fireworks Event, and resilience efforts.