Len Duvall AMLondon Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham City Hall

The Queen’s WalkLondon SE1 2AASwitchboard: 020 7983

4000Minicom: 020 7983 4458Web: www.london.gov.uk

Dear Mr WIlliams

Travel Expenses Complaint

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint against the Mayor of London and three of his senior appointments for claiming travel expenses which I believe to be against the Greater London Authority (GLA) Guidelines. Further I am making a formal complaint against the Mayor for failing to uphold the GLA’s Code of Conduct for elected members.

On his trip to the Gulf this year the Mayor claimed £1,944.69 to fly out from London and a further £1,876.94 to return. These claims do not include the flights for his return for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral, which as you know were paid for by Emirates and CTF Partners. The Mayor’s Chief Economic Adviser, Gerard Lyons, claimed the same amount as the Mayor. These amounts appear to indicate that the flights they booked were not economy or economy plus. On the same trip to the Gulf the Mayor’s Head of Media claimed £476.39 for her return flights, this amount looks like it is in line with GLA Guidelines.

As you know the GLA’s Foreign Travel guidelines (3.26-3.27) state:

Class or mode of travel  3.26 Economy/Economy Plus class, unless there are exceptional reasons, will be the class of travel. The only exception to this rule is where there is a health-related issue. In this situation, the relevant Budget Holder must be satisfied that travel other than economy class is appropriate.

Direct telephone: 020 7983 4408/4380 Fax: 020 7983 5880/5564 Email: len.duvall@london.gov.uk

Our ref: LD/MMDate: 5 November 13

Ed WilliamsMonitoring OfficerGreater London Authority

 3.27 In making any decision, Budget Holders are expected to ensure that best value for money is obtained. Where travel arrangements are to be upgraded above economy class, prior approval should be obtained from the relevant Budget Holder; where prior  approval cannot be obtained, the person travelling must accept the risk that any costs  arising from the upgrade over and above the pre-approved levels may not be  subsequently authorised, unless sound business or health reasons can be demonstrated. Upgrade must be booked in advance of the journey and not at the station/airport on the day of travel. Further to these claims, the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Isabel Dedring, claimed £4,579 on a return flight to New York to represent the Mayor. In contrast, Will Walden, Director of Communications claimed £436 on a different trip to the same destination. The former also appears to be in breach of GLA Guidelines.

As set out above I also wish to make a formal complaint against the Mayor for breaching the GLA Code of Conduct. I believe he has breached:

Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

Objectivity In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Leadership Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Further, I believe he has specifically breached the following sections:

2. — (1) You must comply with this Code whenever you act in your capacity as a member of the Authority.

5. You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.

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6. You—

(a) must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; and (b) must, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of your authority—

(i) act in accordance with your authority's reasonable requirements;

7. — (1) When reaching decisions on any matter you must have regard to any relevant advice provided to you by—

(a) your authority's chief finance officer; or (b) your authority's monitoring officer, where that officer is acting pursuant to his or her statutory duties.

I would be grateful if, in your role as GLA Monitoring Officer, you could investigate these matters and provide me with a copy of your findings.

Yours sincerely

Len Duvall Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham

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