Greater London Authority Act 1999

30 The general power of the Authority.E+W+S

(1)The Authority shall have power to do anything which it considers will further any one or more of its principal purposes.

(2)Any reference in this Act to the principal purposes of the Authority is a reference to the purposes of—

(a)promoting economic development and wealth creation in Greater London;

(b)promoting social development in Greater London; and

(c)promoting the improvement of the environment in Greater London.

(3)In determining whether or how to exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) above to further any one or more of its principal purposes, the Authority shall have regard to the desirability of so exercising that power as to—

(a)further the remaining principal purpose or purposes, so far as reasonably practicable to do so; and

(b)secure, over a period of time, a reasonable balance between furthering each of its principal purposes.

(4)In determining whether or how to exercise the power conferred by subsection (1) above, the Authority shall have regard to the effect which the proposed exercise of the power would have on [F1each of the following] —

(a)the health of persons in Greater London;

[F2(aa)health inequalities between persons living in Greater London;]

(b)the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom,

[F3(c)climate change, and the consequences of climate change.]

(5)Where the Authority exercises the power conferred by subsection (1) above, it shall do so in the way which it considers best calculated—

(a)to promote improvements in the health of persons in Greater London,

[F4(aa)to promote the reduction of health inequalities between persons living in Greater London, F5...]

(b)to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom, [F6and

(c)to contribute towards the mitigation of, or adaptation to, climate change, in the United Kingdom,]

except to the extent that the Authority considers that any action that would need to be taken by virtue of paragraph (a)[F7, (aa)][F8, (b) or (c)] above is not reasonably practicable in all the circumstances of the case.

(6)In subsection (5)(a) above, the reference to promoting improvements in health includes a reference to mitigating any detriment to health which would otherwise be occasioned by the exercise of the power.

[F9(6A)In subsection (5)(aa) above, the reference to promoting the reduction of health inequalities includes a reference to mitigating any increase in health inequalities which would otherwise be occasioned by the exercise of the power.]

(7)The Secretary of State may issue guidance to the Authority concerning the exercise by the Authority of the power conferred by subsection (1) above.

(8)In deciding whether or how to exercise that power, the Authority shall have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (7) above.

(9)Any guidance issued under subsection (7) above shall be published by the Secretary of State in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(10)The functions conferred or imposed on the Authority under or by virtue of this section shall be functions of the Authority which are exercisable by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Authority.

[F10(11)In this section—

(a)“climate change” has the same meaning as in section 361A below, and

(b)in relation to climate change, “adaptation”, “consequences” and “mitigation” have the same meaning as in that section.]