23 June 2000
Its pamphlet, Improving London's Health, argues that the GLA could tackle ill health though its work on regeneration, transport and community safety.
The fund said the GLA could adopt methods used in other cities, such as New York, Rome and Barcelona. In Barcelona, successive mayors have regenerated the deprived Ciutat Vella area by building new houses and public spaces. The city council believes this has contributed to an improvement in child health.
Anna Coote, King's Fund director of public health, said: 'Our research shows that a mayor does not need formal powers to make an impact on health. What counts is whether the mayor sees health as an issue with voter appeal and wants to make it a priority.'
Livingstone this week put the final pieces in place of the jigsaw of his cross-party advisory cabinet. He told the cabinet's first meeting on June 20 that he intends to allocate more than £3bn from this summer's spending review to speed up transport improvements in London.
Livingstone, who intends to chair Transport for London, the new authority, himself, said he had reached 'very close agreement' with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in talks on transport.
Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Glenda Jackson and John McDonnell have accepted invitations to join the cabinet.
PFjun2000
