The Greater London Council's political leadership was in the hands of a Leader and a number of committees. Detailed policy proposals in the service areas were set by the committees, with the leadership nominating the Chairs who also had a degree of executive responsibility outside of meetings. The Chairs of the Committees also formed an unofficial Cabinet which advised the Leader on policy and through which the Leader could take political soundings.
Formally the committees were divided into Standing Committees and Special Committees. Eventually the cabinet was formed as the 'Leader's Committee' which was a Special Committee.
Fiske administration (1964–1967)
CommitteeChairmanDateNotesStanding CommitteesAlexandra Park and PalaceLouis Vitoria13 June 1966Set up in 1966.AmbulanceFlorence Cayford29 May 1964George Palmer22 April 1966Establishment and SuppliesNorman Prichard28 May 1964Committee abolished, 6 April 1965EstablishmentSidney Melman29 April 1965Set up in 1965.FinanceReg Goodwin2 June 1964Fire BrigadeEllis Garton29 May 1964General PurposesVictor Mishcon8 June 1964Highways and TrafficRichard Edmonds5 June 1964Jane Phillips9 April 1965 HousingEvelyn Denington3 June 1964LicensingAlec Grant14 April 1965Set up in 1965.New and Expanding TownsJane Phillips27 May 1964Richard Edmonds7 April 1965Parks and SmallholdingsSidney Melman29 May 1964 Peggy Jay30 April 1965Planning and CommunicationsChristopher Higgins2 June 1964Public Health ServicesAlbert Samuels27 May 1964Staff AppealsHarry Lamborn4 May 1965Set up in 1965.SuppliesSamuel Boyce4 May 1965Set up in 1965.Special CommitteesSelectionBill Fiske27 April 1964Nominated members to the other committees.
Plummer administration (1967–1973)
CommitteeChairmanDateNotesStanding CommitteesAlexandra Park and PalaceReginald Marks2 May 1967Abolished, 23 July 1968.AmbulanceRobert Mitchell28 April 1970Andrew Jardine4 May 1971Arts and RecreationHarold Sebag-Montefiore23 July 1968Set up in 1968.Covent Garden Joint DevelopmentThe Countess of Dartmouth4 May 1971Set up in 1971.Robert Mitchell13 September 1972Environmental PlanningRobert Vigars28 April 1970Set up in 1970.Richard Brew4 May 1971EstablishmentSir Graham Rowlandson2 May 1967Maurice Gaffney9 October 1969Leslie Freeman28 April 1970Finance and ScrutinySir Graham Rowlandson28 April 1970Set up in 1970.Finance and SuppliesSir Louis Gluckstein2 May 1967Roland Freeman14 May 1968Sir Graham Rowlandson30 September 1969Abolished, 28 April 1970.Fire BrigadeRobert Mitchell28 April 1970Set up in 1970.Andrew Jardine4 May 1971Fire Brigade and AmbulanceRobert Mitchell2 May 1967Abolished, 23 July 1968.General PurposesLeslie Freeman2 May 1967Sir Percy Rugg12 May 1969Frank Abbott28 April 1970Geoffrey Chase-Gardner7 February 1972Highways and TrafficRobert Vigars2 May 1967Abolished, 23 July 1968.HousingHorace Cutler2 May 1967Geoffrey Chase-Gardner28 April 1970Bernard Perkins3 February 1972LicensingHarold Sebag-Montefiore2 May 1967Abolished, 23 July 1968New and Expanding TownsGeorge Everitt2 May 1967Abolished, 28 April 1970Parks and SmallholdingsGordon Dixon2 May 1967Abolished, 28 April 1970Planning and CommunicationsGeoffrey Aplin2 May 1967Thomas Scott13 May 1968Abolished, 23 July 1968Planning and TransportationRobert Vigars23 July 1968Set up in 1968; abolished, 28 April 1970.Policy and ResourcesHorace Cutler28 April 1970Set up in 1970.Policy SteeringDesmond Plummer23 July 1968Set up in 1968; abolished, 28 April 1970.Public Health ServicesPeter Black2 May 1967Abolished, 23 July 1968Public ServicesPeter Black23 July 1968Maurice Gaffney28 April 1970Peter Black7 June 1971ScrutinyHarold Mote23 July 1968Set up in 1968; abolished, 28 April 1970.Strategic PlanningDr Gerard Vaughan23 July 1968Robert Vigars4 May 1971ThamesmeadSeton Forbes-Cockell2 May 1967Died, 19 September 1971David Harris13 October 1971Town DevelopmentGeorge Everitt28 April 1970Peter Black4 May 1971Bernard Brook-Partridge7 June 1971Special CommitteesStaff AppealsRobert Turner2 May 1967Died 27 September 1968.Sir Louis Gluckstein2 May 1969ProcedureDesmond Plummer5 July 1967Abolished, 28 April 1970.Leader's CouncilDesmond Plummer23 July 1968
Goodwin administration (1973–1977)
CommitteeChairmanDateNotesStanding CommitteesAmbulanceTony Judge4 May 1973Abolished, 14 May 1974.Arts and RecreationEllis Hillman4 May 1973Covent Garden Joint DevelopmentTom Ponsonby4 May 1973Jean Merriton13 May 1975Fire BrigadeJohn Henry4 May 1973General PurposesDr Stephen Haseler4 May 1973Tony Banks13 May 1975Housing AdministrationMarie Jenkins4 May 1973Abolished, 14 May 1974.Housing DevelopmentGladys Dimson4 May 1973Richard Balfe13 May 1975Housing ManagementTony Judge14 May 1974Set up in 1974.PlanningEdward Bell4 May 1973Norman Howard14 May 1974Policy and ResourcesIlltyd Harrington4 May 1973Public ServicesArthur Edwards4 May 1973ThamesmeadRichard Balfe4 May 1973William Simson13 May 1975Town DevelopmentRobert Crane4 May 1973Edward Bell14 May 1974Stephen Hatch13 May 1975TransportEvelyn Denington4 May 1973Jim Daly13 May 1975Special CommitteesLeader's CouncilSir Reg Goodwin4 May 1973Staff AppealsAnna Grieves4 May 1973
Cutler administration (1977–1981)
CommitteeChairmanDateNotesStanding CommitteesArtsBernard Brook-Partridge24 May 1977Fredk. Weyer16 May 1978Covent GardenAlan Greengross24 May 1977Dr Mark Lister Patterson16 May 1978Finance and EstablishmentAlan Hardy24 May 1977Fire BrigadeTom Ham24 May 1977General ManagementGeoffrey Seaton24 May 1977Historic BuildingsWilliam Bell24 May 1977Housing DevelopmentGeoffrey Aplin24 May 1977Lawrence Bains18 June 1979Housing ManagementJean Tatham24 May 1977David Ashby13 February 1979Housing PolicyGeorge Tremlett24 May 1977Industry and EmploymentMervyn Scorgie24 May 1977Legal and ParliamentaryJames Lemkin24 May 1977David Ashby16 May 1978John Reveley Major13 February 1979London TransportHarold Mote24 May 1977Dr Gordon Taylor16 May 1978Harold Mote19 December 1979Open Spaces and RecreationSydney Ripley24 May 1977Planning, Central AreaHerbert Sandford24 May 1977Planning, North AreaWilliam Clack24 May 1977Alan Greengross16 May 1978John Putnam18 June 1979Planning, South AreaJoan Wykes24 May 1977Planning and Communications PolicyShelagh Roberts24 May 1977Alan Greengross18 June 1979Policy and ResourcesRichard Brew24 May 1977Professional and General ServicesRobert Mitchell24 May 1977Cyril Taylor18 June 1979Public Services and SafetyDr Gordon Taylor24 May 1977Bernard Brook-Partridge16 May 1978Stanley Bolton7 February 1979Recreation and Community Services PolicyPeter Black24 May 1977ThamesmeadVictor Langton24 May 1977Town DevelopmentFrank Smith24 May 1977Special CommitteesLeader'sHorace Cutler24 May 1977ScrutinySir Malby Crofton, Bt.24 May 1977James Lemkin16 May 1978Staff AppealsMuriel Gumbel24 May 1977Construction Branch Contracts ReviewHorace Cutler15 May 1979Set up in 1979.Local Government BillRichard Brew14 January 1980Set up in 1980.Housing BillGeorge Tremlett5 February 1980Set up in 1980.
Livingstone administration (1981–1986)
CommitteeChairmanDateNotesStanding CommitteesArts and RecreationTony Banks28 May 1981Peter Pitt22 May 1984Ethnic MinoritiesKen Livingstone28 May 1981Finance and General PurposesDr Anthony Hart28 May 1981John McDonnell11 May 1982Replaced by Michael Wardas Acting Chair, March 1985.Alex Mackay21 May 1985Greater London Manpower BoardGareth Daniel11 May 1982Set up in 1982. Renamed Greater LondonTraining Board, 3 May 1983.HousingGladys Dimson28 May 1981Anthony McBrearty11 May 1982Industry and EmploymentMike Ward28 May 1981Legal and GeneralHarvey Hinds28 May 1981John Wilson3 May 1983PlanningEd Gouge28 May 1981George Nicholson3 May 1983PolicePaul Boateng28 May 1981Policy and Performance ReviewIlltyd Harrington28 May 1981Harvey Hinds22 May 1984Renamed Policy and Performance, 21 May 1985.Public Services and Fire BrigadeSimon Turney28 May 1981StaffJohn Carr28 May 1981Technical ServicesAlex Mackay3 May 1983Set up in 1983.Sir Ashley Bramall21 May 1985TransportDave Wetzel28 May 1981Women'sValerie Wise11 May 1982Set up in 1982.Special CommitteesPolicy Co-ordinatingKen Livingstone28 May 1981Staff AppealsHarry Kay28 May 1981John Ward22 May 1984Local Government Finance BillKen Livingstone11 May 1982Set up in 1982; abolished, 3 May 1983.Matters relating to theCouncil's Future Existenceand FunctionsKen Livingstone22 May 1984Set up in 1984.Illtyd Harrington21 May 1985Policy and ResourcesKen Livingstone21 May 1985Set up in 1985.
References Minutes of the Greater London Council, County Hall, London SE1.
See also List of heads of London government