Present organisation

Over the three-year period (2008-11), Capital Ambition has managed approximately £36 million of central government funding to support London's authorities and local strategic partnerships to deliver efficiencies, improve performance, and support innovative ways of working. The portfolio of projects that have received funding from Capital Ambition is forecast to achieve efficiencies of £725 million by 2015, of which £584 million is directly attributable to Capital Ambition funding.

On 14 December 2010, the London Leaders' Committee agreed the ongoing governance arrangements for Capital Ambition in terms of oversight, decision making and the use of the remaining funds. As a result, a new Capital Ambition Board (CAB) was established in February 2011. This retained the Shared Services and Joint Procurement Board (SSJB) under sponsorship of the CAB to provide assurance and advice on programmes and projects in accordance with the priorities and criteria for Capital Ambition funding. For more details with regard to the priorities, criteria, Board membership and the meetings, please see the governance section.

From the end of May 2011, corporate directorship of Capital Ambition transfers from Steve Johnson to Nick Lester with Mary Vine-Morris taking over the day to day responsibilities, maintaining the strategic overview and ensuring that the good work completed is continued through 2011/12. More specifically Capital Ambition will continue to:

• help London borough's to both preserve their unique identity with residents and leverage the scale of efficiencies;
• support future capacity, in a tightening financial climate, by encouraging boroughs to work together on more commonly specified requirements that help protect the key services to the most vulnerable in the community; and
• explore ways of maximising the use of the remaining programme funds through e-auctions and for example, the use of commercial investment in some specific areas.

Capital Ambition continues to be supported by a programme management office to oversee the monitoring of current projects and support the CAB. This is headed up by Tim McCormick and supported by Mark Smith. If you have any questions with regard to Capital Ambition or the projects still ongoing, please contact:

Tim McCormick tim.mccormick@londoncouncils.gov.uk
0207 934 9923

Mark Smith mark.smith@londoncouncils.gov.uk
020 7934 9968

London Councils
59½ Southwalk Street
London
SE1 0AL