PROPOSALS to give new powers to the Mayor of London will erode local democracy in the boroughs, claim Harrow Conservtives.

Measures to extend the Mayor's powers, announced in the Queen's Speech, run contrary to the Government's stated intention to empower local government, they said.

The Government wants to transfer powers, particularly over planning, away from local councils to London's regional government.

The GLA Bill proposes to grant Ken Livingstone more powers over the boroughs to give a "clearer strategic approach".

Cllr Marilyn Ashton, the portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise on Harrow Council's cabinet, said: "The Government appears to be in disarray.

"On the one hand they are claiming to be giving local authorities more power and then in the same breath they are removing local control over planning issues.

"Apart from giving a very distant Mayor of London more powers over local planning - questions surround the Mayor's strategic focus both in theory and practice.

"Surely, it is only right and proper that Harrow sets its priorities.

"Unnecessary interventions by the Mayor, which have little strategic significance, should be resisted for the benefit of all Harrow residents.

"Since coming into being the London Mayor has made 1,200 strategic planning interventions across London, a total of four have been upheld.

"It is the pan-London, cross-party view that most of the interventions have been of little, if any, strategic significance at all.

"The urgency and scale of this matter was further compounded by the Queen's speech.

"The proposed GLA Bill will mean that certain planning applications will no longer be decided by borough planning committees and will instead fall under the Mayor's control."