Olympic legacy MAA planned

Games are four years away

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The five Olympic London boroughs are to set up a multi-area agreement (MAA) as the councils look to enhance their influence over the games' legacy.

The councils are in negotiations with civil servants and hope that the MAA's objectives will be negotiated by September.

Borough leaders said the MAA would tackle the area's  problems, including poor job  prospects, overcrowding, deprivation and infrastructure.

Newham LBC mayor Sir Robin Wales (Lab) said the potential targets represented the common challenges faced by the Olympic boroughs, Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest LBCs.

He said: "While the five boroughs remain very different, they face similar challenges in certain areas such as employment, overcrowding and deprivation."

Waltham Forest leader Clyde Loakes (Lab) added: "Our priorities for the Olympic legacy are clear — it's all about jobs and infrastructure."

The news follows London mayor Boris Johnson's expressions of concern that the legacy plans were ill-prepared. There have also been problems with the spiralling costs of the Newham-based aquatic centre.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Delivery Authority has revealed that a consortium comprising construction firm Carillion and regeneration organisation Igloo will develop the media centre in Hackney.