February 8th, 2010
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Lambeth’s Labour councillors are planning to freeze council tax for the second year running and have unveiled next year’s council budget for Lambeth. This announcement follows the biggest-ever consultation with residents to make sure money is spent on the things that matter most to local people.
Labour is keeping council tax down while spending more on front line services by cutting out millions of pounds in waste left behind by the Lib Dems and Tories. Since being voted into power in 2006 Labour has cut out £30m in Lib Dem and Tory waste. Labour’s stronger financial management means frontline services have been protected through the worst of the recession. Labour’s two-year tax freeze marks a real change from the staggering 40% council tax hike the Tories and Lib Dems forced through during the period they ran the council until 2006.
Labour council leader Steve Reed said: “Instead of targeting people’s pockets like the Lib Dems did, Labour has targeted waste to make the council more efficient.
February 5th, 2010
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Lambeth residents can today benefit from an extra £100k courtesy of the Home Office’s Safer Homes Fund. Clapham Park NDC was successful in their bid to secure the extra funding which they applied for in October 2009.
The Safer Homes fund have been aligned with the partnership Serious Acquisitive Crime sub group who’s objectives are ensure that this free service is used to target specific burglary hot spot areas in Lambeth. The group have decided to extend this free offer to all residents within Lambeth who wish to have additional security to their properties regardless of their tenure.
Age concern have been commissioned to carry out this project and are able to assess and carry out security work to all properties referred to by the scheme. They are able to install a range of security equipment for residents in Lambeth form night latches, spy holes, door chains, locks to windows and patio doors as well other security features that might be required all for free.
If you wish access any of this funding (open to Lambeth residents only) please contact us in the leave a reply option. Do hurry though as the closing date for applications is 19th March 2010.
February 4th, 2010
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London Labour MPs today raised the issues of Boris Johnson’s cuts to police officer numbers and his broken promises on policing. Their contributions came during this afternoon’s debate in the House of Commons on the police grant.
Karen Buck challenged the Shadow Home Office Minister David Ruffley over Boris Johnson’s budget, due to be finalised next week, which proposes a cut in police numbers of 455 officers. Ruffley failed to respond to her points.
Former police minister Tony McNulty accused Boris Johnson of having “walked off the pitch” over policing and crime by reneging on his manifesto commitment to chair the Metropolitan Police Autnority.
He reminded MPs that Boris Johnson had failed to deliver on his promises for rape crisis centres, which he had given a commitment would be funded by cutting his press office – contrary to his promise, Boris Johnson had made no cuts to the mayor’s press office, and has failed to deliver the amounts promised for rape crisis centres.
February 3rd, 2010
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Almost 2000 extra primary school places will be created by Lambeth Council over the next three years in a bid to tackle an expected shortfall. Lambeth Council plans to put £47 million into the reception class place expansion between September and 2013.
At the start of the next school year, Kingswood Primary School in Gypsy Road, West Norwood, will get an extra 420 places. Five other primaries will also have more spaces by 2013, and the borough will also get a new railway station. Pupils from Julian’s Primary School in Leigham Court Road, Streatham, are likely to be transferred to the new school when it opens.
The borough’s cash for its primary school expansion programme includes £9million secured at the end of last year from the Government. Dulwich and West Norwood MP Tessa Jowell and Councillor Paul McGlone lobbied for the extra money in the face the borough’s growing shortage of places.
Cllr McGlone, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “with demand growing for places faster than anyone predicted, this money will help create permanent places that young children need. There is no question, the money is in the bank. The government has committed the extra money to us, which will allow us to prioritise expansion in areas of greatest need.”
Schools taking on extra pupils:
- Jessop Primary School in Lowden Road, Herne Hill, will get 210 extra places by September 2011.
- Kingswood Primary School in Gypsy road, West Norwood, will get 420 places by September 2010.
- Henry Cavendish Primary School in Dingley Lane, Streatham Hill, will get 420 extra places by September 2012.
- Stockwell Primary School in Stockwell Road, Stockwell, will get 210 extra places by September 2012.
- Vauxhall Primary School in Vauxhall Street, Kennington, will get 420 extra places by September 2011
February 2nd, 2010
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After last years record snow fall nobody expected the country to suffer its coldest winter in 100 years which caused all sorts of problems with potholes and road damage but Lambeth council working with partners such as Veolia are keeping on top of the problems and are working ward by ward to fix potholes and keep Lambeth moving.
The Councils Snow Plan for the 2009/10 was heralded a success in terms of finance and resources. Priority areas were gritted at least once a day enabling the traffic to move freely and with minimal disruption. Unlike many other boroughs in London, Lambeth was well prepared and never once ran the risk of running out of salt even though a large number of salt bins were stolen during the cold snap.
The council have also been trialling a new ‘instant repair patch’ which requires no setting period and will cause minimal disruption to traffic whilst repair work takes place. This will be used over the next three weeks to help patch up Lambeth and will be repairing up to 2 wards a day with minimal disruption to the public.
Councillor Sally Prentice, cabinet member for the environment said “I’d like to thank staff from Lambeth and partners such as Veolia for working very hard to keep the roads clear during the heavy snowfall, and thank teachers who did so well in keeping the majority of schools open. We have had some very nice letters and emails from residents, thanking council staff, which are much appreciated”
February 1st, 2010
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In a report going to cabinet on Monday 8 February the Lambeth Labour Group will be recommending a rent increase of 3.14% which is just £2.60 extra per week and 5.75% – tenant service charges. Both of these figures are in line with the governments recommended figures.
Lambeth housing tenants will also see the repairs budget increase with a further £3.3 million going forward into providing repairs and new windows to enable all Lambeth residents a comfortable property to live in.
Labour will continue to work with Lambeth Living to find the most effective way of finding savings and help to reduce the deficit left by the previous Liberal democrat and Conservative administration. There is still a lot of hard to work to do to help get Lambeth tenants into suitable housing as well as complete the extensive repairs project.
Cllr Lib Peck, cabinet member for housing and regeneration said: “We have listened to what our tenants have said – that is why we are working to secure the smallest possible increase of £2.60 per week. This is in line with Government guidelines.
I am pleased that we have managed to secure an extra investment of £3.3 million into repairs; and to freeze any increases in hot water and heating charges.
“We remain firmly committed to working closely with Lambeth Living in the next few weeks to agree a workable and reasonable housing management fee for them to provide housing services for Lambeth tenants.
October 25th, 2009
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Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP has admitted his party will force through ’savage cuts’ if they get back into power.
The last time the Lib Dems ran Lambeth they forced council tax up 40% while closing day care centres for the elderly and leaving youth services the worst funded in London. Now their leader has admitted the cuts will be ’savage’ if his party wins the council elections due in May 2010.
Local people are demanding answers from tight-lipped local Lib Dem councillors over just where the cuts will fall. The Lib Dems have failed to guarantee funding to improve 10,000 substandard homes in Lambeth, and now there are real fears they could target youth services, home help for the elderly, transport, and waste collection. Labour’s Cllr Jim Dickson said: “The Lib Dems must come clean about where their leader’s ‘savage’ cuts will fall, and which services they will destroy if they win in May 2010.”
The Lib Dem axe – who will the ‘savage’ Lib Dem cuts hit first?
Youth services – CUT
Home helps – CUT
Meals on wheels – CUT
New homes – CUT
Street cleaning – CUT
Recycling – CUT
October 25th, 2009
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Local people have scored a big win with Lambeth Police announcing the Vice Squad is to be re-formed, with extra officers.
A Labour-backed campaign won huge local support from residents worried about the upsurge in kerb crawling on streets around Brixton. Labour councillors took the campaign direct to Lambeth’s new top cop, Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave, who has now agreed to bring back the squad that was disbanded last year.
In contrast, Lib Dems have provoked anger with public demands to LEGALISE kerb crawling! Now one of their parliamentary candidates is trying to cover up the campaign launched by his Lib Dem colleagues on Lambeth Council.
The leader of Lambeth’s Lib Dems made his comments at a meeting of London Councils: “Cllr Ashley Lumsden (Liberal Democrat, Lambeth) pointed out that there was a long history of prostitutes operating in Lambeth and argued that criminalising users should be removed from the recommendations.”
See the document the Lib Dems are trying to hide for yourself here: http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/London%20Councils/L14120491104minute.doc
October 24th, 2009
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Lambeth Labour is congratulating schools across the borough for achieving their best GCSE exam results EVER!
Lambeth’s schools now perform BETTER than the national average thanks to the hard work of parents, teachers and students backed up by Labour investment. Under the Lib Dems and Tories Lambeth lagged far behind. But this year’s results have seen a massive 9% increase in the numbers achieving at least 5 good GCSEs.
Labour’s Paul McGlone said: “We promised our kids the best start in life – and that means the best possible education. Thanks to Labour investment, our schools are now among the best in the country – and for the first time this year’s exam results are better than neighbouring boroughs!”
Labour has promised to provide a school place for every child that needs one – but Lib Dems have started a campaign to STOP a new secondary school being built. The Lib Dems and Tories left 500 children without a school place when they ran the council together. If Labour’s new school goes ahead the shortage of places will be eliminated.
DID YOU KNOW? Labour’s opened TWO new secondary schools in the last two years – and plans for a third are well under way!
