Investing more while freezing Camden's share of council tax

11.14.23pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 28th Dec 2006

The following letter from Janet Grauberg, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Resources, appeared in the Hampstead & Highgate Express on December 14th:

"Your article on Camden Council's latest budget proposals disappointingly only presented one side of the story (Small taxes, big cuts in 'right wing' budget , H & H, December 7).

"Yes, it is true that the new administration at the council is keeping our election promise to freeze the council's part of council tax. To suggest this is at the expense of the young and old, however, is absurd.

"We are investing £10 million more this year than last in services for residents. We are meeting the needs of our ageing population - spending £5 million to keep up with demand in adult social care. A further £300,000 will be spent on equipment - such as stair lifts and shower supports - to help older people in Camden live as long as possible in their own home. And for young people , resources for schools and early years will increase by nearly £8 million next year. We'll also be spending more than £5.5 million on youth and play services.

"So - how are we keeping council tax the same while investing more? For a start, we're taking money out of the way the council is run and always looking for better service. That means fewer management jobs and less duplication. So, for example, we're joining together the youth service with the youth offending team. This means we're not only giving a wide range of young people positive activities, but can also work with disaffected young people at an early stage to nip offending in the bud. We also reduce management costs.

"We're also taking out bureaucracy and negotiating better deals on products we have to buy. So we're saving more than £1 million in taxpayers' money ditching laborious paper invoice processing.

"It's also true that we're changing the way we charge for some services. It is always a difficult balancing act, but where people can afford to pay - is it right that the rest of the borough subsidise them? This is something that many councils across London are looking at as well.

"And a raft of financial and personal support is available from the council to ensure the most vulnerable in the borough get the support they need.

"The council is a large organisation so making sure we are getting value for money out of the way we run ourselves is a top priority.

"Making decisions to stop running services that don't give value for money is also important. So where we have taken the difficult decision to close, for example Kilburn Grange Park play project, it is for very good reasons. Namely - it cost 80 per cent more than other play services to run, the building is old and falling apart, a new centre has opened 100 yards away and there are spaces for the 24 children who use it at play centres nearby. We can't keep things going just because they've always been there and we will always support - in this case, the children, parents and staff - to move to a better and more cost effective solution.

"The council's budget proposals are far reaching and we're talking to residents and stakeholders to make sure everyone understands the decisions we are taking.

"Camden residents work hard to pay their council tax and deserve to know it is being spent wisely and well. With these budget proposals, we are putting money in to the services people need without expecting residents to pay more than they absolutely have to."

Cllr Janet Grauberg

Executive Member Resources

Camden Council