Leader's Speech to Council on 28 February 2008
This is a landmark budget.
For us as a local authority it marks the start of a new chapter in the development of our organisation. Since 2002 we have gone from being rated as one of the four worst performing councils in the country to - hopefully after our May assessments - one of the very best. We are now ready to combine ever-improving service delivery with playing a full and leading role in shaping our area.
For Waltham Forest as a whole it sets a clear and ambitious direction of travel. We are aiming for nothing less than the complete transformation of our borough and the life chances of our residents: a sustainable community that looks after our vulnerable residents and creates opportunities; that works together to tackle child poverty and poor housing; that embraces our roles and responsibilities in combating climate change and harnessing the full potential of strong community cohesion.
We will - of course - be keeping our council tax rise to 2.5% for the third year running: significantly below the headline inflation rate, 50% lower than the Government’s recommended ceiling and over 30% less than the average 3.9% national rise.
And because we understand that life for many of our residents is tough we are taking steps to improve our efficiency - saving £23.7 million over the next 3 years so that we can increase investment in front-line services and keep council tax low for the foreseeable future.
Single Status is a major concern for some of our employees. We will offer a fair pay protection deal for employees adversely affected by this process. And we will be pleased to provide Equal Pay compensation for workers who are set to benefit: giving some of our lowest-paid workers a well-deserved and overdue pay boost.
This year we are announcing the largest injection of extra resources into our area’s priorities for a generation - a total of £12.8 million in growth. We are proposing almost £7 million of additional investment in adult and community services, over £2 million extra for Children’s Services and nearly £3.5 million on improving our environment.
A budget not just for this year’s priorities but also for the future
Revenue spending per pupil to increase from £4,399 this year to £4,940 by 2010: £500 extra for every pupil to support learning and to help liberate the untapped potential on our estates and neighbourhoods. And of course 20 of our schools are to be rebuilt or refurbished as part of a £250 million once-in-a-lifetime programme.
A budget to capitalise on the unprecedented economic opportunities of the next few years
We are poised to benefit from the transformational impact of the 2012 Olympic Games; we are strategically well-placed to benefit from the new economic geography in London - as wealth and opportunity moves east from the city to Canary Wharf and Stratford; we are at the centre of two of London’s most prominent growth corridors - Thames Gateway and Peterborough-Cambridge.
And so we are proposing to spend over £900,000 over the next 3 years as part of a new regeneration drive to bring prosperity and jobs to the residents of this borough. To give tomorrow’s residents and employees better prospects, more opportunities and an improved standards of living.
A budget that stands up for our most vulnerable residents
Over £4 million extra to guarantee high quality services in a range of settings for people with learning disabilities.
£1 million more to support all local people in residential, nursing and dementia placements. £175,000 to improve care for people suffering from poor mental health. And £900,000 to ensure more people benefit from personalised care budgets to better meet their individual needs.
Because we will always try to be there for people when they need us. Because it is in these policy areas that people have to rely on us the most. Because Waltham Forest will only be a truly good place to live when we can confidently say that we will leave no one behind.
A budget that delivers a better deal for all our young people
£800,000 on placements for looked after children; £100,000 to enhance support for disabled children; £225,000 to provide Special Guardianship Orders for children in care; and £250,000 to provide Care Leaver support for young asylum seekers.
And because young people need positive activities to expand their horizons and find their place in life we will invest £235,000 in enhancing our youth offer - funding that will supplement the £2.7 million over 2 years from the Mayor of London and the £4.2 million we have already spent in recent years improving our parks, green spaces and playgrounds. Not funding for one young people’s bus - but for at least a further two because we know these facilities provide positive and engaging activities.
Because we are determined to give all our young people the best possible start in life: encouraging them to aim high and eventually become happy and successful adults.
A budget that looks after our local neighbourhoods.
£206,000 to ensure the removal of graffiti and fly-tipping, £205,000 to ensure litter left on the streets after 8pm is cleared, £150,000 to improve the state of our local trees and over £80,000 to create more opportunities for local residents to get involved in enhancing our green spaces.
And this year we will name, shame and claim from those who allow fly tipping on their land and we will seize unclaimed land used for dumping. £295,000 to enforce our planning rules - coming down hard on those who blight our streets: especially in conversions and extensions.
Because we know that the physical renewal, planning and improvement of our neighbourhoods can be a precursor to residents feeling happier and more aspirational, businesses wanting to invest and communities growing stronger.
A budget for the environment
More than £750,000 over 3 years to consolidate improvements after the introduction of our pioneering compulsory recycling scheme. £100,000 to ensure we play our part in reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
Because we know that it is vital to take a leadership role in this area and set an example for people and organisations across the borough.
A budget that puts more power in the hands of local people.
£170,000 to increase the money available for each Community Council to spend - putting residents firmly in the driving seat of local priorities and spending decisions. Waltham Forest as a local authority leader in participatory budgeting and community engagement.
Because our residents know best about how to improve their street or neighbourhood. Because local people are our most important partners. Because real and lasting improvements will be sparked by residents rather than meetings at the town hall.
A budget for a united Waltham Forest moving forward together
£141,000 to deliver the council’s community cohesion strategy - tackling extremism and promoting tolerance. Over £350,000 to strengthen our focus on our legacy from the 2012 Games.
A budget for a forward looking local authority - striving to be the best
Building first-class employment and skills support for our residents through the new WorkNet Partnership programme - with £3.4 million from the City Strategy Pilot and a further £500,000 this year from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund.
Planning for the next 15 - 20 years with our Sustainable Communities Strategy: managing population growth and change; creating wealth and opportunity for our residents; retaining wealth in the borough.
An authority now ready to take on the biggest and most entrenched problems. Because it haunts us that on our watch 18,000 of our children are growing up in poverty: with its impact on educational attainment, health, future employment and income.
So in the next few months I will be working on a local child poverty strategy - with the aim of making us a centre of excellence at tackling poverty, raising aspirations and creating opportunity.
- A budget for a top tier local authority.
- A budget that stands up for and cares about our most vulnerable residents.
- A budget that looks after our local neighbourhoods.
- A budget for the environment.
- A budget that delivers a better deal for all our young people.
- A budget that puts more power in the hands of local residents.
- A budget for a more united Waltham Forest moving forward together.
- A budget for tomorrow as well as today.
- A budget that continues a process of transformation - for our borough and for the life chances of our residents.
And on this basis I put it to you.
