Caretaking to be privatised by Tory/Lib Dems

Camden Unison last week gave a vote of no confidence in housing chief Cllr. Chris Naylor after his plans to axe council tenants caretaking were revealed. Caretakers, many of whom live in the blocks they clean, are the ‘ears and ears’ of estates – providing a vital link between tenants (sometimes vulnerable ones) and the council. Camden housing staff have warned of council plans to reduce Camden’s service, in order to save money.

In today's CNJ Naylor tries, strangley, to blame "the government" for his own plans - but the new "Housing Management Improvement Plan" is totally his idea and his creature.
Plans include:
- A centralised (i.e. not district-based) call centre for rent queries
- Proposals to privatise the caretaking service and get rid of residential caretakers
- Less housing staff, with bigger patches, to provide the service

The plans have not been set out in full, but drip-fed from the council in order to avoid a full debate.

At the next Full Council meeting on Moday Labour will be promoting a motion against privatising caretaking – a test for Coalition councillors who profess to represent council tenants in areas with large estates like Kilburn, Cantelowes, Kentish Town, Gospel Oak, Haverstock, Camden Town with Primrose Hill and Highgate.

Recap of 2006/2007 Budget cuts in Camden

The councillors approved £23 million in budget cuts in 2007-8, with over £40 million in the next three years, affecting the following:

- 350 jobs slashed
- £3m cuts to children's services, including play scheme closures plus support to vulnerable children reduced
- £9.8m cuts to Housing and Adult Social care with 170 job losses
- 20% hike in community meals charges
- Cuts in Welfare Rights and Camden Language Services
- Cuts in funding to the voluntary sector
- Inflation-busting 5.3% rent rise for council tenants
- Major upheavals in hostels with 60 jobs to go in homelessness services
- end to door-to-door recycling schemes on council estates
- Enforcement initiatives in the planning department deleted.
- Slash street ‘gully cleansing’ team
- 3am street cleaning in entertainment hotspots such as Camden Town and Covent Garden cut.
- Reduction of posts in Youth Offending Team.
- Schools music service under review.
- Grants to voluntary services reduced by 12% in real terms over 3 years.
- Boulevard project scaled down.

The administration combined this with above inflation hikes in fees and charges:

- Meals on Wheels dinners for the elderly to rise by 50p each (or nearly £300 a year for a couple)
- Surviving play after school and holiday play schemes to be more expensive.
- Cemetery charges up.
- More expensive fees for pest control.
- Higher fees for hiring out the Camden Centre and other council buildings.

See press reports from the demonstration here:
http://libcom.org/news/town-hall-riot-over-cuts-camden-01032007

http://www.thecnj.com/camden/022207/news022207_01.html

Polly Toynbee: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2037972,00.html