Privatisation of services hurt elderly

Gospel Oak community activist Sally Gimson warns of the Tory/Lib Dem threat to services to the elderly under the Town Hall's 'Better and Cheaper' agenda, see here.

Grab for 2010 Camden votes behind schools plan, memo reveals

The CNJ has reported on a leaked memo from Lib Dem education chief John Bryant, showing that the council rushed towards a decision based largely on 'biased' considerations about the 2010 elections, see here.

Allegations of procedural bias are very much the stuff of judicial review - and papers have just been served by parents against the council.

Camden's consultation flaws

See this week's CNJ editorial slams the new Tory/Lib Dem council for sham consultations and not listening to people on their big ticket projects:

http://www.thecnj.com/camden/2007/112207/letters112207_01.html

Council to replace caretakers with a private cleaning agency

Camden’s network of caretakers is set to be outsourced under cost-cutting plans revealed by the Tory/Lib Dem administration at the Town Hall. Many estates are currently served by caretakers who know all their tenants, look out for those who are vulnerable or elderly and have a relationship with the kids growing up on their estate.

Caretakers are also area vital link to the council and an essential part of the community.

The Town Hall is looking for at least £2 million savings from housing maintenance. These service cuts at the Town Hall mean that service is likely to be privatised, and the service handed over to private contractors.

See Labour Councillor Roger Robinson’s letter in the CNJ here.

Frank Barnes school closure protest

Shocking Camden Lib Dem plans, drawn up over the last 18 months, to demolish Frank Barnes School for the Deaf have sparked a wave of protest culminating in a March on the Town Hall tomorrow, see here for the full story.

The school sits on a plot of land wanted by the Town Hall for its new Academy, despite other sites being available.The fight for the school has been carried with great tact by the parents and governors, not wanting to make it a political knockabout.

Earlier this month they succeeded in getting the Lib Dems to u-turn on their proposals, but only after a massive effort. However, promises made by the Camden Lib Dems are rarely worth the paper they are printed on, so they need to be held to account.

They have already ignored the voices of thousands of parents on the school consultation, putting political legacy over local needs.

That's why the Labour opposition aims set up an unprecendented joint scrutiny to safeguard the future of Frank Barnes children.

Camden Gazette story

Massive Camden Council redundancy bill revealed

Camden Council has spent £1.7million of taxpayers money in just two years on redundancy payments to staff at the Town Hall, Camden Labour has revealed.

The sum, equivalent to 1% on council tax each year, is part of the council's Better and Cheaper programme.

In an anwers to a written question by councillor Theo Blackwell, the council refused to reveal the total sum for senoir staff because of the risk of "public speculation."

Cllr. Blackwell said:

"This is a massive amount of money for council taxpayers to pay out in redundancy payments alone. It's clear that cuts to public services, like play centres or door-to-door-recycling could've been averted if the council hadn't been coughing out all this money."

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