Council launches ambitious new vision for Camden’s future

Date:   Thursday 16th February 2012

A report setting out the Council’s vision for the next five years is due for agreement by the Cabinet on 22 February. If agreed, it will form the foundation of a new corporate plan for the council which will be considered by Cabinet again in April.

During spring 2012 the Council will engage with its partners, stakeholders and residents on the new vision to see how they can help shape its direction to increase growth and reduce inequality.

The five strategic objectives set out in the report are:

- Investing in our communities to ensure sustainable neighbourhoods
- Creating conditions for and harnessing the benefits of economic growth
- Developing new solutions with partners to reduce inequality      
- Delivering value for money services by ‘getting it right first time’
- Providing democratic and strategic leadership fit for changing times

The objectives will also seek to underpin a wider package of equalities proposals, including a new set of council equalities aims to comply with new Government legislation, as well as policies which go further than legislation requires, such as launching an Equalities Taskforce to look at tackling inequality across the borough.

The new vision will also embed recent council initiatives such as the Education Commission recommendations, which aim to improve education across Camden and the Community Investment programme, a plan to unlock the value of under-utilised assets in order to re-invest in improving schools, housing and community services.

Council Leader, Cllr Nasim Ali OBE, said:

“The current national economic uncertainty and its impact on local services and residents’ lives mean more than ever the Council has an important role to play in leading the community and encouraging growth. 

“Tackling inequality is central to our ambition for the borough. We will take a tough approach to tackle the problems with inequality which blight so many lives in our Borough, particularly the chances of young people.

“For example, through closer partnership working, we will support businesses and create education and training opportunities to improve skills and job opportunities which will help promote growth and tackle unemployment.
 

“Our vision will also seek to improve Council services by aiming to make sure they are delivered ‘right first time’: stripping out inefficiency and improving processes.
 

“Now we have set out our bold vision for increasing growth and reducing inequality in the borough, we will start talking to our partners over the coming two months about how they can help shape these objectives and work with us to deliver the positive outcomes Camden wants.”

Ref Code:   PR 1538
Contact:
    

pressoffice@camden.gov.uk