Camden gets 4 stars for Labour decisions

Camden Council's 4 year assessment, covering the period from 2003/04-2007/08, has resulted in Camden being named the best council in the country.

Camden Labour pays tribute to the hard working staff, past and present, who hard worked to achieve this - their extra day off is well-deserved.

I'd also like to flag up the really hard work of former colleagues Phil Turner, who really improved libraries over the last few years, John Thane - who despite his unpopularity over parking was a stout improver of the public realm. Jane Roberts steered through a radical expansion of Surestart child care and play services, we were the first borough in the country to 'roll out' the programme. Meanwhile John Mills developed Camden's reserves to a prudent level and we were radical in developing ASBOs - including the one against Diabolic Liberties for illegal flyposting.

Existing officers who served during this time deserve praise (although it would be unfair of me to name them on this blog) as do those who have left - particularly Ian Walker MBE.

The award is quite unique in the sense that it was given to an authority which went from Labour to no overall control halfway through this period. While the new administration is praised for its cost-cutting successes, most of the receognised achievements - Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Kings Cross Construction Centre and the King's Cross development - came about pre-May 2006 under Labour. The quote from the Ham&High makes this point but doesn't actually cite our quote on the council's press release - for some reason.

While we disagree with the new adminsitrations over-emphasis on cuts - we think this will lead to fewer face-to-face services and more privatisation - we recognise that this is what they set out to do, and what they promised, so fair dos. There has also been greater discussion around green issues, reflecting national trends, although we wait to see funded, practical action in this area.

However, we always saw the CPA assessment as a health check, not the ultimate approval. This is because council services aren't just about raw data and focus groups, they are also about what happens beyond that. Cutting services which helped tackle deprivation, like the Welfare Advice Services, small voluntary groups, play centres and youth clubs might not factor on the inspectors list - but they do signal a shift away from a social inclusion approach.

By the same token, the council has hiked fees and charges up since 2006 - discounting any small saving people would have receieved in year one's coubncil tax freeze by a long way. This is an area I will pursue as Chair of the new Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee where I hope investigate just how much these fees have gone up by - part of Camden's hidden story.

In terms of Town Hall politics - the council leadership plans to have an event on 21st May to celebrate - and despite this being a four year review, as things stand the Lib Dems are refusing to let previous leaders of the council speak. If I were them I'd be relaxed about it, however, you do get the sense that they are slightly insecure over their record if they don't!