Camden taxpayers are footing the full bill for Kilburn's Town Centre Management programme, which covers the Kilburn High Road on the Brent-Camden border, while Brent Council pays nothing but receives the benefit.
Town centre management has really helped improve the local area since local authorities started funding it in the early 2000s. Through effective town centre management residents and businesses see better street cleaning and a more joined-up approach to anti-social behaviour.
It allows effective long-term planning and stimulates regeneration - a good thing in most people's books. Read all the benefits here on the Camden website, and a mention on the Brent one.
It is therefore bad news for Camden taxpayers that since 2007 Lib Dem/Tory-run Brent Council has not paid a penny into the scheme. Moreover, most of the benefit is Brent, not Camden.
So Camden is not only funding something, which largely benefits Brent but Brent puts in nothing.
Camden's Kilburn Lib Dem councillors are either unaware of this situation, or are failing to challenge Brent council to stump up its fair share.
In fact the only person who seems to be concerned is Kilburn Labour Councillor Mary Arnold, who put a question to the Brent Executive worrying about this situation. She asked:
"What are the Council's contingency plans in the event of Camden Council deciding that they have had enough of funding the entire cost ofthe Kilburn Town Centre Manager's post which benefits both Brent and Camden?"
Surely everyone should should pay their fair share.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
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2 comments:
More fool Camden Council for making such a decision without confirming the financial consequences ! Is Camden Labour-run by any chance ?
Actually no Rob, since 2006 Camden Council has been run by a coalition of Lib Dems and Conservatives.
Under the previous (labour) administrations in both boroughs the funding for this service was shared.
Hence my point.
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