Islington’s Labour Council last night (Thursday 30 June) formally adopted a bold action plan for creating a fairer Islington.
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Cllr Catherine West, Leader of the Council said: “A fairer Islington is better for everyone. It’s the reason I set up the Islington Fairness Commission last year, and it’s the reason why the 19 recommendations in our final report are so important.
Turning this piece of paper into real actions that change people’s lives is our task for the year ahead. It’s a difficult task – one made even harder by the unprecedented Tory-Lib Dem cuts inflicted on our borough.
But action is needed, and needed now, and I’m proud that Islington is leading the way”
Cllr Andy Hull, vice-chair of the Islington Fairness Commission said: “It’s excellent that a commitment has been made to act on the report’s recommendations. The other Fairness Commissioners and I will be watching closely to ensure this happens where it matters most, on the ground”
The recommendations include:
- Promoting the London Living Wage so no-one does a hard day’s work for less than they can live on
- Establishing a single point of contact to report, and better tackle, anti social behaviour
- Launching Islington Reads to help both our children and adults improve their literacy skills
- Creating more genuinely affordable homes for our residents by bringing empty space above shops and commercial buildings back into use
- Combating social isolation, particularly among our older and disabled residents, through a Good Neighbour Scheme
For a full list of the Fairness Commission’s recommendations, see the final report at www.islington.gov.uk/fairness
Islington’s Labour Council has already taken steps to reduce the pay gap for its own employees by pledging to pay at least the London Living Wage to all directly employed staff and recruiting a new Chief Executive on a salary of £50,000 less than her predecessor.
