Islington’s Labour-run Council has today, 8th January, published its budget proposals to invest in a fairer Islington for all.
The Tory Government’s austerity agenda has forced Islington Council to make almost £250m in savings since 2010. Despite continuing government cuts, by carefully managing our budget over the last few years and by making the Council as efficient as possible, we are, for the first time in a decade, able to increase our investment in tackling the issues that matter most to local people, including Housing, Safety, Jobs and the Environment.
This year’s budget, set to be debated at a Full Council meeting on 27th February, includes an extra £60m in funding to turbo-charge the borough’s biggest council house-building programme in 30 years, £600k additional investment in tackling violence against women and girls, and £250k to increase support for vulnerable young adults to improve their skills and find work.
Islington Labour is determined to tackle the climate emergency and create a cleaner, greener future for everyone in Islington. Islington Council’s incredibly popular School Streets scheme has seen a vast improvement in safety and air quality around local schools, and, under the plans announced today, the number of School Streets is set to more than double, from 13 to 30. Frontline environmental services, like street cleaning, parks maintenance and weekly recycling and rubbish collections will continue to be protected as the council presses ahead with implementing the change needed to achieve its bold ambition of a net zero carbon borough by 2030.
As part of Islington Labour’s commitment to stand up to rogue landlords and protect private renters, we are calling on the Tory Government to allow the Council to invest £700k to extend its private landlord licensing scheme to cover 70% of all privately rented properties across the borough, helping around 3,000 renters who are living in sub-standard conditions. Sign our petition here to protect private renters.
Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council, said:
“After a decade of brutal Tory Government cuts, our hard work and careful management of council services has allowed us to publish a budget of growth and investment, to make Islington a fairer place for all.
“We remain determined to make a difference for local people by investing in a safer, greener Islington where everyone is supported into good jobs and training, with a decent and affordable place to call home”.
Cllr Andy Hull, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety, said:
“This is a budget packed with good news and full of hope for residents across Islington. I am particularly proud that we have chosen to invest heavily in tackling violence against women and girls, intervening early to prevent the domestic abuse which blights the lives of survivors and their families.
“Through addressing this important issue head-on, we can break the cycle of violence and transform lives for the better”.
The full set of budget proposals can be read here.