Comment: 'We'll open doors at Town Hall' - Message from new leader of Camden Council, Nash Ali
Nash Ali, the leader of Camden’s new ruling Labour Group, sets out his party’s plans for change
Published: 13 May 2010
LABOUR was rejected in 2006 for a variety of reasons.
There were some big, national ones – but also many local factors. We had been in power for 35 years and, while Camden was highly regarded, the Town Hall approach was often seen as out of touch and blinkered.
In 2010 national factors of course played a part in our victory, but so did the popularity of our MPs Glenda Jackson and Frank Dobson, and the sense of disappointment at the decisions made by the Tory- Lib Dem administration at the Town Hall.
One of the lessons we learned in opposition was how monolithic the Town Hall seemed from the outside. Where the Tories and Lib Dems promised to change this – and failed – we want to press ahead and bring local people into public life and decision-making at the Town Hall.
Our manifesto is based on the Labour principles of tackling inequality and unfairness where we live and supporting that unique social mix that makes Camden the progressive place it is.
Council tenants need to have a real voice in any regeneration plans there are for their areas.
For leaseholders, we promise to get outside scrutiny of billing and works.
Every progressive fears for school budgets under the new Tory-Lib Dem government, and we will lobby hard for money to be continued to modernise 13 secondary schools.
At the Town Hall we will rebuild damaged relationships with school governors. Clumsy political manoeuvres – such as those around the location of schools and reordering of school repair budgets since 2006 – will never be repeated.
Pay and spending transparency will be introduced so people see greater value for money.
Externally, we must ensure that the interests of Camden people have a voice on projects which are important to us.
Crossrail is of major strategic importance to this borough, and the national economy – and we must see that project continue, not least for the jobs and apprenticeships it will bring to young people.
It is now becoming a political cliché to say that hard times are coming. Council officers confirmed a £60million budget gap the moment we returned on Monday.
We will wait and see what deal has been struck in No10 between David Cameron and Nick Clegg, but I fear the expected “Emergency Budget” by the end of June will serve up £6billion of extra cuts.
Whatever happens, Camden’s Labour team will strive our hardest to listen to the community as we face what could be unprecedented strains on services in the years to come.
• Picture - Nash Ali, with son Noah