CNJ COMMENT - In the very worst of times, a tale of two boroughs

Published: 9 December, 2010

THE unravelling story of how Camden and Islington councils are coming to terms with the economies dictated by Whitehall is becoming a tale of two boroughs.

In Camden there are all the signs of stultified thinking – a throwback to the past.

In Islington, political creativity seems to be astir.

Compare the two by their actions since the assumption of power in May.

Camden promised to take a look at the high earners – many of whom earn £70,000 to £100,000, several times that of the low paid staff – and cut numbers.

They would raise the pay of the lowest paid, those earning the minimum of just under £6 an hour, and lift them to the London Living Wage of £7.95 an hour.

They would merge services wherever possible with Islington.

What has happened?

All the signs suggest that somehow the heavy hitters at the Town Hall have been allowed to build a protective ring-fence around themselves.   

If Camden Labour continue on the route they appear to have chosen, there will be as many big salaried officials in four years time as there are today.

And despite the promises made in May, the low paid remain just as they were then – low paid.  

Many of them are the invisible staff – employed by a private company called Mitie – who clean the offices at night.

In one respect, Labour is honouring its pledges. It is attempting to merge services.

This week it cut the cost of school meals by joining up with Islington for a joint two-borough service.

It has published where the cuts will be made – but somehow, it will be the lower paid and low middle management, who will feel the pinch.

And again, essential services for children are to be hacked away. Witness the preposterous proposal that could lead to the closure of  the children’s centre Plot 10 in Somers Town, the legacy of a more free-thinking Labour council, that of the 1970s.

In Islington, jobs are going – nearly 400 are on the line – but among them are far more higher paid staff than, it appears, in Camden.

The council have already succeeded in raising the pay of the low paid to the London Living Wage, as  well as directly employing 150 of them – the kind of “in-house” decision Camden fights shy off.

In  more than a window dressing act, Islington have set up a Fairness Commission, chaired by the celebrated sociologist Professor Richard Wilkinson, to discuss with the public how to cut the glaring inequalities in the borough.

Over the coming fraught years Islington may arrive at a consensus both with Town Hall unions and the public.  

Camden is likely to run into trouble.