A merger for the second division?

• CAMDEN’S secret discussions with Islington proceed apace regarding the proposed merger of the chief executive post and senior management team.

Now Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham (WKCHF) have announced their own merger of officer teams at a potential saving of £50-£100million a year. In principle, the announcement of the WKCHF tie-up would seem to be good news for the Camden-Islington deal: others are doing even more and look at the savings, etcetera.  

In practice it just makes Camden’s relegation to the second division of leading London councils even more evident. 

On the one hand, WKCHF combines three high-performing and innovative councils and suggests credibly large potential savings based on a track record of achieving similar savings over many years. On the other hand, Camden has sought refuge in, according to Labour finance chief Theo Blackwell, an arrangement with a council which shares our (his) values. I don’t know if such a merger is in Camden residents’ best interests. But I’m certain that, if it is, Camden residents would be far better served being part of WKCHF than tied to the waist with Islington. An ambitious council leader would pick up the phone to WKCHF before relegation to the second division with Islington is confirmed. 

CLLR ANDREW MENNEAR
Conservative, Frognal & Fitzjohns Ward