£7,500 tag on census

Published: 21 April, 2011

• ISLINGTON could lose out on millions of pounds of government funding over the next ten years – in addition to the harshest government cuts any of us have ever seen. Why? Because some Islington residents haven’t completed their census forms.

The funding the council and other public services get from the government is based on the size of the local population. We have calculated that every person missed from the census will mean the council loses out on more than £7,500 for key services such as schools and housing over the next decade. The police, health and other public services will miss out on thousands of pounds more.

During April and early May a team of census collectors from the Office of National Statistics, who are running the census, are knocking on the doors of people who have not returned their census form. Please be prepared to fill out your form if a collector calls. Or you can call the census helpline on 0300 0201 101 to get help or advice. Your information will not be shared with third parties.

If you have completed your census – thank you. Please ask your friends and neighbours to do so too. It could be the most important thing you will do for your borough and your community this year.

CLLR RICHARD GREENING
Labour executive 
member for finance