How local government can empower communities

“Labour stands for big reform without big spending” is the opening line in the One Nation policy review published by Jon Cruddas and Jonathan Rutherford this week. As a London council Leader and in the face of identifying £70m worth of savings over the next 3 years on top of the £100m we have already found, I feel confident in stating that local government is already delivering this aim.

As the policy review recognises, local government is leading the way on doing better for less, and whilst there are still huge challenges of inequality to confront,  we are identifying and developing creative solutions as well as setting out challenges and options that can shape the future.

We are not in the business of managing decline and we recognise we cannot achieve our ambitions on our own. Local government needs to be given the ability to become self-financing and the recommendations from reviews conducted by the London Finance Commission and Andrew Adonis that would allow cities to deliver growth and meet infrastructure demands, should be considered seriously by present and future governments. The current model of local government funding and the relationship between local and central politicians is not sustainable in the long term and devolving power needs to be far more meaningful and real.

I’m sure we all recognise the analysis in the policy review of people’s hopes and fears, the sense of injustice and the loss of aspiration as what they thought would be the future for themselves, their families and their friends is threatened. Next week, Centre for London will be launching a report that Haringey has supported. Hollow Promise is a new piece of research by Charles Leadbeater that examines the plight of London’s so-called ‘squeezed-middle’ households – workers and families earning low to modest incomes, and struggling to get by. Whilst the report will focus on circumstances in London, it reflects issues that are common across the country. We need to ensure that our society works for everyone, irrespective of their income and circumstances and as public policy makers, I think we have a duty to address this growing imbalance, giving people access to the opportunities they currently feel are beyond their reach.

I am committed to creating a more equal borough and a more equal London, where the ambitions and aspirations of all our residents are supported. I want us to be able to lead and shape a borough and city that works for all, enabling our local communities by harnessing talent and opportunity, and by giving others the tools to make a difference where they live. Our commitment to empowering communities is under-pinned by our values, priorities and aspirations – making excellent education a given for all and continuing to deliver improving GCSE and A Level results in our schools; working with internationally renowned architects like McAslan to offer local apprenticeship opportunities; building new and affordable housing and finding ways for people to have a stake in their local area; supporting our economy, investing in our high streets and enabling our markets and businesses like Wildes Cheese and  Tottenham-based breweries to thrive.

Cllr Claire Kober is Leader of Haringey Council, Deputy Chair of London Councils and Chair of the LGA Resources Board