Council election manifestos: Camden Labour to build ‘6,000 homes and four primary schools’
Camden Labour launch their 2014 election manifesto. Pictured front centre, Camden Council leader Sarah Hayward with Labour MP Dame Tessa Jowell. Picture: Polly Hancock. - Credit: Archant
The tagline for Camden Labour’s 2014 local election manifesto is “making a difference in tough times”.
Since 2010, the council has lost £83million in central government funding and will have to cut a further £80m from its budget over the next four years.
The borough’s Labour group claim that while frontline services will be curtailed in the next four years, it will deliver on a number of key manifesto pledges.
Most significant is the pledge to build 6,000 new homes, four primary schools, three community centres, two new libraries and a new swimming pool and leisure centre.
The Labour group insist this will be realised as part of its 15-year Community Investment Programme, which raises funds from the sale or redevelopment of council properties that are out-of-date, expensive to maintain, or underused.
There are also pledges in the manifesto to bring a breakfast club into every school and to create 1,000 new apprenticeships.
Camden Labour’s aim is to ensure every young person in Camden is in employment, training or education by 2017.
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But the manifesto concedes there is a need to improve the council’s customer service and reduce council charges.
Last Thursday, Labour MP Dame Tessa Jowell launched the party’s council election manifesto at Castlehaven Community Centre in Camden Town.
The Dulwich and West Norwood MP described the manifesto as “absolutely terrific” but did not back its pledge to oppose HS2, voicing her support for the infrastructure project.
Camden Council leader Cllr Sarah Hayward said: “Ultimately Camden Labour believes people from all backgrounds should be able to live here and have a chance to succeed.
“We will pursue policies that ensure everyone can prosper and that no one is left behind.”
Key pledges:
- Build 6,000 new homes
- Create 1,000 apprenticeships for young people
- Provide a breakfast club in every school
- Build three new community centres
- Make Camden the most efficient borough in the UK
