Labour run Camden has promised a bold plan for the borough – one that will challenge the Government’s agenda for public services and will make Camden a better borough, ensuring no one is left behind.

The plan focusses on five pledges:

• Providing democratic and strategic leadership fit for changing times
• Developing new solutions with partners to reduce inequality
• Creating conditions for and then harnessing the benefits of economic growth
• Investing in our communities to ensure sustainable neighbourhoods
• Delivering value for money services that are ‘right first time’.

Now Camden Labour is encouraging all our residents to get involved and help us develop the ideas that will deliver a better Camden.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Sarah Hayward, said: “Despite our best efforts to protect the most vulnerable, we know that people in Camden are really feeling the strains of the recession and the impact of the Government’s £83m cuts to the Council’s budget.

“I’m proud to be part of the team that took an alternative approach to the Government’s cuts and prioritised services for the vulnerable and those in need. I’m determined to be radical in my approach to capitalise on Camden’s location at the heart of London, recognised as a vibrant world city, by creating the conditions for and then harnessing the benefits of economic growth in the borough.

“We know that we can always listen more to our community and so are inviting residents, businesses and partners to give their views on how we tackle the inequality that exists in Camden terms of health, education, housing and crime. We plan to have the biggest ever conversation about how we tackle inequality.”

The initial key priorities and long-term ambition within the Camden Plan and for the new Leader Sarah Hayward include:

• Universal childcare – long-term goal for all parents with children up to the age of five to help get the economy moving, especially to those who face the largest barriers to returning to work
• London living wage – from now on we will expect Camden’s contractors to pay Living Wages
• Complex families – tackle the long-standing problems that cause disadvantage in our community amongst those in most need
• Young people – we want to reduce the number of young people who are not in education or training to zero by engaging the community, including schools and businesses, to tackle the roots of this problem.