On April 6th 13,000 millionaires will receive a tax giveaway worth on average £100,000 from the Tories and Lib Dems while people in Camden face cuts to tax credits, child benefit and the bedroom tax.
As Tory Millionaires’ Day approaches, Camden Labour is encouraging local residents to sign the petition against this unfair tax cut at www.labour.org.uk/
Cllr Theo Blackwell, Cabinet Member for Finance, London Borough of Camden, writes concerning the Camden Council budget, passed last night…..
The continuation of the government cuts initiated in 2010 has meant that 2012/13 has inevitably been a challenging year both for the Council and residents, as efficiencies have been required at exactly the time when the need for essential public services has never been greater.
The following letter has been sent to more than 500 contractors and suppliers of services for Camden Council, about the council’s decision to become Living Wage accredited. Camden is leading the way on this issue, having become one of the first London boroughs to not only pay its staff the London Living Wage, but to make this an integral part of the process of tendering contracts to external employers. For more information, visit www.camden.gov.uk/livingwage :
5 November 2012
Dear Camden Supplier
I’m writing to you about a change of policy at Camden Council that may affect you as a key provider of Camden services.
Camden Council believes that work should pay enough to cover a basic standard of living. Currently that is not always the case, and it isn’t the case for some of the companies that provide Camden services.
In July we changed our policy. In future we will expect providers to pay all their staff – and supply chain staff if they subcontract – a living wage. We will not be renegotiating existing contracts but will expect it to apply to re-lets of existing contracts and new contracts.
There are many benefits to employers in paying a living wage. These benefits reduce costs and increase profitability. They include:
• lower staff turnover, reducing recruitment and temporary cover costs
• improved productivity, raising the profitability of each staff member
• lower sickness absence, reducing cover and increasing productivity
• improving the workforce’s ability to adapt to new work practices.
For the employee, being able to afford to cover basic costs can have an immeasurable impact on people’s wellbeing. These include, reducing the stress of having to worry about money and reducing the need to work long hours or more than one job. These in turn can have a positive impact on the family life of the employee. And because a living wage puts more money in people’s pockets it can boost the economy and reduce benefit dependency too.
If you are already paying the living wage, we’d like to know because we would like to be able to credit our suppliers who are already responsible employers in this regard.
If you aren’t paying the living wage and believe it may be difficult for you to achieve, there is a lot of help and advice available. We understand it can be difficult having only recently ensured all our staff are paid a living wage.
If you want to know how it will affect you as a supplier of services to Camden Council please send your email to londonlivingwage@camden.gov.uk.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a living wage employer and to receive accreditation, please contact the Living Wage Foundation by visiting livingwage.org.uk
We realise these are challenging times economically, this is exactly the reason why we have changed our policy. We believe that there will be huge benefits to you as an employer and to Camden residents in the quality of the service they receive.
We want to pay a living wage, and want our suppliers to do the same because it’s the right thing to do.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or your contract manager if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Leader of the Council, Cllr Sarah Hayward
Labour councils are leading the way in the fight for fair pay, as Camden Council this week became just the third council in London to become accredited as a London Living Wage employer.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Sarah Hayward, proudly raised a London Living Wage Employer flag to fly above the Town Hall to commemorate the occasion.
Camden Council already pays its staff the London Living Wage of £8.30 an hour, but as of this week fair pay will also be an integral part of the decision making process in tendering contracts to external employers.
(L-R) Cllr Valerie Leach, Rhys Moore, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Cllr Sarah Hayward, Leder of Camden Council, Cllr Pat Callaghan flying the Living Wage flag above Camden Town Hall
The London Living Wage is a campaign run by Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation. It is an hourly rate set independently and calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. It affords people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. It has so far lifted over 10,000 families out of working poverty.
So far, the only two other Living Wage accredited boroughs are Labour-controlled Islington and Lewisham.
Cllr Sarah Hayward said: “We are proud to be one of the first boroughs in London to not only commit to introducing the London Living Wage but to act on that commitment, and I am proud that it is Labour councils leading the way on this issue.
In times like these, paying a living wage is even more important as the Tory-led government cuts £18 billion from welfare benefits, including those paid to people in work.”
The commitment to the LLW was announced on the back of the publication of the Council’s new five year vision, the Camden Plan, which has a bold ambition to tackle long-term inequality in the borough. That includes working together with residents, businesses, partners and staff to deliver these ambitions. You can read more about the Camden Plan here.
Maddy Raman has been chosen as the local Labour Party’s candidate for the Hampstead Town by-election on Thursday 27 September 2012. The vacancy arose when one of the most capable Tory councillors in Camden decided to step down to move to America.
Key issues in the campaign will be:
Maddy Raman said, “Living locally on South Hill Park, I know what matters to residents in Hampstead Town.
“My wife and I live next door to, and use, the shops of South End Green. I want to do all I can to help them survive in these tough economic times.