Lib Dems in Control of the Council

After being elected leader of Islington Council, new leader James Kempton made the following speech.

"It is a great honour to be nominated to be Leader of Islington Council and to be asked to lead the ruling administration. It is not something which I accept lightly, but I do accept with great hope to serve the people of Islington to the best of my ability and to continue the work begun by Steve Hitchins, Bridget Fox and others, who turned what was a notoriously poorly performing authority into the fastest improving council in the country.

"I care passionately about Islington and I was drawn into politics because I felt embarrassed at the way the council was a millstone, dragging down the great people of this borough. And what the Liberal Democrat administration has achieved since 2000, gives me a tremendous source of pride and determination to continue the task of completely overhauling this borough which was always going to take longer than the six years we have had so far.

"Turning round one of the poorest performing councils in the country could not have been done without tough decisions, without forcing the pace of change faster than some people wanted. But in many respects now, those difficult days are over. As we move into the next phase of improvement for this council, I want to be judged by the way in which we build stronger communities, create a greener and more sustainable borough and improve the quality of life and life chances for everyone who lives here. As I said earlier in the meeting, this will be a council which:

"listens to residents more,

"shares better the tough choices that the council and our community face,

"challenges central government for the freedom to serve our residents properly, and

builds consensus around the right answers for our community.

"If I want to be judged by anything, it is that in 2010 when after four years, the administration I intend to lead, places its record before the electorate again, I want people to feel differently about Islington Council. Whereas now too many people feel that THE council does things to them, in four years time, I want people to feel that it is THEIR council which does things for them. That is how I would like the record of my administration to be judged.

"I am ambitious for Islington and so are the fantastic Executive team who can't wait to get to work serving this Borough.

"By 2010 Lucy Watt, wants to reduce the natural resources Islington consumes (not least water - which is in the news today) so we make a better contribution to meeting the challenges of sustainability and global warming, She will also increase the amount of green-space, as well as improving the quality of life residents' Like all my colleagues she looks forward to working with councillors in all 3 parties on achieving a greener Islington.

"Terry Stacy, is responsible for delivering 4000 new homes for Islington. Getting council tenants 21,000 new kitchens and bathrooms; ensuring quality and speedy repairs and he will be working hard to get a better deal for leaseholders. As well as building stronger, more empowered communities with strong links/closer ties to the voluntary sector.

"George Allan has worked tirelessly to get the council to take customer service seriously. Contact Islington is outstanding, but there is more for him to do - like a single non- emergency contact number, because every improvement we have made, has set the bar of residents expectations still higher. Rightly so. Taking on the additional role of leisure in Islington he will also be delivering our commitment to help every child learn to swim.

"Marisha Ray will be leading the introduction of more CCTV and work with the Police on strong measures to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and on building trust and respect between the communities and generations.

"We already have one of the closest relationships between any primary care trust and council in the country, but given the financial crisis in the NHS which impacts so directly on the people of the borough, I am delighted that John Gilbert will be championing our residents, as well as making sure that adult social services develop further and that older people to live long and prosper.

"Andrew Cornwell, has the crucial task of keeping Islington's council tax below the London average, and ensuring that the excellent financial discipline and budgetary control that we have established in the Town Hall, that enables all of this to happen.

"Finally, it is no secret to anyone in the room that my real passion in politics is improving the quality of life and life chances for young people. There are many challenges ahead, not least, continuing to improve GCSE results, through the two academies, and rebuilding and refurbishing all our secondary schools in the borough. If childrens' services are, as it were, my baby, then I know that they are safe in Ursula Woolley's hands.

"But this administration is not just about the leadership and the members of the executive. It is about all my twenty-four highly talented LibDem colleagues who are all deeply committed to serving the people of Islington well. It is about leading The Council, all 48 of us, as we debates and decide on Islington's future. And I am encouraged by the extent to which all Manifestos agree on some of the key challenges. Whether it's improving community safety, better school meals, meeting the needs of parents, or keeping council tax below the London average.

"Madam Mayor, as Leader of Islington Council I am determined to take on the challenge of building resident's trust and confidence that this council is on their side. That it is a council that listens to people's opinions; shares the challenges; and builds consensus on the tough choices our community faces. This is a time for new beginnings, for renewal and for a new way of working, and I hope that all colleagues will join me in working constructively in the new three party politics of Islington. What unites us all is the desire to serve the people of this great Borough - with all our hearts, with all out strength and with all our skills. Madam Mayor, by 2010 I want to see the quality of life and life chances of the people of Islington transformed. And I know the best person in this chamber to lead that transformation is me."