New year message from the leader of Islington Council

12.00.00pm GMT Thu 1st Jan 2009

Council leader James Kempton

Happy New Year! But I can't remember a time when wishing people a Prosperous New Year rang so hollow. With negative equity, job losses and even the most optimistic economists predicting worse to come, many of us are feeling the pinch.

Financially secure:

In difficult times more people come to rely on their local council and I am well aware of the responsibility that puts on us. Accessing affordable homes, helping with advice on debt, maximising the benefits residents are entitled to, cutting heating costs through grants for home insulation. These are just some of the tests we face.

But in rising to meet this challenge we at least start from the best financial position Islington has ever been in. Our relentless drive to cut waste has seen council tax fall dramatically from the highest in London 10 years ago. And as everyone is suffering financially, we will definitely be sticking to our value for money pledge to keep council tax low compared with neighbouring boroughs. And having sold surplus offices and other commercial buildings - cannily at the top end of the market - we have money in the bank to invest in local building works that will hopefully help to keep the local economy moving. And we did not invest in Icelandic banks!

Building for tomorrow:

In 2008 we opened two brand new buildings for the Bridge School; the new Prior Weston School and Richard Cloudesley primary school near the Barbican; the Green Living Centre, three new wind turbines, solar panels and other measures to tackle climate change right across the Borough; a new Islington Museum, a rebuilt Lewis Carroll Library - London's only stand alone children's library. In addition we are making excellent progress in developing our network of 16 Children's Centres, giving young people and their families the support they need to get the best start in life.

There are currently builders on site at four Islington secondary schools delivering on our pledge to support achievement by rebuilding and refurbishing every Islington secondary school.

Another thing we are going to be doing to help in 2009 is setting up an apprenticeship scheme for 100 people in the council, and with the help of our contractors we will be able to offer places to even more youngsters. When we eventually come out of recession I want Islington's young people to be the ones who have had the training they need to get the best jobs going!

With house building set to dry up across the country, our decision to start building council houses after decades looks like a very wise move. The first of these family homes are due to be completed in the summer and we are already looking for other sites on which to build. There are too many Islington families living in overcrowded flats and we are determined to do as much as we can to help. And of course the programme to bring all council homes up to a decent standard continues.

Listening to your priorities:

I expect to spend much of January working with other councillors on putting together the council's budget. As a council that believes in listening to residents, can I thank the 3,000 of you who took the time to take part in the recent budget priorities consultation - a record number. Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour was your top priority again this year, followed by improving education standards and, in third place, making our streets cleaner. We will make sure these priorities are reflected in the Council's budget for 2009/10.

And while I am on the subject of communication, can I also thank everyone else who has taken part in consultations over the past year. Your 50,000 responses gave us views on matters ranging from dog control orders to the plans for new leisure centres. With your support, we can make Islington a place where local people's views count.

Without doubt the new year promises to be the most challenging year since I became Council Leader. Fortunately 2008 gave us much to inspire us from Islington schools' best ever GCSE results to TV talents Alexandra Burke and Joe Swash to young people of Islington marching against knife crime. And so many people have commented on the wonderful flowers that won us the top award in the prestigious London in Bloom competition. Due recognition for all those magnificent floral displays along the main roads, along with the massive improvements programme to Islington's parks and community gardens and all the efforts by residents to make this inner city area a bit greener and more colourful. Fantastic achievements the Borough can take pride in. Well done to all involved!