Safer, cleaner streets, and greener policies to protect the environment top the agenda in Islington Council's budget proposals for 2007/8.<br><br>After listening to the borough's residents, Islington Council has drawn up spending plans based on the things local people said were important to them - with crime prevention and clean streets topping their list of priorities. <br><br>In a report published today (1 February 2007) the council outlines how it proposes to spend its money in the coming financial year (2007/8). The proposals, to be discussed by the council's Executive next week, are based on the results of the budget consultation, where the council asked residents where they wanted investment.<br><br>Cllr James Kempton, Leader of Islington Council, said: "We're listening to Islington and investing in the priorities of Islington's residents. Residents have told us their top priority is crime prevention, closely followed by cleaner streets -- so these budget proposals are about creating a greener, cleaner, safer borough."<br><br>Cllr Andrew Cornwell, Executive Member for Finance, Islington Council, said: "Residents also told us they want us to continue raising standards in education, and to make sure we care for the most vulnerable members of our local community. That's why we want to continue investing in our schools, re-building or refurbishing every secondary school in the borough. Also this year, we've also secured an extra £8million from the DfES for schools in Islington, making that total of £125million for education in Islington - that's an extra £350 for each pupil.<br> <br>"The budget proposals are also to invest in services for older people, and help get more children out of care homes by finding them families. At the same climate change is huge issue that affects everyone. Islington is already leading the way locally, and these proposals are for even more investment in making the borough greener."<br><br>The council today unveiled budget proposals, which allow for:<br><br>· An additional £245,000 to fund an extra Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for the Safer Neighbourhood Team in every ward. The extra PSCO will focus on working with young people. <br>· £400,000 for dedicated teams to remove graffiti and flyposting. Until now Islington received Neighbourhood Renewal funding for these teams - now this has run out, the council is using its own funding to ensure these teams continue.<br>· An extra £375,000 for new street enforcement teams to tackle litter, waste, flyposting, flytipping, dog fouling and other environmental anti-social behaviour, using new powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.<br>· An extra £600,000 for recycling and waste reduction to bring doorstep recycling to every household (currently 91 per cent of households benefit, and the council wants this to rise to 100 per cent)<br>· £1.15m to meet the needs of more people with disabilities - more people are living independently at home for longer, and this means there is more demand for council services to help them<br>· As the council has become increasingly successful at finding families for looked after children, £300,000 to pay adoption allowances. <br>· £2million to meet the rising cost of residential care for children and adults.<br>· £450,000 for temporary accommodation - the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) is expected to reduce its subsidy for temporary accommodation, and the council is budgeting to make up the difference.<br>· The council has secured an extra £8million from the DfES for the Dedicated Schools Grant this year, making it a total of £125.3million. The council will is already re-building or refurbishing every secondary school in the borough, investing around £12million in doing so. <br><br>The council's Executive will reach a decision on the proposals at it's meeting on 8 February 2007.<br><br>ENDS<br><br>For more information on this news release please contact Susie Rundle on 020 7527 3376.<br><br> <br> <br><br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009