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Looking back... and looking forward (Friday 21/12/07)
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As this is my last column before the New Year, I thought it would be a good time to look back on 2007 and also to look forward to the future.
2007 is the year in which we set out our aspirations for Hammersmith & Fulham. We want to do all we can to make this a bold, confident, economically vibrant borough where everybody has the chance to climb the ladder of opportunity.
Our vision and priorities are clear and we are ensuring that we deliver on those priorities.
Our vision is simple. We want to deliver high quality council services at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer. We want to make our borough safer and work with the police to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour. We also want a cleaner, greener borough.
We are beginning to deliver on this vision by planning to cut council tax by 3 per cent for the second year in a row and by cutting waste and bureaucracy. Yet at the same time we are investing in quality services that matter to our residents.
For example, we are the only council in the UK to invest in 24/7 neighbourhood policing in Fulham and Shepherd’s Bush, which means more bobbies, more arrests and less crime.
The quality of our services is reflected in the fact that we are one of only a few local authorities nationwide to receive the Audit Commission’s top rating.
However, what is far more important to me is what our residents say and think and, I am pleased to say, that satisfaction in H&F continues to rise – with 72 per cent of you satisfied with the area as a place to live.
Our longer-term vision is to create a borough of opportunity. This means we need to provide top quality state schools of choice for all. We also intend to build a housing ladder of opportunity so that more people can own their own homes. Finally we want to use our land values to encourage regeneration of our most deprived areas.
This is a council that wants to provide a ladder of opportunity to help our residents get on in life. This means not only low council tax, safer neighbourhoods and cleaner streets but also better schools, more opportunities to own your own home and the physical, economic and social regeneration of the most deprived parts of the borough..
We’ve achieved a lot in 2007, but there’s even more to do in 2008. I’ve got my sleeves rolled up and this council looks forward to delivering for you again next year.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas!
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh
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