Camden’s Labour administration has “run out of excuses” for council failures, say Lib Dems in Budget Debate
Lib Dem Group Leader Tom Simon said: “Labour has run this Council since 2010. The Mayor of London is Labour, the Government is Labour. Their Budget papers bleat about an “exceptionally challenging financial environment” but they have no-one to blame but themselves. As residents pay more in Council Tax, and get less in services next year and beyond, they need to remember that it’s the Labour Government’s choices which are letting Camden down.”
Cllr Simon continued: “This Labour Council also has choices it could make. Instead of maintaining expensive office properties, it could use the opportunities provided by changing working patterns to invest more in services that matter to residents. This is the fifth year in a row we have proposed disposing of under-used Council buildings. There are literally millions of pounds wasted every year because of the Labour council’s failure to act.”
The 2026-27 Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment proposed using savings from the sale of the Crowndale Centre (while re-providing the library on site) as well as renting out two floors of 5 Pancras Square, to fund five areas where residents say the Labour Council is failing.
These are:
1. Improving safety on our streets by investing in additional community safety officers, and extra mobile CCTV units to be deployed to crime and anti-social behaviour hot-spots.
2. Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis, by purchasing an extra 33 homes for use as temporary accommodation, along with additional support workers, and funding five additional staff to support rough sleepers off the streets.
3. Building a fair and inclusive place, including a comprehensive action plan to fulfil the council’s pledge to become an age and disabled friendly borough, restoring access to visitor parking scratch cards and reviewing public toilet provision.
4. Delivering thriving high streets by providing additional capacity to work with local businesses, and tackle street clutter, and funding extra “environmental education officers” to address fly-tipping on our high streets.
5. Tackling climate change by working with voluntary sector organisations to engage residents about the steps they can take to tackle the climate emergency, and funding an extra “Traffic Troubleshooter” to reduce air pollution, bus delays and traffic congestion.
Recently-elected councillor for West Hampstead Janet Grauberg said “Community Safety and anti-social behaviour is the biggest issue raised with me by West Hampstead residents. With the Labour Mayor of London closing police front counters, the council needs to play its part in making our communities feel safe.”
Cllr Nancy Jirira, who sits on the Council’s Housing Scrutiny committee, said “Camden Labour is now overspending by £21m each year on Temporary Accommodation. Our Budget Amendment would purchase much-needed additional temporary accommodation properties, along with the support for residents, and fund additional workers to support rough sleepers off the streets.”
Cllr Judy Dixey, who led last year’s call for Camden to be an Age and Disabled Friendly Borough, said “The Council has been dragging its feet on putting its pledges into action. Elderly and vulnerable residents have seen no difference being made to the problems they face. Our budget amendment would task and empower a specific senior team, with a budget, to push forward concrete actions, pushing through the long-awaited strategy for provision of public toilets and restoring access to visitor scratchcard parking permits.”
Cllr Linda Chung, who is an active campaigner for Hampstead’s high streets, said “ We need our high streets to thrive. We need to unite businesses and the community. Labour forgets they exist and provides no support. Our budget amendment recognises the need and provides the support.”
Belsize ward councillor Matthew Kirk said “We need to take urgent action to avoid climate catastrophe. Labour promises a lot but could do so much more! We want to fund community groups to work with people to make changes in their homes and lives.”
The full text of the Liberal Democrat Budget Amendment can be found here.