Agenda item

The leader of the council to present the theme for the meeting.

Councillor Kieron Williams, leader of the council, presented the motion in the themed debate.

 

Councillor Rachel Bentley, the opposition spokesperson, responded to the motion and proposed Amendment A.

 

Following debate (Councillors Barrie Hargrove, Jasmine Ali, David Watson, Richard Leeming, Suzanne Abachor, James McAsh, Ian Wingfield, Victoria Mills, and Catherine Rose) Councillor Kieron Williams responded to the debate.

 

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be Lost.

 

The motion was put to the vote and declared to be Carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

Notes

 

Southwark is a truly remarkable place. Our borough’s success builds on our rich history. For centuries, Southwark has been a centre of diversity, creativity and innovation. We have much to be proud of, and every reason to have high ambitions for the decades ahead. 

 

To continue to achieve those ambitions we must unite our community with common cause in delivering the future to which we aspire. That is why the council is working with the people and organisations of our borough to agree our shared Southwark 2030 plan. Thousands of Southwark residents and hundreds of Southwark organisations have already been involved in shaping this plan. This work is ensuring that we agree the right shared goals for the future of our borough.

 

Our greatest strength is the people of our borough, and the plan will therefore at its core be one that unlocks their potential. For centuries, people from across Britain and around the world have been drawn to Southwark to work, to study and make this borough their home. From the first Roman and Anglo Saxon settlers, to Flemish weavers in the fourteenth century, Dutch pottery makers in the sixteenth century and Irish labourers in the eighteenth century, to the Windrush generation from the Caribbean and Commonwealth, people from across Africa, South America, Europe and China, alongside many more people from around the world and across our country, generation after generation, have brought new ideas and cultures that have come together to make Southwark one of the most diverse and creative places in the world. Our Southwark 2030 plan will draw on all of the talent in our community to deliver the change our borough needs.

 

To achieve the true potential of Southwark we need to unite the people and organisations of our borough with common purpose in delivering the big changes that our community need. That is why our Southwark 2030 plan will be one jointly owned and agreed, not just by the council as the democratic leadership of the borough, but also by our wider community, public services, business, education and cultural sectors. A shared plan setting out our shared ambitions and commitment to deliver them, together with our brilliant schools and universities, our world leading hospitals, innovative businesses and vibrant voluntary, community, faith, arts and cultural sectors all playing their part.

 

We have many successes to build on. In the last 14 years, Southwark has achieved so much, in very hard times. Working with the community to deliver what Southwark residents want, despite huge funding pressures imposed on local public services, including the council, schools, and our NHS, from Liberal Democrat and Conservative governments.

 

To give just a few examples of our successes, over recent years we have:

 

·  Transformed our schools, from being some of the worst in the country to being some of the best, with 98% now rated as Good or Outstanding. Our schools also have a nationally leading offer of free healthy school meals and mental health support. 

 

·  Created thousands of good jobs, and supported thousands of Southwark residents into them, with the number of jobs in our borough at a record high, our employment rate lifted from below the London and national average to above both, and more apprenticeships created than any other London borough.

 

·  Built more council and social rent homes than any other council, with over 3,000 new council homes built or under construction and more social rent homes started than any other borough in the country since 2015.

 

·  Delivered new and better parks, libraries, leisure centres and theatres, opening six new libraries since 2010, new leisure centres and parks opened and under construction at Elephant and Castle and Canada Water, millions of pounds invested in our existing parks including the complete transformation of Burgess Park, and seven new theatres opened across our borough.

 

The Southwark 2030 plan will build on these successes and the many others our community and Labour run council are already delivering together.

 

In an ever-changing national and global political environment, we must continue to raise our ambitions for our borough, making sure we are the driving force behind what happens to Southwark and the people that live, work and study here.

 

Last year the council embarked on Southwark 2030, to outline a shared vision for the borough, developed by people who live, work, and study in Southwark.

 

The development of the plan is being undertaken collaboratively with our borough community. Over 5,000 people have been involved a programme of engagement through our Social Life, Life After Covid and Southwark 2030 involvement processes.

 

The Southwark 2030 engagement plan has been co-designed with local community groups and public sector partners.  The comprehensive approach has reached a full range of Southwark residents. Including in-depth conversations with people who live, work, study and visit the borough, held in local venues across the borough. Thirty listening events hosted be a wide range of local community and voluntary groups, organised to reach resident who are often less heard, including events hosted by women’s, older people’s, LGBTQ+, migrants, parents, youth, disability and religious groups. Representative surveys of Southwark residents on their aspirations for their families and our borough. Decision at empowering ward forums.  Work with schools and youth groups to hear the views of children and young people.

 

With local groups and organisations also given the opportunity to drive the direction of the Strategy and partners from the voluntary sector, NHS, schools universities, Police and cultural institutions activity engaged throughout.

 

During the consultation process residents have shared the things they love about Southwark: our vibrant and diverse culture, our fantastic schools, our drive to deliver good quality housing, our thriving small business and town centres, our green spaces and our accessible leisure centres.

 

We also learned about the priorities that people in Southwark want to see progress; even more and better affordable homes, reducing anti-social behaviour, increased access to the mental health support, creating cleaner air, extra chances to gain good jobs and skills, increased opportunities for young people and making sure everyone feel part of a community.

 

Southwark 2030 will build on what residents have told us, and ensure we have a shared plan focused on delivering on the goals that matter to our residents, ensuring:

 

·  Children can flourish

·  People can have good homes, that they can afford

·  Our borough is safe

·  We improve health and especially mental health

·  There are good jobs for Southwark residents

·  Our environment is clean and healthy

·  Our neighbourhoods are great places to live.

 

Above all the plan will focus on closing the gaps across our community in each of the above areas. Because whilst our borough, city and country are full of opportunity, the gaps across our society means too many people in Britain today are being left behind. In Southwark, we are determined to lead in the way in closing that gap.

 

The work in these areas will be guided by overarching principle to guide our borough’s plan between now and 2030:

 

·  Reducing inequality

·  Investing in prevention

·  Empowering people.

 

Southwark 2030: a proud history and a vibrant future: harnessing all of the strengths of our borough to deliver opportunity for all.

 

1.  Council assembly resolves to:

 

a.  Thank everyone who was involved in the engagement process so far across our community and voluntary, public, business, education and cultural sectors.

 

2.  Council assembly asks cabinet to:

 

a.  Finalise and agree our Southwark 2030 Plan. This plan should deliver on the priorities of our community, including those set out above, and be developed in partnership with residents and organisations of our borough.

 

b.  Establish a new partnership structure with local public services, anchor organisations and key businesses to ensure that they are part of delivering this vision.

 

c.  Utilise this partnership to develop and agree actions that focus on the transformation changes we want to make together as we look to the future.

 

d.  Allocate the Southwark 2030 fund towards delivering that plan, ensuring the funding is used to deliver on these priorities.

 

e.  Put in place annual reporting on the progress in delivering the plan, and the goals within it.