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On Monday I joined over 140 community leaders from across our borough to launch our shared plan to improve the lives of everyone in Southwark.
It was an event that reminded me again just how special our borough is. With so many inspiring people in the room from across our community and faith groups, businesses, schools, universities and public services, determined to make Southwark a place where everyone can live a good life.
It was great to celebrate some of our shared success and to commit to achieving even more together.
Some of those successes really are worth celebrating. 25 years ago Southwark's schools were rated the second worst in the country. Now they are some of the best, with 98% rated good or outstanding. We're building our 3,000th truly affordable council home for local residents, and our collective work by the council and local community groups has got vital cost of living help to over 100,000 people over the last three years.
The Southwark 2030 strategy that we launched on Monday sets out the things we will do next. Talking to people across our community I know how much more there is to do. The last 14 years have seen poverty and homelessness rocket across our country, and after years of austerity many of the things we all depend on need to be rebuilt. Our NHS, local policing, our courts and so much more.
Southwark 2030 sets out six big goals for our community to work together on over the next five years. So that come the turn of the decade we can have more success to celebrate.
It has been shaped by thousands of you and is built around what matters to you most. A huge thanks to everyone who took part.
We know working together is essential. But rightly you will say ‘ok – but what is the council doing?’
That’s why on Tuesday, at our Cabinet meeting, we agreed the council’s delivery plan for Southwark 2030. It includes investing £250 million to make our council homes safer and healthier; tackling crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots; and a host of actions to support thousands of Southwark residents out of poverty and into good jobs and apprenticeships.
Importantly it also includes action to further drive up standards in the council, to make sure the money the council spends achieves even more for you.
Cllr Kieron Williams
Leader of Southwark Council
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