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LISTER
ON PUTNEY
Edward
Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth
Council and a member for Putney's
Thamesfield ward.
 There's
not a council in the country that looks after its residents'
money as carefully as Wandsworth.
Our
20 year record for delivering the UK's lowest council tax
has been
hard earned. Our constant search for new ways of delivering
services
continues to generate savings for today's council taxpayers
currently
estimated at around £130m a year.
But
not even prudent Wandsworth can cope with a profligate Mayor
and a
partisan Government. Mr
Livingstone wants an extra £67 a year from every Wandsworth
household - at the same time as he is about to start raking
in millions from his ill-conceived motorists' tax.
Meanwhile
government ministers have saddled London with a skewed council
grant system that will give more money to authorities in the
north. This is costing Wandsworth an estimated £5m -
equivalent to an extra £50 on the council tax.
Yet
while we struggle to shield our residents from the consequences
of government indifference and mayoral incomeptence we still
want to go on improving the core local services on which so
many residents depend.
This
is particulary true for education and social services which
were the cornerstone of the council's recent 'excellent' rating.
We
are also about to extend the doorstep recycling service so
that 80,000 households (everyone with their own bin) will
be able to use a single sack for all their paper, cans, glass
and plastic bottles. This will cost us an extra £1m
a year - or £10 on the coucnil tax.
This
is the context in which tough decisions like discontinuing
the borough show have had to be made. I share the Putney MP's
lament over its passing - but he better than anyone knows
the straitened financial circumstances that all London councils
face today.
Edward
Lister
elister@wandsworth.gov.uk
23
January 2003
New
school, new homes and a new-look park in 2003 ......Cllr
Lister's New Year Message
A
week of great achievements as both the Council and many of
Putney's schools exceed in their individual grading systems.
Whilst the failure of a resident management organisation (RMO)
gives the Council concern.......Cllr
Lister's Diary
Cllr
Lister is not cheered by the Queens Speech nor the Chanmcellor's
pre-budget statement..........Cllr
Lister's Diary
Cllr
Lister's Diary declares war on fly posters, and draws
our attention to Connexions investment in Roehampton.
anti-third
runway meeting bonfires and planning alert system.........Cllr
Lister's Diary
Busy
October 2002..........Cllr
Lister's Diary .
Redevlopment
of Roehampton Rec, the completion of Ashlone Wharf plus taking
up the baton for a link between the Rail station & East
Putney Tube........Cllr Lister's
Diary .
Local
impact of government housing policy, crime and news on Richmond
Park......
Cllr Lister's Diary .
New
Surgeries - a new ways to meet your councillor plus the Leader
expresses his concerns over the news of gun crimes in Putney
..... Cllr Lister's Diary
Jubilee
celebrations, the 3 star service offered by Social Services
and name change for Lavatory Gardens ...Cllr
Lister's Diary.
The
state of the NHS in Putney and the fight against night flights
....Cllr Lister's Diary
Pedestrian
saftey - especially around schools and Neighbourhood watch
.... Cllr Lister's diary
CAR
TAX DODGERS DRYBURGH RD DEVELOPMENT ROBIN HOOD GATE AND NIGHT
FLIGHTS..............Cllr
Lister's diary
Church
cheer, wharf worries and Richmond Park relief - Cllr
Lister's diary.
Cllr
Lister speaks against the Dryburgh Rd plans, the threat
of clsing Pen Ponds to traffic and litter.
The
Postal Service, Richmond Park and Council Tax changes are
all on Cllr Lister agenda.
Cllr
Lister comments on the current planning furore, pigeon
mess, cctv and policing.
Cllr
Lister writes on Pensioners Freedom Passes, good news
re Hotham School, development progress at Ashlone
Wharf and aircraft noise from Heathrow
Airport.
Recent
visit to the Leisure Centre was less than enjoyable - see
forum.
Cllr
Lister writes on the new school for the area, housing development
and Heathrow.
Cllr
Lister writes on developments at the Putney School of Art
& Design, The Leisure Centre and the excellent league
results for local schools.
Tony
Colman MP for Putney speaks about current local issues
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