This document sets out in detail how the Council has performed over the past 12 months and our targets for service improvements in the three years ahead. The plan also demonstrates how we will work with our partners in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, works or learns in Lewisham.
This has been an important year for Lewisham. We have made significant progress in improving our services for Lewisham’s citizens. This has been recognised by the independent District Auditor in their annual report. The District Auditor complimented Lewisham services and have assessed us to be a 3 star council and that we are improving well.
The Auditor will be undertaking a comprehensive performance assessment during June of this year and I shall report on their findings once the review has been concluded.
In my travels around the borough this year many of you have shared your views with me. It is clear that the quality of your environment remains of the utmost importance to you so we have continued to invest in improving the roads, street lighting, parks and open spaces. You have also told me that the quality of our schools and support for children and young families is also a priority. I am delighted that the educational attainment of our young people continues to improve.
In recent years Lewisham has been the fastest improving London authority at key stage 4 (GCSE). Our strength in this area has been recognised by the Government and they have approved our plans for a massive £260m investment to renew our entire secondary school provision.
We have invested a further £3m into improving our roads and are developing an initiative that will see £19m invested into our street lighting over the next 5 years. We now have seven green flag awards for our parks and open spaces, the highest in London. And we are progressing the regeneration of Lewisham town centre to provide excellent local facilities.
We have also made headway in tackling crime and anti social behaviour. Every neighbourhood in Lewisham now has a Safer Neighbourhood Team which includes a police sergeant, police officers and police community support officers. This is a fantastic additional resource which will help make all our local areas safer. In the coming months I will continue to work very closely with our local police force and other partners to confront and address this serious challenge.
The improvements in Lewisham resident satisfaction, in the 3 yearly BVPI national resident satisfaction survey, show that these initiatives and investments are having a positive impact on the lives of residents.
The efficiency of our services is very important to us. We have been working hard to make our services effective and efficient without increasing costs. In the last year we have managed to make efficiencies and improve services at the same time. We are determined to continue this work to deliver high quality services at the lowest possible cost to all Council Tax payers.
In the pursuit of excellence in public service delivery partner agencies have come together to co-ordinate efforts to deliver on the vision for the borough. A successful Local Strategic Partnership, has enhanced the capacity to make the most of the borough’s strengths.
We are making good progress but we still have more to do. We know that there are areas where we need to work harder to improve the quality of life for our citizens. By working together with other public agencies, with private companies that have a stake in the borough as well as local voluntary groups and citizens I believe that we will make Lewisham the best place in London to live, work and learn.
Sir Steve Bullock Mayor of Lewisham