As the year draws to a close, I want to wish everyone in Southwark a Happy Christmas, New Year and Hanukkah and to celebrate some of the amazing things we have achieved together over the last year.
2022 has not been an easy year. The thousands of conversations I’ve had with people across our borough have been dominated by people’s worries about making ends meet and their anger that the Conservative government has made things so much worse.
What has been heart-warming is the response of our community. Over the year, I’ve had the privilege of visiting community groups, businesses and public services across Southwark. It’s been truly inspiring to see the amazing work we are doing together.
Warm Spaces open to help out Southwark residents this winter
As a Labour-run council we have put in place over £25million of cost of living support for Southwark residents this year, including our Cost of Living Fund, Southwark Energy Saver Service and Warm Hubs. I want to thank all of the community groups who’ve worked hand-in-hand with us to make sure this vital support gets to those who need it.
If you, your family or anyone you know needs support you can find details at www.southwark.gov.uk/here-to-help
Neil Coyle releases Cost of Living Support Booklet – a comprehensive guide to the help on offer
This year we also achieved the truly remarkable landmark of starting more new council homes on site being built in Southwark than in any year since the 1970s. More than any other council in the country. Like everything we do, this is a shared achievement and I want to thank the local residents who have helped to design those homes, as well as the council team working so hard to build them.
We have also seen remarkable success in our schools and children’s services, with 98% of our schools now rated Good or Outstanding, and our children’s social care services rated Good too. I want to thank all the teachers, school governors, social workers and many others who work so hard every day to ensure our children succeed.
We have also made big steps forward in our care for older people. In May we opened a new state-of-the-art nursing home, Camberwell Lodge. This will ensure that people with care needs are able to stay close to their family and friends and receive high-quality care. We also introduced our nationally leading Residential Care Charter, ensuring better quality of care and better working conditions for our incredible care staff too.
Southwark Council to spend nearly £2m on topping up care home staff wages to London Living Wage
I was also delighted to launch our £2million Anti-social Behaviour Task Force this year, and to announce more funding for additional CCTV cameras and operatives. Plus our ground breaking ‘See It, Stop It’ campaign to tackle sexual harassment of women by men.
WATCH: Local sixth form hosts male-only assembly to launch anti-sexual harassment campaign
2022 has also been a great year for nature in Southwark. We exceeded our ambitious target to plant 10,000 new trees in the borough, planting over 11,150. I am also extremely proud that our Southwark Parks topped the league as the best managed in London, taking the prestigious Good Parks award. An amazing achievement thanks to the hard work of our Parks team, local Friends of Parks groups and many more.
There is so much to celebrate from the work we are doing as a Labour-run council and community working together. I want to personally thank everyone involved and to wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.