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. M
r 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