I strongly believe that housing estates work best when the people who live there are given a bigger say in how they’re run and managed.  Here in Labour-run Lambeth, we have the greatest variety of different forms of estate management of any borough.  That’s good, because it means we adapt to local people’s demands.  In my own ward, Brixton Hill, both Roupell Park Estate and Blenheim Gardens Estate have their own resident management boards who employ their own housing managers and negotiate their own contracts for services like cleaning and repairs.  The estates have improved immeasurably ever since the residents got more control. 

One of the big themes of the Administration I lead at Lambeth town hall is handing power back to people – giving them more control over their own lives and communities.  With the Council there to help, we can unleash the creativity and energy of local people to get on and solve their own problems, creating a stronger and more cohesive society in the process.