Any reader who lives or works in the borough of Camden will recognise that we experience real extremes, even for London. And no doubt many will have read reports about increasing inequality in the UK. We all want to make Camden a better community, and want everyone who lives or works here to love it.
In May Camden’s “Equality Taskforce”, an independent body charged with investigating how the Council could tackle inequality in the borough, published its report. But more importantly, will the recommendations lead to real change in the borough? Are they as innovative as is claimed?
The Taskforce was set up because of increasing concerns about inequality in Camden, as in the wider country. Research from 2009 which underlies Pickett and Wilkinson’s bestselling Spirit Level reveals a strong link between inequality and levels of well-being, with higher crime levels in particular in unequal societies. Social cohesion in effect is undermined by huge inequality. So it’s not just extreme poverty that damages an area, its the gap caused by extreme wealth too. And the end result is a lower level of well-being for all.
In my opinion, the Camden Taskforce is focused on poverty and makes many useful recommendations in that respect. It highlights the incomes that are needed to live comfortably in the area. The Rowntree Foundation assessment suggests a family of four would need about £70K a year to live in Camden in private housing, and £50K pa in social housing. Many live on much less. This is a real problem and one that needs to be dealt with. But this isn’t quite the same as tackling inequality.
At the moment those with large capital assets, high incomes, or both do affect the well-being of others. Children from wealthier families largely attend exclusive private secondary schools, mixing primarily amongst themselves. Wealthier households live in large spaces, often Victorian homes once rearranged into flats now converted back into houses. This reduces our housing stock. Large 4x4s impact on our air quality and take away road space from more affordable means of transport like cycling and buses. So however much it would be nice to just accept that a few are hugely wealthy and hopefully happy and leave them to it, it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Not just on behalf of the rest of us, but for the long term good of all of us.
How can Camden Council possibly impact on this? Of course part of this is better education for less well-off families, better housing, helping those out of work to get back into it, through more structured volunteering opportunities for example. But we need much more. The Council can, and must help shape a new set of values and develop a new consensus around a more equal society.
The Green way would focus on reducing pay ratios between the highest paid and the lowest paid. The Council could lead the way by setting a pay ratio in the Council of under 10:1. It should then work with its public sector partners like the NHS towards the same. It should also work with its contractors, from Veolia to NSL Services (parking) through contract conditions to ensure pay ratios of a maximum of 10:1 for staff in any way responsible for delivering contracts.
The Council also has considerable investor power. It should flex the muscle it has, and seek similar ratios in relation to all those companies in which Camden invests, whilst at the same time taking up ethical issues like tax avoidance.
In parallel, the administration needs to lobby central government for a fairer local tax system. Councils still work within the Council Tax, the modified version of the Poll tax that makes little distinction between those with different levels of wealth. Higher taxes on high value property would help level the playing field.
Those are just two planks of a real innovative approach to tackling inequality. The current proposals – however good – are neither innovative nor focused on the problem that they claim to address.
Maya De Souza is the Green Party Councillor representing the Highgate Ward.
1 thought on “Why It Matters: a more equal Camden”
Paying one’s taxes should be a point of pride. If people are successful, and we had a fairer Council Tax system, they would pay more tax. Rather than resent this, it would be great if people simply felt proud to be able to contribute. So that when, for example, they see their local library being well-used and appreciated, they can say ‘I helped to make that possible!’ Because we all benefit from a fairer society, ultimately, as Cllr de Souza rightly points out.