The meeting will include reports on the Council's complaints process, its workforce, its revenue budget and the Community Investment Programme (CIP).

Annual Complaints Report

This report pack includes the London Borough of Camden's annual complaints report for the 2023/2024 financial year, which covers 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

The report pack states that in 2023/2024, Camden Council received 4,240 complaints, up from 3,053 in the previous year. The report describes in some detail the corporate response to these complaints, and highlights some of the challenges faced by Camden Council.

Councils are currently experiencing a range of service and budgetary pressures, Camden included. We use complaints to gain insight and information about where we should be targeting limited resources, and we outline in this report how we are responding across the organisation to resource challenges that impacting residents.

The report states that 44% of stage one complaints were responded to within the Council's 10 working day target, an improvement on the previous year. However, 23% of stage one complaints were escalated to stage two reviews. The report pack also describes the outcomes of complaints reviewed by the Housing Ombudsman and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. There will also be a separate report summarising the Housing Ombudsman’s “Paragraph 49” special investigation into Camden Council’s complaints handling process.

People and Inclusion Annual Update

This report pack includes an annual update on the work of Camden Council’s People and Inclusion Service.

The report pack states that Camden Council employed 4,642 staff as of 31 March 2024. The report pack highlights work the People and Inclusion service is doing to improve the working lives of Camden’s employees, including promoting diversity, flexible working, wellbeing and career progression.

Camden aspires to become the leading public sector employer in the country, establishing a benchmark for exemplary work practices and fostering a climate of fairness and inclusivity in employment.

The report describes the ways in which Camden is working to close its gender and ethnicity pay gaps.

Revenue Estimates and Council Tax Setting 2025/2026

The meeting pack contains a report about the proposed revenue budget and council tax setting for 2025/2026. The report states that Camden Council is legally required to set its budget by 11 March 2025.

The report pack states that Camden Council expects a 5.11% increase in its core spending power in the 2025/2026 financial year. The report recommends a 4.99% rise in council tax, the maximum permitted without a referendum, including a 2% precept to fund adult social care. The report pack also contains an update on the Council’s Climate Budget, which highlights an estimated £198.3 million gap in funding for the work Camden is doing to decarbonise its own operations.

Community Investment Programme Annual Report

This report pack includes the Community Investment Programme annual report for 2024. The CIP is Camden’s programme for building new homes and community facilities, and includes estate regenerations.

The report describes the progress of several recently completed schemes, including the completion of the Tybalds Estate Phase 1a in April 2024, Agar Grove Estate Phase 1c in June 2024, the Liddell Place workspace in October 2024 and Central Somers Town Phase 2 in December 2024. The report states that construction is currently underway at the Abbey Phase 3 development, Godwin and Crowndale Estate and Agar Grove Phase 2a. The report pack also describes the wider benefits of the CIP, highlighting the social value generated by the programme, the high environmental standards of the homes being built, and the programme’s work to promote diversity in the construction industry.

The driving force of CIP is delivering for our communities and ensuring everyone in Camden has a place they can call home and thrive in the Borough they know and love.

The report also provides updates on the programme’s approved pipeline of schemes, including Bacton Estate Phase 2, Camley Street, West Kentish Town and Daleham Gardens.

The report pack will also include an update on the Committee’s work programme for 2024/2025. It will also provide an update on the Committee’s previous actions.