Leader’s New Year message 2012

I would like to start by wishing you a Happy New Year. The last twelve months were some of the most difficult for generations, with unprecedented government cuts, uncertainty in the national economy and the August disorder. 2012 has the potential to be just as challenging. But the reaction and resilience of our community to the challenges we faced over the last year gives me a strong sense of optimism.

Over the last year, many community, faith and voluntary groups have responded to shrinking budgets by innovating and finding new ways to work with one another, the community and the council. In response to the disorder in August, the community pulled together in an unprecedented way to mend both the physical and social damage that had been wrought. Even the sad thefts of the statue of Dr Alfred Salter and the Barbara Hepworth sculpture have led to a genuine outpouring of support with so many people offering help. It is only with your continued help and involvement that together we will be able to continue to work towards a fairer future for all in Southwark in 2012.

I believe that we must now rise to three major challenges together to make this a year to remember for all the right reasons.

First, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer present an excellent opportunity for all to get involved and be inspired. As a council we will be doing our bit both to make sure that our city runs smoothly and to work to build a lasting legacy for our residents. I'll be doing my bit personally as well, by running the London Marathon to raise money for the Mayor's elected charities. In turn, I hope that you will do what you can do to make these celebrations a success, to consider the challenges that go with them - such as transport during the Games - and to capitalise on the opportunities they bring to Southwark.

The second challenge lies in empowering people to help their local communities. When we held our Community Conversations after the August disorder, three quarters of the people we asked said that they would be personally willing to volunteer, help young people or get involved with community projects. That's the tremendous Southwark spirit which makes our borough unique in central London. So we know that people want to get involved - this year we must do more together to help them take the next step.

The third challenge is to continue to innovate together to find joint solutions to the challenges that we face. We know that people want us to focus our diminishing resources on support for the most vulnerable and to do this means that some other services will have to be scaled back. Although we have no choice but to make some very difficult decisions, our focus is for communities, families and individuals to have the confidence to be able to support themselves as much as possible.

As part of this, this year we are particularly keen to explore how the council can work more closely with local businesses to drive economic growth and improve life chances. And over the coming year, the independent housing commission that the council established last year in partnership with thinktank The Smith Institute will consider the future of housing in the borough and look for innovative solutions to our long-term housing problems. I hope that all with an interest in the future of Southwark's housing make submissions to commission this year to shape their work.

We do not know what else might happen over the next twelve months, but by meeting these challenges we will make what real and meaningful progress towards a fairer future.

Finally, may I thank you on behalf of the council for your contribution to the borough and I look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead.

Happy New Year

Cllr Peter John

Leader of Southwark Council