RBKC Direct: Stock options, It takes all of us, Free school meals and Chelsea Care

Welcome to issue 20 of RBKC direct. In this issue we consider the serious financial challenges the Council faces in continuing to provide Kensington and Chelsea’s tenants and leaseholders with the standard of service they currently enjoy. We look at the options available.

The 2006 Electoral Administration Act placed a duty on councils to maximise the number of residents registering to vote. Read about 'It takes all of us', the campagin we’ve launched to inspire residents to get involved in their community.

The New Year sees the launch of a Council-owned company Chelsea Care, which will offer a range of quality services to support people in their homes. Find out what we plan to do with any profits made from this venture.

Also in this edition, a new league table shows that children in Kensington and Chelsea schools who receive free school meals achieved way above the national average in GCSE results. We look at the key ingredient for this success – investment in schools, teachers and training.

Stock options

Over the past few years the Council has spent £43 million of government money along with a considerable sum of its own housing funds (the Housing Revenue Account – or HRA) to ensure that its 9,300 homes reach the Decent Homes standard.

Now, though, the Government is cutting funds provided to the HRA and the Royal Borough needs to consider carefully how to ensure homes are properly maintained. It is a huge challenge.

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It takes all of us

In 2006 the Electoral Administration Act placed a new duty on local authorities to maximise the number of residents registered to vote. In response the Council has developed a new approach to encourage more people to get involved in the everyday life of their community.

The campaign It takes all of us is about inspiring residents to get involved.

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Free school meal students

A league table compiled in July 2007 revealed that the number of students receiving free school meals and achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE was 46.5 per cent compared to the national average of 21 per cent.

At St Thomas More Language College those pupils entitled to free school meals achieved better GCSE results than the other pupils. Why are children from poorer families doing better in our schools?

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Chelsea Care

From early 2009 a new Council-owned company, Chelsea Care, will offer a range of services to the borough’s population. It is all part of a bold plan to bring the Council’s expertise in providing care and assistance within reach of all the borough’s older residents and anyone else who needs their services. Crucially, any profits produced by Chelsea Care will be re-invested in the care provided to those most in need.

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