Elfrida Primary School

I'm honoured to have been chosen as Lewisham's mayor by my city's citizens. On a bold and radical platform of transformation for our borough, 54 council members, including myself, ran for election. Lewisham, which stretches from Blackheath to Sydenham and from Deptford to Downham, is a fascinating area to reside because of its active and distinctive neighbourhoods. The borough is also evolving. We have had significant expansion and investment over the past ten years, and we continue to welcome the new families choosing Lewisham as their home. It's time to evaluate what has been accomplished in Lewisham and create a fresh vision to address the problems that our communities are currently facing. Too many Lewisham people do not get to share in the wealth and opportunities that London has to offer, and social inequality is on the rise. All municipalities have been obliged to curtail services despite rising resident demand as a result of austerity. Lewisham Council's new Corporate Strategy outlines how it intends to serve its inhabitants over the ensuing four years. How we can still make a difference and transform lives in the midst of austerity, while municipalities are being compelled to eliminate services. It is also crucial to consider how we can preserve the unique characteristics of our communities and keep Lewisham a desirable place to live. We are building on Lewisham's historic values fairness, equality and putting our community at the heart of everything we do and turning these values into practical, deliverable policies for the next four years.