The immediate image of Kensington and Chelsea is of the architecture, famous landmarks and glamorous residents. The reality is much more complex and fascinating - a highly urban, multicultural, dynamic population embracing those who are new to London, and established families, some of whom are, as yet, at the bottom of life’s ladder and some very near the top. The population is very multicultural and multi-lingual.
Our schools have more than twice the national rate of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. While seven wards in Kensington and Chelsea are among the least deprived nationally, two wards are among the 10 per cent most deprived in England. Although the borough is geographically one of the smallest in London, at just over 4.7 square miles, it is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe - the current population is estimated at 190,000 people and there is a high population turnover estimated at over 20 per cent per year.
The borough is primarily residential in character. Property prices and private sector rents are the highest in the country. However, half the permanent lettings by registered social landlords are to homeless households, and there are around 1,000 households living in temporary accommodation.
In addition to residential accommodation, the borough is also home to internationally recognised shopping centres, 12,000 businesses and over 120,000 jobs, three of the most visited museums in the UK and the second largest number of hotel beds in any London Borough. It is in this diverse, dynamic and demanding context that we work.
Half the borough’s children are educated privately, while half of our maintained school pupils receive free school meals. Half the school population comes from ethnic minority groups and nearly half speak English as an additional language. Some of our schools experience high turnover of pupils - with new pupils likely to be refugees, asylum seekers or from a transient population.
We are an ambitious council and one that is used to delivering high quality services competently and consistently. We are also a council that seeks to manage change successfully and deliver innovation and we have a strong track record of doing this. Our focus is on the needs of our communities. Like all local authorities, we want to run good services, lead our communities and promote fair life opportunities.
Our driving ambition is:
"We have high expectations for our local residents, and therefore we have high expectations of our staff, our partners, agents and allies."
Our vision for the borough is to deliver "A Better City Life" and this is reflected in the three long-term borough aims that drive our work. These aims are:
- Really good services - Setting high standards for ourselves and others.
- Responding to residents - Listening to and leading our diverse population. Using public money widely.
- Renewing the legacy - Investing in the public buildings and places that make the Royal Borough special.
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