Leader of Luton Council column: Working together to bring our town to life

As your local council, our focus is simple: working for the residents of Luton, we are delivering for you across our town.

New homes are being built, all 60 of Luton’s play areas are being refreshed, with 25 play parks due to be refurbished by the end of this financial year, Ashcroft Park being just the latest to have been transformed.

We have also won our legal battle to introduce Selective and Additional Licensing, helping us improve rental standards and ensure residents have the quality of accommodation they deserve.

Major investment continues across Luton. The Stage is transforming our town centre skyline, while millions are being invested in priorities residents tell us matter: cleaner streets, tackling antisocial behaviour, parking and improving our neighbourhoods.

Alongside this, just under £19 million is being invested in prevention through our Resilience Fund. Intervening earlier and tackling the root causes of problems, before they escalate.

We should rightly be positive about Luton’s future, but also honest about the challenges we face. Our town centre, like many across the country, is changing. Shopping has moved online; major high-street brands have closed stores and years of austerity have left their mark.

We have also seen vulnerable people presenting with increasingly complex needs, including homelessness and addiction, sometimes accompanied by antisocial behaviour. We recognise the problem and we are acting. The Resilience Fund is a significant additional investment, for a joined-up approach combining enforcement where necessary with holistic prevention.

A dedicated town centre delivery team will ensure people sleeping rough or experiencing multiple challenges have a single point of contact, bringing services together around the individual. It is about tackling underlying problems, reducing antisocial behaviour and helping people rebuild their lives.

Reclaiming our town centre is also about filling our public spaces with families, activity and life. Throughout the summer, free events have ranged from outdoor cinema and storytelling to fitness and yoga in Hat Gardens. The special Luton 150 storytelling was a highlight, giving children an opportunity to discover our town’s history.

And we are ending our summer on a high. Together with Luton Rising, Party in the Park comes to Luton on Saturday 12 September, headlined by the Kaiser Chiefs alongside The Feeling, The Hoosiers, Olivia Lynn, JW Paris, Panjabi MC, Jess Iszatt and Rickie and Melvin.

And on Sunday 13 September, Proms in the Park will showcase talent from across Luton, including Luton Music Service groups, alumni soloists and the specially formed Proms Symphony Orchestra.

Both events will include family activities, a funfair and Luton 150 celebrations. Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster.

What better way to bring our summer to a fantastic close: celebrating our people and our extraordinary local talent.

I for one cannot wait to be there, I hope you’ll join me.

 Party in the Park: ticketmaster.co.uk/luton150

Proms in the Park: ticketmaster.co.uk/lutonproms