Its taken 11 months, but Haringey Labour have eventually caved in to our Lib Dem campaign to give local residents a break and freeze Haringey’s Council Tax. The campaign was launched in November 2008 by Lynne Featherstone MP and our Council Group leader Robert Gorrie (see campaign photo left), and has attracted huge support from residents who are feeling the pinch during the recession.
Over the last decade Council tax has increased by around 60% – with millions wasted on bungled IT projects and failed attempts to flog Ally Pally. Meanwhile the Council is now rated one of the worst in the country by Government inspectors.
I’d love to think that Haringey Labour have turned over a new financially-responsible leaf – but the timing is obviously related to next year’s Council elections, and Labour’s growing panic about losing control of Haringey for the first time in 40 years. But its great news for local residents that the Labour-run Council are being forced to listen and be accountable.