Video statement from the Haringey Council Leader & Finance Cabinet Member

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 27, 2026 at 10:28

Ham&High ~ Opinion Piece by Cllr Johann Beckford:

Haringey council sets out plans for financial transparency

I was pleased to see:

There is nothing more important than accountability and transparency when it comes to our borough’s finances.

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The previous leader reported wildly different figures of the deficit, suggesting her crew had largely lost control of Borough finances. And the previous external Auditor (BDO) found our council's accounts to be in such a state, that for three years running, they gave a No-opinion, Opinion:

i.e. it was not possible to tell if the accounts represented a true and fair view of finances.

I hope the new Government under Andy Burnham will undertake a deep review of the funding of local Government. It's currently a mess following the winding-up of the Poll Tax. I'd like to see the Council Tax ended and replaced by full and proper funding of local authorities from the State (i.e. other forms of taxation). There are hints that something along these lines could happen.

Council Tax is unfair because it is regressive.

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In the meantime, local Haringey-London could make better use of the hundreds of millions of pounds of income they currently do receive. Reduction of:

• waste
• mistakes
• bloated salaries
• leaders'-pet-projects; and
• repeated ill-conceived ventures

… would help.

During one 36 month period, Labour lost many millions in irregular council property deals. Some of which may be corrupt.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 29, 2026 at 11:31

No.1 in my above list was Waste.

Not the rubbish Veolia take away, but the waste within Haringey Council budgets.

None of that kind of waste is likely to be volunteered by staff to their bosses or to Councillors.

However waste is known within the council.

In a certain department one employee—thinking that I was just another employee in another Dept. and not realising I was an elected representative—casually mentioned to me that there was a lot of waste in that Dept. Her comment was unprompted and entirely unprompted.

I could very well believe what she said and I may possibly comment to a Green Councillor.

Any former Labour Councillors wanting the best for our Borough and no longer seeking promotion within their Party, could consider doing the same.

All large organisations waste money and this council is no exception.

I was pleased to see the intention to hold public "Town Hall" meetings.

There is a wealth of data waiting to be tapped. Borough-wide, priceless information that "officers" are unlikely to come forward with.

If the Greens were canny, they would ask residents to nominate known waste and potential savings.

Either in public or in confidence.

Could this be a model for the UK?

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The Haringey Council Community Press has a story on the council's troubled finances:

Green council leader admits ‘we don’t see a way out’ of ballooning ...

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Permalink Reply by Jamie Harper on July 29, 2026 at 12:09

Channelling Elon and Farage now in the quest to rid us of governmental 'waste'. How busy.

After your many years of observing the council, and even participating as a one term councillor, I'd have thought you might have something a little more concrete than an employee's aside.

If the Greens were canny, they'd steer well clear of hare-brained campaigns and focus on the basics.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 29, 2026 at 13:27

Jamie, many thanks for your attention to this matter ;-)

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