"With a £37.2 million forecast overspend …"

UNFORTUNATELY, the plaintiff cries of the Director of Finance in papers for Tuesday's Cabinet meeting (above; source) are unlikely to be heeded. And, in the same way that concerns about financial prudence have been disregarded for many years. 

In December the external auditor's Opinion—for three years running—was the worst possible:

"Disclaimer" (of Opinion).

However, due to a lack of interest and knowledge it attracted little attention. Council Accounts have been in chaos for years and Haringey's Reserves are exhausted:

The brew and bail-out

The recent Government big bail-out means that the risk of Haringey Council bankruptcy in the short-term has been averted. But financial woes have been brewing for years.

During the 36-months of the previous, chaotic Momentum Administration, there were a series of irregular property deals that led to massive losses in the Capital account.

Financial difficulties became embedded. Covid was a partial contributor (and top managers became used to working from home), but the current New Labour Administration did not take the financial crisis early, urgently or seriously enough.

Two former Haringey New Labour Councillors are now Members of Parliament (one, a consistent promoter of the failed and costly HDV; the other, with Net-Zero principles).

If the current leadership paid less attention to MP opportunities and more on the nitty-gritty, unglamorous business of running sound finances, then our Borough might be on a better footing.

The Borough of Culture 2027

AND if the current leadership were not so distracted by Borough of Culture 2027, then more attention might be paid to getting the basics right.

Borough of Culture is of great interest to the leadership, to some council employees and to a tiny proportion of Borough residents: but the slashing at library opening hours and the five per cent increase in council tax are likely to affect far larger numbers.

In the coming days before 31st March, and the end of the current financial year, there is unlikely to be action to reduce, let alone to "stop" non essential spend, as is called for.

A further forensic review may yield clues and evidence, but in a local authority that suffers from chronic sclerosis throughout the body, it is unlikely to prosecute savings among the real bloat and waste. The budgets of the costly municipal PR, IT and legal departments are some of council's most sacred cows.

Residents suffer, but the council continues to look after its top brass exceedingly well: more than 40 (forty) employees are paid between £100,000 and £220,000.