Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
"London council named as England's 'most rotten' borough"
Haringey has been named as England's 'most rotten' borough.
Yesterday, The Standard reported that, per 100,000 of population in Haringey, there were 20 upheld, formal Complaints.
This, on the basis of data from the Local Government Ombudsman.
This is the second year running that the London Borough of Culture 2027 has secured the top place for the number of Complaints upheld by the Ombudsman.
The previous leadership was a menace to public money. They (we) made multi-million pound losses on municipal property wheeling-and-dealing. The current leadership has since failed to get a robust grip on finances.
Are any residents surprised?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by KP
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Yes exactly. I don't see many positives about the Council's performance. I have also been living here a long time and I don't think "Rotten Borough" is inaccurate or cheap journalism
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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris
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I would rather not add to the length of this thread but, as you ask, I shall cite the alacrity with which the Council provided rehab home-care for my neighbour so he could be sent home from hospital. They also quickly arranged for modifications to be made inside his house to enable him to get around without help. On a more general point, my bins are emptied every week like clockwork.
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Permalink Reply by Iris Allan
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War is peace
Slavery is freedom
Diversity is strength
Haringey Council is good
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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So, Iris, what do we learn? Probably that you detest aspects of Haringey's council.
Oddly, me too. And I was a councillor for sixteen years. Although I expect we may detest and applaud very different things. For example I really do see diversity as strength. But if you intend giving us a pastiche of George Orwell, I suggest trying a bit harder.
As you may have noticed I detested the unwillingness of very senior people - at different times - in Haringey Council to follow the basic principles of their own constitution. Rechecking these principles today I noticed I've long been in error. My faulty memory suggested they're set out - crucislly - on page one.
That was wrong. They are now on page 299.
I advise anyone currently thinking of standing (or restanding) as a councillor to turn to the good staff from p.299. I used to make a joke that such a key document was kept in a dusty glass case in the basement. Fetched out annually and taken around in a ceremonial procession and loud acclaim.The dull truth is that these precious pages are on Google. So make Google your friend. There is no longer any need for mystical spells or chanting.
What gems will new councillors find on page 299?
Selflessness,
Integrity,
Objectivity,
Accountability,
Openness,
Honesty,
Leadership.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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THE Standard's headline (Rotten Borough) is eye-catching if not sensational. Headlines are written by Sub-Editors whose job it is to summarise and yes, to attract attention to reporters' stories.
How many would trouble to read beyond a headline, "Statistics abstracted from the office of the local government ombudsman with special reference to Haringey Council" ?!
Haringey council has an unusually poor record for residents' complaints and Megan Howe's story does deserve attention, especially from the CEO and leader.
I think it's important to try to get past (and to read past) the headline and to consider the substance of the report.
Nearly 40 years ago I chose to live in Haringey, the Borough. At the time, its ruling council had a general reputation for high rates and poor services. I have not been disappointed!
I agree that it is important to keep a sense of perspective. In this context, it is to distinguish between being a resident in a Borough and enjoying the good things of living in a locality (such as Borough's many green space) on the one hand, and on the other hand, the objective performance of the local council.
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