Video statement from the Haringey Council Leader & Finance Cabinet Member

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter 11 hours ago

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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