Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey fly tipping fines
Hi all;
At a recent Haringay ladder meeting, we were discussing flytipping with the Waste Service Manager, Steve Baker..
During the discussion, someone said that there were about 16,000 fines issued. Sounds huge. I’m not sure where that number came from. But later, I thought, what’s more interesting is how much the fines totalled and how much was an actually collected.
I have connected Steve about this twice already and I have had no response. I emailed him a third time this morning.
Looking online, I found that the council issued 2554 Fixed Penalty Notices between March 2024 and April 2025 and that the fines issued totalled £1,393,350. However, they omit the total revenue successfully recovered from those penalties.
I’m wondering how I’d go about finding out that information and why it was omitted. My guess is that it was well below the £1.3m that was issued in fines.
Any guidance would be appreciated.
Regards,
James Cowling
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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James, you might consider submitting an information request, using the power available to you under the Freedom of Information Act.
It could take a while, but if you're reasonable and persistent you should get a full answer.
In order to try keep any questions and answers as private as possible, the council would prefer you to use their dedicated web page. They make it easy to do so. In the past, they have actively steered residents to their method of tight control. OTOH:
What Do They Know is helpful.
WDTK issue a statement about the council that you can see:
We've noticed Haringey Borough Council has started to reply to requests suggesting future requests are submitted via the council's website. This is only a suggestion and we of course encourage everyone to continue to make their requests in public via our service..———The council has often shown a self-serving approach, intended to protect their corporate reputation; and their lack of full understanding of the Act and which may be unlawful to boot.
In order to try to intimidate me, a council lawyer once claimed in a covering (paper) letter that the information provided was for my personal use only (?!). False!
As a council employee presumably with a law qualification, he ought to have known the Act better. Labour casually allowed this brand of nonsense because the reputation of the local authority became synonymous with reputation of the local Labour Party.
Section 16 of the Act mandates a duty of helpfulness on the part of the public sector, a clause that under Labour, was not always given due regard.
I recommend you: use WDTK, where I've always lodged my requests.
Hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Cllr Jo Kuper
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Hi James, thanks for raising this here and for cc'ing me into your correspondence. I am also asking for this data and will be in touch as soon as I can with more info.
Best wishes
Jo
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Permalink Reply by Sarah
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If fines aren't paid the case goes to court and then any money collected goes to the Treasury, not the council.
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Permalink Reply by Cowper
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That’s not answering my question Sarah. I’m want to know how much of the £1.3m was collected. That’s all.
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YES, me too.
In a legal contex—in order to suppress information—I was told in writing by a council employee that ~
The financial details of the Council are sensitive by definition
The impression given, is that the council does not always want to account properly for our money which they spend on our behalf. There has been reluctance to be open about money at our (un-auditable) council.
Part of the chronic publicity distortions by the previous Administration's PR team, was to release some figures that would tell part of a story, but were so far short of telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth, as to be misleading or dishonest.
For a given period (the financial year?) there are surely two relevant figures:
1. The headline or public relations figure for fines issued
2. How much of those fines were actually collected
The second figure might present a less flattering picture and reflect on council management and efficiency. We deserve to know. We pay for this institution which allegedly works in our interest.
As another example, the Labour leaders & cronies would brag about the six figure sum raised on the back of our park, but were less forthcoming about where that money went.
We need more honesty and integrity from Haringey Council.
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Permalink Reply by John Grover
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Any form of Government needs to be transparent with all the business they do , ......however ,they make it extremely hard for you to get the information that is rightfully yours ...... GOOD LUCK, AND DONT GIVE UP !!!!!!!
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