Lynne Featherstone

Commenting on Haringey Council’s one star rating by the Commission for SocialCare Inspection (CSCI, 18th November 2004), Haringey’s opposition Lib Demshave expressed concern that the CSCI views the Labour-run Council’s capacityto improve children’s services as ‘uncertain’, despite very high levels ofover-spending on its children’s services budget this year.

The one-star rating puts the London Borough of Haringey above only the eight boroughs in thecountry that remain on zero stars. However, with the national statisticsshowing more boroughs than ever having been awarded two or three stars,including neighbouring Lib Dem-run Islington, Haringey Lib Dem leader CllrWilliams says there is plenty of room for improvement. Despite theconsiderable overspend over the last couple of years to pull up children’sservices, Haringey Council still appears to be failing to meet expectations.

Cllr Williams comments:

“Council staff in social services should be commended for their hard work insecuring an improved rating. However it is still worrying that the Councilhas failed to significantly improve children’s services, despite such heavyinvestment in the last couple of years.

“And while Labour politicians in the borough are seeking credit for theseimprovements, not one of them feels they can be held responsible for theterrible and tragic mistakes of earlier years. It’s a point that will not belost on local residents.”