GOVERNMENT SETTLEMENT AWFUL FOR HARINGEY, SAY LIB DEMS

6.12.02

Commenting on the new local government finance settlement, Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem Frontbench Spokesman on Finance, said:

“This is an awful settlement from the Labour Government. Haringey is one of the worst affected Boroughs in the whole of London.

“A 3.7% rise in finance will be wiped out automatically by inflation and wage increases, such as the teacher's pay award of 4%. We are undoubtedly looking at a huge hike in Council Tax next year as a result of this settlement and also the massive overspending by Labour councillors during the current financial year.”

Cllr Ross Laird (Leader of the Opposition) added:

“I am astounded how little the Labour Government has allocated to our struggling schools and social services.

“This will either mean a double figure rise in Council Tax or very serious cuts. The council's lobbying strategy has clearly not been successful, and we will be paying dearly for Labour's financial mismanagement over this past year."

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