FOUR YEARS ON, COUNCIL TAX PAYERS ARE STILL IN THE DARK OVER ALLY PALLY SPENDING

9.6.03

Local Lib Dems have called for action from Haringey's Labour-run council, as important information regarding the costs to local taxpayers of the Alexandra Palace is still not being published in the Haringey Council Tax booklet even though the council assured Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone that they would look into the problem four years ago.

In 2000, the Council responded to Cllr Featherstone's request for a more open approach, and the council replied that it would look to see what could be done to make the information clearer in the future. Four years on and the Palace's finances are still a confusion to most.

Lib Dem Alexandra Palace spokesperson Cllr Bob Hare is concerned that people are paying through their Council Tax bills for the huge costs of the Palace but they are not seeing the details they should on where exactly their money is going.

Cllr Hare (Highgate) comments:

"Everyone who pays Council Tax in Haringey is paying a substantial amount to the upkeep and running of Ally Pally. Very few people know how the money is spent on Alexandra Palace, so it continues to operate in a cloud of mystery.

"This lack of transparency can only be bad for the council and Alexandra Palace and I would urge them to take action quickly to ensure that taxpayers are clear about where their money is going."

Lib Dem Cllr Featherstone, who first raised the problem, adds:

"I will be writing to Haringey Council again to enquire about the progress they have made on this issue and to encourage them to clarify where exactly residents' taxes are going at the Palace."

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