GOVERNMENT FUNDING SETTLEMENT - BAD FOR HARINGEY

24.11.03

Haringey's Lib Dems have condemned the provisional Government settlement for Haringey Council, which will see only a 3.7% increase in its funding from the Government, through what is known as the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). The RSG national average increase is much higher than the figure obtained by Haringey, at 6.5%. Even other London councils won more Government cash, obtaining an average 4.7% increase

Cllr Jonathan Bloch, Lib Dem Finance Spokesman says:

"This is a very poor settlement. It is clear that the Government's formula is working against Haringey. The Lib Dems will be pushing for changes to the formula and the scrapping of the inequitable Council Tax, which could still soar again this year."

Cllr Ross Laird, Leader of the Opposition comments:

"The Labour Government and the Labour council must share the blame for present funding problems. The Government is determined to handcuff local authorities, and as a result, Council Tax is bound to go up. Haringey of course has done itself no favours by overspending and mismanaging funds in the past."

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