Issue - meetings

a)       Haringey Council – (8.30 to 8.45pm)

          Presentation by Cllr Claire Kober, Leader of the Council

b)                 NHS Haringey – (8.45 to 8.50pm)

Update by Duncan Stroud, Associate Director for Communications and Engagement, NHS Haringey

c)                 Haringey Police – (8.50 to 8.55pm)

Written update received from Haringey Police – (attendance to be confirmed)

d)                 Panel Debate – (8.55 to 9.25pm)

An opportunity for residents to ask questions to the speakers and debate the issues raised by the presentations

A summary of the financial picture and budget setting process being undertaken by public sector organisations was provided. 

Local Authority

Councillor Claire Kober, Leader of the Council, provided an overview of the financial challenges the Council faced moving into 2011/12. Councillor Kober noted that the cuts being made to the Local Authorities budget were the most significant in living memory and that the Council’s overall funding would be reduced by 26% over the next three years.

Due to changes in the way Local Authority funding was allocated grant funding, which had previously been delivered on the basis of need, had now been rolled into the overall grant settlement. This meant that Haringey had been also been hit by the loss of grant funding that it had previously received to tackle issues such as deprivation and regeneration. 

In addition the cuts were being ‘front loaded’ which meant that the Council had to identify approximately £47m of savings during 2011/12 with approximately £20m being required in each of the two subsequent financial years.

To illustrate the severity of the reduction in funding it was noted that previously £7 out of £10 received by the Council had come from the Government, £2.50 from Council Tax and 50p in fees and charges. The funding that would be received by the Government over the next three years would fall from the equivalent of £7 to £4.

Wider policy changes made by the Government, such as the capping of Housing Benefit, would also impact on the Borough as there was likely to be a migration from the inner London Boroughs to Boroughs like Haringey where rents were less expensive. The Council had already seen increases in the number of vulnerable families coming into the area who had cited this as a reason for moving. As the number of vulnerable families was likely to increase so would the demand on the Council services to support their needs.

In conclusion Councillor Kober noted that the Council’s priorities in terms of alleviating poverty and reducing inequalities had not changed; however, the scale of the financial challenge necessitated a wholesale review of services in order to ensure that those most in need continued to receive the support they required.

NHS Haringey

Mr Duncan Stroud, Associate Director for Communications and Engagement, NHS Haringey, gave an overview of the organisations financial position.

NHS Haringey’s budget for 2010/11 was overspent by £25m and consequently there was significant pressure on the organisation to identify savings.

It was noted that NHS Haringey (as the Primary Care Trust (PCT)) was the commissioning body for health services in the Borough. Following the Government’s decision to disband PCTs and move commissioning responsibility to GPs NHS Haringey and five other north London Boroughs were merging. This would also achieve the 50% reduction in management costs required by the Government.

The meeting was advised that it would be necessary to reduce services in order to achieve the savings required and difficult decisions regarding local services would have to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13