Issue - meetings

Councillor Goldberg moved the budget report  – Medium Term Financial Planning 2011/12 to 2013/14, and moved the recommendations contained therein, noting the earlier debate on the ‘state of the borough’. Councillor Kober seconded.

Councillor Strang MOVED 5 budget amendments as follows, each individually seconded by Councillors Wilson, Engert, Winskill, Scott, and Reece:

BUDGET AMENDMENT 1

Putting our young people first

Given the events of 2011 it is clear that youth services in Haringey must be a high priority. Labour’s disproportionate 75% cut last year and subsequent vote against a budget amendment to reinvest £900,000 in our young people sent the wrong message to future generations that the Council was not on their side. The Council can no longer afford to ignore the need to help our young people, many of whom face problems including unemployment, gang violence and low school achievement.

Liberal Democrats want the Council to refocus on the borough’s young people with a £1million fund aimed to raise educational attainment, combat youth unemployment and reduce anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Our Youth Fund will increase every year to £2million in 2014/15.

The voluntary sector and charities would be asked to bid to run services aimed at providing youth services, support grass-roots projects and initiatives, help find young people work, and take action to reduce gang membership and violence.  

                                                                                                                                                                        Youth Fund cost                  £1,000,000

Despite the pressure on front-line services Labour continues to spend £1.395million on producing glossy brochures, and propaganda publications such as ‘Haringey People’, which was investigated by the External Auditor in 2011. Liberal Democrats believe that the Council should not spend more than £1million on communications.

Instead of retaining budgets for jobs that are not filled the Council should use this money to take action to combat youth unemployment. We propose deleting 10 currently vacant non front-line posts.

Haringey Council currently fails to adhere to its own car allowance policy, with many non-essential staff getting car allowances they should not be entitled to. Strict application of the rules would save £200,000. We also propose reducing senior management allowances by £50,000.

Capping communications                                    £395,000

Reduction in vacant posts

£355,000

Strict implementation of current car allowance policy and cut senior management costs   

£250,000

BUDGET AMENDMENT 2

Local residents in charge – Local Neighbourhood Fund

Labour has proposed a one-off £1.2million centrally-controlled ‘slush’ fund with no detail on how it will be spent or what its aims are. Liberal Democrats believe that, at every opportunity, local residents should be put at the centre of change and have a greater say in how their money is spent. 

We therefore propose that each local ward would be allocated £50,000 revenue funding, to be administered through the Area Committees, to spend on their priorities whether it is more overtime for local Safer Neighbourhood Teams to tackle crime hotspots, extra maintenance in a local park, or to help the area meet their Area Plan goals.

                                                                                                                                    Local Neighbourhood Fund cost                            £950,000

Recognising the work of low-paid council staff, who often work on the front-line delivering vital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60