At last night’s full council meeting, Liberal Democrat councillors forced Labour’s Lead Member for Social Services to admit that the additional spending approved for staff recruitment and retention had only been agreed due to the recommendations on the Social Services Inspectorate Report.

Cllr Ross Laird, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who pressed the issue in the Council Chamber, said:

“After years of under-funding it takes a government Social Services Inspectorate report to finally get the necessary finances to retain and recruit the staff needed for Haringey’s social services department.”

Cllr Ron Aitken, Opposition Spokesman on Health and Social Services, said:

“Labour’s spending on social services over the past four years has been woefully inadequate. It is unbelievable that despite the Laming Inquiry and an over-reliance on agency and temporary staff, until this week, the Council was still not prepared to put in the necessary resources.”