Liberal Democrat Councillors have uncovered that Haringey Council has paid almost £300,000 in enhanced benefits to 59 council employees who have received early retirement over the last three years. The information was presented by the Council in response to a question that was tabled at last Monday’s Full Council by the Lib Dems who are concerned at the amount of early retirements being offered by Haringey Council.

Over the last three years 65 council employees have received early retirement, with 90% of them receiving enhanced benefits. The Liberal Democrats fear that cash-strapped Haringey, which currently has a pension deficit of £246.3m, is shying away from taking tough staffing decisions by giving Council employees early retirement. This cost the embattled Haringey taxpayer over £110,000 last year alone.

Lib Dem pensions spokesperson Jonathan Bloch comments:

“It concerns me that the Labour Council is demonstrating such costly weakness in dealing with staffing issues. Haringey Council should not be dipping in to the already exhausted pension fund to pay-off staff that the Council wants to get rid of or whose faces don’t fit.”