In response to a question raised by Lib Dem Deputy Leader Wayne Hoban at the Haringey Council meeting held last night (19th July), the Labour Executive Member for Community Involvement confirmed that she “had no idea” why an envelope delivered by hand to a council office by a local residents’ action group with a request that the contents be distributed to all councillors was not delivered.

She also confirmed that no trace could be found of a faxed request from the same action group seeking permission to send a delegation to the next council meeting, despite the fact that the resident had a fax receipt indicating that the message had indeed reached the correct destination.

Cllr Hoban had previously received written confirmation from the Chief Executive that all post delivered by hand to council offices which is intended for other council buildings is collected on a daily basis by couriers from the Civic Centre and brought back for onward transmission. He also confirmed that “there is no reason why mail left for councillors by a local resident should not have been delivered to councillors in the normal way.”

Despite this assurance, the Labour Member for Community Involvement advised in her response that local residents should not use the internal mail system as it was unreliable and that they would be better off sending their communications by post.

The Lib Dems claim it is unacceptable that local residents who hand deliver communications destined for councillors or council officers to council offices in good faith cannot be offered the assurance of guaranteed delivery.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“This Labour council’s claim to be open, accessible and responsive to the needs of local residents sounds a little hollow today.”