Last night (Monday 9th January), the Lib Dem Deputy Leader in the London Borough of Haringey called on the Council’s Labour leader to support his letter to the District Auditor calling for an independent audit of The Bridge New Deal for Communities.

The call follows months of investigation by Cllr Hoban after concerns were raised with him by residents back in May that the £50.1 million project was being managed poorly.

Since then he has attempted to acquire satisfactorily audited accounts from Haringey Council and the Director of The Bridge NDC who, whilst insisting that the accounts had been fully audited, were unable to produce them. Following a fruitless Freedom of Information request, Cllr Hoban was left with no alternative but to refer his concerns to the District Auditor.

Residents’ concerns were reiterated at a meeting attended by Cllr Hoban of Suffolk Road Residents’ Association, where he was disturbed to hear the Director of The Bridge NDC project inform resident freeholders that funding for an ongoing programme designed to bring their homes up to the Government’s Decent Homes Standard had been withdrawn because “the Government had clawed back the money.”

Apparently a programme of works had been agreed for both council tenants and freeholders. The cost of these works was to be funded through a 75% government grant and the NDC.Phase 1 had already been completed and phase 2 had been started to the point the contractors were already on site; the pilot home was nearing completion and several council tenants were to have their new double glazed windows installed on Monday 14th November.

Last night, an oral question tabled by Cllr Hoban to the executive member for housing concerning this issue was not heard due to filibustering by Labour councillors.

Cllr Hoban comments:

“It is clear from the high level of dissatisfaction from residents in the NDC area, evidenced by a 600 strong signed petition to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister asking for an independent investigation, that there are some serious questions to be answered concerning the way in which Haringey Council are managing the delivery of this £50 million programme. Nothing less than a fully independent forensic investigation of the NDC accounts will do to reassure residents and councillors that the funds are being spent appropriately.”