Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern over the sustained failure of Labour-run Haringey Council and its partners to provide adequate support services for businesses in Haringey.

Liberal Democrat councillors highlighted at a meeting of the Council’s ‘watchdog’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 27th March 2007 that services still failed to provide an acceptable, up-to-date service and that recommendations made in 2004 had not been implemented.

Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) highlighted that many of the present business support tools available are still not up to standard. Telephone messages left with business support agencies were not returned and website portals not regularly updated.

Top regeneration officers present at the meeting themselves admitted that Haringey only provided a “fragmented service” and agreed with Lib Dem proposals that the Council should work towards a single point of advice for businesses in Haringey.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Regeneration comments:

“The admission of the fractured service Haringey provides confirms what many in the borough, not just Lib Dems, have believed for a long time. The vast majority of our businesses employ less than four people and it should be a priority to support them and attract new businesses and start up companies.

“Labour are guilty of hypocrisy, as Labour councillors recently supported a Council motion that claimed the Council had a ‘clear focus on promoting enterprise and string of successes in making Haringey a great place to do business’. In reality, the Council’s own officers seem to be saying that the exact opposite is the case.”

Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) adds:

“Many businesses, particularly in the East of the borough will be reeling from the latest Labour budget that has increased the burden on small businesses. The fact that their own borough is offering little support will only add to the woes of small businesses in Haringey.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds

“We are in the run up to the Olympics and it is hard to see how Haringey small businesses, particularly in the east of the borough, will be able to take full advantages of the opportunities that it will bring if business support is so woeful.”