Red-faced members of Labour-led Haringey Council were forced to admit this week that their promise to deliver better housing for Haringey residents by 2010 will not be met.

Labour’s housing boss admitted at a meeting on the Full Council on Monday that Homes for Haringey, which reports directly to the Council, will not get a place on a funding scheme called ‘Decent Homes’ until April this year. This will be bad news for Haringey tenants who have been waiting years for much needed improvements to their properties.

Back in 2006, a key part of the Labour election campaign was promising residents that the improvements will be made by 2010. The latest delay means that this pledge will now not be met.

Questions still remain over why the Council failed to get a place on the central government run funding scheme. Earlier in the year, the Council said they would get the money after achieving a two star rating from the Audit Commission.

Cllr Carolyn Baker, Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, said:

“Yet again, Labour has failed to deliver for the people of Haringey. Good quality council housing should be a top priority for any council. But it seems that Haringey Council has not pulled its finger out to get on the list for funding.

“Because of their failure to shout up for Haringey when the money was being distributed, residents will have to wait even longer for the improvements they badly need whilst they live in properties lacking in basic modern amenities.

“On top of this, tenants are facing huge increases in rent for properties that are in need of repair. This is not good enough, and someone needs to explain to residents how this has happened and what they are going to do about it.”