Financial mismanagement is to blame for a near £2 million overspend on a project to expand two schools in the London Borough of Haringey, according to the Liberal Democrats.

In addition to being massively over budget, the projects at Coleridge and Tetherdown primary schools are both behind schedule. The funding crisis was revealed in documents released for Haringey Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 22nd Jan 2008.

The Liberal Democrats have raised concerns over Haringey Council’s ability to manage projects of this scale, particularly as Building Schools for the Future (BSF), due to start this year, involves a much greater sum of money. The project aims to upgrade facilities at Haringey’s secondary schools and build a new secondary school at a total cost of around £200 million. Similar overspends on this project could see Haringey Council trying to fill a £20 million black hole.

Councillor Gail Engert, Lib Dem Children, Schools and Families spokesperson, comments:

“This should send alarm bells ringing for the people of Haringey who time after time see their taxes badly managed by Haringey Council. If residents cannot trust Haringey Council to keep to a budget these two small projects, how can we trust them with a scheme due to cost £200 million?”