An investigation by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that Haringey Council has no policy for supporting the arts in the borough.

The revelation follows a Freedom of Information request by the opposition, amidst concerns over the future of the Highgate-based arts centre in Jacksons Lane. They are also concerned by the lack of any apparent strategy by Haringey to take advantage of the broad cultural diversity of the borough and the large numbers of local residents with a passion for the arts.

As well as stating that, “Haringey Council does not have a specific arts policy,” the council’s letter response to the Freedom of Information request also revealed the paltry sums for, and the haphazard nature of, arts spending in the borough.

While there is no overall budget for the arts, spend was just £106,000 from 2003 to 2006 in the form of two grants: one to the Collage Arts and the other to Jackson’s Lane in Highgate. However, spending has leapt to £306,000 this year, due to council funding for the Bernie Grant Centre, which received £205,000 – two thirds of the current total spend.

Highgate Lib Dem councillor Neil Williams has called into question the figures. He says that Jacksons Lane is funded as a community centre and that Haringey Council is guilty of disingenuous double-counting when it comes to its claims about funding arts at the centre.

Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Libraries, Culture and Life long Learning comments:

“Haringey can rightly lay claim to be one of the most culturally active communities in London but this simply is ignored by this Labour administration. Their cultural strategy is little more than a tokenistic booklet. There is no real commitment to go out and find out what is going on and produce a coherent and well funded strategy of support.”

Cllr Neil Williams, Highgate councillor, adds:

“When it comes to Jacksons Lane, Haringey Council wants to have it both ways. It funds the centre for its valuable community work, in exactly the same way as other community centres, but then claims this is spending on the arts. This won’t wash.With the centre’s building suffering from lack of attention from the council going back many years, Haringey has a disingenuous and miserly policy. At least this is now out in the open.”