An urgent review of how £200m will be spent by Homes for Haringey has been demanded by local Liberal Democrats following the revelation that serious government ‘concerns’ over the high costs of Haringey Council’s ALMO bid delayed the cash award.

The serious indictment of Haringey’s ability to spend money efficiently was contained in a secret ministerial briefing marked ‘not for the public domain’ obtained by local Lib Dem MP, Lynne Featherstone through a Freedom of Information request.

Unhappy with the government’s bland response over the delays in allocating the desperately needed housing funding, Ms Featherstone demanded to see all the ministerial briefing material for her recent Parliamentary Questions on the subject.

Commenting, Ms Featherstone says:

“Local council tenants and leaseholders have waited and waited for this desperately needed money to bring their homes up to just a basic standard. Now we find out the delay was caused by the Government not having any confidence in Haringey being able to spend the money efficiently.

“If Labour ministers don’t even trust them not to waste taxpayer money, why should local residents? What guarantees do they have that this huge amount of money won’t be frittered away through more Haringey waste and inefficiency?”

Councillor Carolyn Baker, Haringey Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson adds:

“There are hundreds of properties desperately in need of basic modern facilities. Now we discover that they have had to wait longer because Haringey has been unable to get its act together. Haringey Council played an intrinsic role in preparing this bid.It is therefore a damning indictment of Haringey Labour when their own government says they haven’t got a clue how to ensure money is spent well.

“The scale of this project dwarfs all of their other failed major investments, such as Tech Refresh. When you’re talking about almost £¼ billion of public money this is serious problem. Council tenants and local leaser-holders will be short-changed if this money isn’t spent properly.”

Local MP Lynne Featherstonepaid a special visit on Fridayto Treehouse, to look at plans and inspect the area that is soon being landscaped into an exciting wildlife area next to the centre. Following a recent £80,000 national lottery award as part of the People’s Millions 2007, Treehouse are now making their innovative school, where building work is due for completion in May, even more exciting by creating a wildlife area where students get to learn essential life skills.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am delighted to see such a worthy cause being recognised. The Treehouse Trust is an invaluable asset for young people with autism, and this award will allow it to continue its amazing work.

“This is the outcome of years of hard work, thought and research. When the garden has been fully landscaped I think it will provide an amazing area for exploration and help students develop skills for life.

“I am looking forward to coming back when work on the new school and the garden has been completed. I am just so please to see how work is proceeding.”

After years of delays, local residents will have to wait until the summer before they are able to benefit from a local car club scheme. Haringey Council’s proposals to introduce car clubs have for many years stalled, and a small scheme that only proposes to have ten parking bays for the whole borough will not be introduced until 1st July 2008.

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised Haringey Council for dithering over proposals and have demanded reasons why Haringey Council have failed to provide these schemes earlier, considering that neighbouring boroughs have very successful and wide ranging programmes in place.

Lib Dems have recently met with colleagues in Islington who have won national recognition for their Car Club scheme at the London Transport Awards. Car clubs aim to help reduce traffic congestion, on- and off-street parking pressure, pollution and CO2 emissions.

Rachel Allison, Lib Dem Highgate by-election candidate, comments:

“I have first hand experience of the misery caused by car parking pressures and I’m a member of a local car club. However, this is in Islington as Haringey have consistently failed to act decisively to introduce similar schemes that would help to reduce car use, congestion and pollution.

“Neighbouring boroughs have large schemes in place yet Haringey are yet to get of the starting blocks. Once again Haringey residents have been left behind by the Council’s lack of drive.”

Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

“Haringey Council has been stuck in neutral for too long. It should follow Islington’s lead, instead of proposing a half-hearted scheme of ten parking bays, that won’t provide enough coverage to get the positive environmental outcomes we’ve been hoping for.”