Haringey Labour has been asked to come clean about the astonishing 38% rise in Council Tax over the four budgets of the current Labour administration. The move follows last night’s setting of the Band D Council Tax at £1322.88, and repeated questioning of the Labour Council leader, who insisted again yesterday that the tax has risen by 32% since 2001.

A bad enough figure, say the Lib Dems, but less than the 38% increase local Council Tax payers have in fact had to endure.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson Cllr Stephen Gilbert also says that the figure could have been even higher, but for behind-the-scenes pressure from the Labour Environment Minister, who wrote to Haringey Council last year demanding that Labour’s planned seven-percent-plus increase be curbed.

Labour also faced further criticism last night for failing to address the impact of the tax increase on Haringey pensioners. When asked how much pensioners would save under the Lib Dems’ proposal of a local income tax, Labour’s Finance Lead Member couldn’t answer.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson Stephen Gilbert (Fortis Green) comments:

“Haringey Labour has no answers to explain its astonishing increase in Council Tax over the four budgets of this Labour administration. They blame the Labour Government, which in turn blames the Labour Council. While this blame game within Labour continues, local people are having to find the money to pay the tax – and services are definitely not 38% better as a result.”

Lib Dem Group Leader Neil Williams (Highgate) adds: “Local pensioners who do not pay income tax would pay nothing at all under Lib Dem proposals to replace Council Tax with a local income tax. It is a much fairer system.”

At last night’s Full Council, Liberal Democrats have given their firm backing to a motion promoted by the Living Streets campaign in Haringey – but called on Haringey Council to utter more than warm words on the issue.

Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson who has worked closely with the Living Streets campaign in the borough, urged Haringey Council to back up their words with deeds. He cited the example of the New River Development in Hornsey, where an ocean of roadway has been allowed in that part of Hornsey High Street, creating an environment very unfriendly for pedestrians.

Bob Hare comments:

“We must do all we can to promote living streets in Haringey, but this amounts to far more than warm words from Labour, who very often fail to back up their warm words with deeds on the issue.

“Spending money on schemes such as better Haringey will not on its own solve the problem. We need a real change of attitude at the Council, one that puts Living Streets and pedestrians first.”

Following pressure form the Liberal Democrats, Haringey Council has acted to impose Tree Preservation Orders on a large number of much valued trees at the controversial Strathlene House site off Creighton Avenue.

The site, adjacent to Fortismere School, has been the subject of a controversial planning application in recent months, and bitter criticism from residents and local councillors over damage to the trees at the rear of the site.

When Liberal Democrats grew concerned about the fate of trees at the front of the site in recent weeks, they pressed Haringey Council for Tree Preservation Orders.

These were introduced by the Council’s Planning Committee last week, and give protection to six English oaks, one beech, one robinia, one sycamore, as well as a group of Scots pines.

Councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I welcome the action to protect these trees. I visited the site recently and met local residents, and was extremely concerned about damage to surrounding trees.

“Many residents are understandably unaware that trees just outside the borough’s conservation areas are not protected unless they are subject to a Tree Preservation Order. I hope this serves as a useful reminder, and if people have concerns over the fate of local trees, they should contact the Lib Dems or the Council direct.”

Haringey Council is arranging for the installation of much needed anti-slip paving slabs on a busy and steep stretch of footpath on Muswell Hill following a request from the Liberal Democrats.

The new surface will be installed in the next few weeks, following concerns that the pathway, on the approach to the busy bus stop on Muswell Hill, could be unsafe for pedestrians.

A team from Haringey Council’s Highways department has visited the site and contractors and have given the go-ahead to replace existing paving slabs with special anti-slip ones in the next three weeks.

Lib Dem councillor Lynne Featherstone comments:

“With winter ice and rain, we must keep the busy and extremely steep footpath along Muswell Hill as safe as possible. I welcome the Council’s decision to take action, and hope that the works will be done as soon as possible, given the present wintry weather.”

Highgate councillor and Lib Dem Leader Neil Williams has called for action from Haringey Council over its chaotic collection of waste from green recycling boxes in parts of the village area.

Cllr Williams says that collections on the wrong days for the past three weeks are putting local people off recycling.

Residents in North Hill N6 were initially pleased when Haringey Council informed them that the collection day for recyclables was being moved to a Wednesday – the same day as for the refuse collection service. However for each of the past three weeks the boxes have not been emptied on Wednesdays, and have been left until as long as Saturday.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“The Council should not have told residents that there would be a change of day if their systems are plainly not ready for the change. It is a shame, as the change gives people the opportunity of recycling a great variety of items, and the unpredictable collections are also causing residents to overfill their boxes. Haringey must sort this problem out.”

Lib Dem London Assembly member Lynne Featherstone has welcomed assurances from Transport for London that it will seek to work with Islington and Haringey councils to keep buses and other traffic moving in Stroud Green Road N4.

The route is a busy bus route for residents in Crouch End and Muswell Hill travelling to the Tube at Finsbury Park and is often congested with parked vehicles.

Ms Featherstone has been pressing TfL for action, and says that the attention of the London authorities on the road, which forms the borough boundary between Islington and Haringey, is much needed.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“I am pleased that TfL has decided to work with the two local councils over the issue. While Islington is generally better than Haringey at enforcement measures along the road, more action is needed to keep the road clear for buses and remove illegally parked cars. It is a vital bus corridor for this part of London.”