Liberal Democrats have condemned attempts by Haringey Council to boost its PR and spin budget yet again – despite the huge financial pressures on the Council this year. Lib Dems says that while residents face swingeing Council Tax increases, the Labour council’s already bloated PR budget should not be increased.

In the borough’s ‘Pre Business Plan Review,’ which sets out spending proposals for council departments for the next financial year, Haringey’s PR team has been provisionally allocated an additional £45,000 of funding. The bid includes a whopping £15,000 for “new software for managing press inquiries” which “would also allow us to fax directly from PCs.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone is calling the increases totally unjustified, following recent revelations that the Council has the second largest PR budget in the country, at well over £1 million.

Lynne Featherstone comments: “It beggars belief that with current financial pressures, Haringey would ask for even more cash for a bloated PR service. Local residents will be forced to pay more and more for media spin from the Council.”

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, Cllr Jonathan Bloch adds: “With other budgets such as social services facing cuts, this is hardly appropriate. I want these increases stopped and proposals from the Council on how it can control its public relations bingeing.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed many of the improvements in the primary school league tables but have expressed concerns that Haringey’s overall placing nationally is still poor. Party Leader Ross Laird has called for more support from the local education authority (LEA) and the Government to pull struggling primary schools up to the national average.

Haringey came 144th out of 149 LEAs in the country’s league table for primary school performance, with four of the borough’s schools in the nation’s bottom 5% for performance scores. Lib Dem leader Ross Laird is concerned by Haringey’s overall placing nationally. While neighbouring Islington has moved up the table Haringey has remained near the bottom.

The Lib Dems are particularly concerned that well over half the borough’s primary schools fall below the national key stage two score average (which is 234/300) with some scoring as little as 119/300.

Mr Laird warned that things were unlikely to change until the Government starts treating teaching staff with the respect that they deserve and supporting them rather than penalising them for failing to meet Government imposed targets.

However Cllr Laird (Muswell Hill ward) has welcomed improvements in some of the schools, most notably West Green Primary School, N15 and Rhodes Avenue Primary School, N22 which made it into the top 5% nationally under the “value added system”.

Cllr Laird comments:

“I am deeply concerned that Haringey remains near the foot of the national league table. I would suggest that this poor standing is despite the efforts of committed teaching staff.

“The Government must learn that in order to induce improvement they must show support and belief in schools and let them teach, rather than waste their time jumping through hoops for New Labour bureaucrats.”

Commenting on the resignation of Labour councillor Josie Irwin from both Haringey Council and the Labour Party, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson and local councillor Lynne Featherstone said:

“Josie Irwin made a valuable personal contribution to the Council and we wish her well. However, her resignation will provide an excellent opportunity for the Lib Dem Opposition to increase our representation on the Council and we look forward to that, as local people are even more fed up with the Labour council than Josie Irwin has become.

“In her damning criticisms, Josie Irwin has delivered a telling verdict on both the Labour party and the Labour Council. It is clear that Haringey Labour is in total turmoil with some of its most staunch supporters unable to continue to serve in such an enfeebled organisation.

“On the national stage, it is also clear that the local MPs’ cosying up to new Labour and lack of responsiveness to grass roots members has alienated many local members and supporters. Josie Irwin’s decision to leave not only the Labour group but the Labour party demonstrates this to the full.”

“Her resignation is the tip of a large iceberg of frustration at the way Labour are not delivering either at the national or local level. The Lib Dems are looking forward to the coming by-election when the voters in Stroud Green will be eager to give their verdict on the shambles that Labour have become.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in Alexandra ward have secured assurances from the Council that Bidwell Gardens, N22 will be fully repaired after the completion of site works at Alexandra Park School in 2004.

The road is currently used as an access route for heavy vehicles being used in the construction of the new sixth form block at Alexandra Park School, due for completion in late 2004. Cllr Wayne Hoban, who shares residents’ concerns about the damage to the road caused by the vehicles, has sought assurances from the Council that the road will be monitored and road damage caused to it will be repaired.

Last week the Council confirmed that they would be carry out ‘all necessary repairs after the completion of the site works’. Cllr Hoban, who has worked closely with local residents in Bidwell Gardens for many months, is pleased by the news, but warned the Council that he would be keeping a close eye to ensure its promises are kept.

Cllr Wayne Hoban comments:

“I am encouraged by the assurances that repairs will be carried out on completion of work on the site. This will come as a relief to many concerned local residents.

“I will certainly continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the Council fulfils its promise to fully repair the road.”