By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Clockwise from top left: Cllr Charles Adje, Cllr Paul Dennison, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor and Cllr Luke Cawley-Harrison Labour councillors have approved a rise in council tax and rejected calls to ditch a £12 million building scheme dubbed a “vanity project” by the Lib Dems. Members of Haringey Council’s Labour administration voted through a budget they said would help reduce inequality at a full council meeting on Monday – claiming the tax hike was needed to finance several important schemes. Haringey’s two main parties clashed over the budget proposals. The Lib Dems claimed Labour had failed to improve the borough despite being in power for decades, while Labour slammed the opposition over austerity policies brought in during their party’s coalition government with the
By Simon Allin @SimonAllin3 Local Democracy Reporter, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
The council leader defended a £12m refurbishment scheme The leader of Haringey Council has defended a £12 million revamp of a listed building that was branded a “vanity project” by opposition councillors. Cllr Joseph Ejiofor said the project to renovate the Civic Centre in Wood Green will provide a “dynamic civic hub” and “community spaces that benefit residents across the borough”. The planned refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building is designed to provide modern, energy-efficient offices and civic space that will cut carbon emissions and running costs. But the Lib Dems called on the council to axe the project and spend the money on helping communities recover and rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic.