Plans for 1.99% increase in core council tax and 1% rise in social care precept would be less than government’s new 5% limit
By Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents are being invited to have their say on Haringey Council’s tax and spending plans for the next financial year.

The council has launched a six-week public consultation on the proposed budget for 2023/24, which it says is focused on protecting the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

Although it includes plans for a 1.99% increase in core council tax and 1% rise in the ‘precept’ used to fund adult social care, the consultation report notes that a final decision will be made next year in light of new powers granted to local authorities by the government to raise council tax bills by up to 5%.

The budget includes plans to invest almost £11million in adults’ and children’s services. This includes £2m to help cope with increased demand for adult social care and the growing complexity of needs that has been seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. A further £4m has been earmarked to address inflationary pressures in adult social care, including rising energy costs.

Proposed investment in children’s services includes £2m to address budget pressures, which are partly due to a rise in the number of young people in semi-independent provision. A further £1m has been set aside to cover the growing costs of social care placements. Other spending plans include £350,000 to continue free school meals provision and £1m for transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Savings proposals include £6.4m on “traffic and route management improvements”, which include income from enforcement cameras in ‘school streets’ and the three controversial low-traffic neighbourhood schemes rolled out this year. The council also plans to save £2.2m on its adults, mental health and learning disabilities service, achieved partly through a focus on “early intervention and prevention and use of assistive technology”.

Council leader Peray Ahmet and cabinet member for finance Sarah Williams said next year’s budget was being “developed against a backdrop of an unprecedented combination of economic uncertainty, high inflation and reduced central government funding”.

They added: “Despite the increasingly challenging circumstances, our budget once again sees continued investment in those things that are at the heart of our values as an administration.

“We’re particularly proud of our huge investment in care for our most vulnerable residents and our enhanced support for those who are suffering most from the cost-of-living crisis.”

The budget consultation will run until 20th January. Residents can find out more details on the proposals and how to provide feedback by visiting the council website here.

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