Leaked emails reveal concerns from Labour councillors over ‘money spinning’ LTNs

Labour councillors have raised concerns over the proposed use of income from low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) to help plug Haringey Council’s budget gap, a series of leaked emails show.

The emails, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, include fears that income from LTN and ‘school streets’ penalties – expected to fetch up to £5.7million during the next financial year – could lead to anger as residents face fines during a cost-of-living crisis.

Three LTNs have been introduced by Haringey Council on a trial basis this year – in Bounds Green, St Ann’s and a third in Bruce Grove and West Green. Protests have since been staged as anger over the local impact of the schemes has risen.

Designed to reduce ‘rat running’ and boost air quality, the schemes use physical and camera-enforced ‘filters’ to stop non-residential traffic from cutting through side streets. Opponents of the schemes question their benefits, claiming they lead to longer journey times and more pollution – particularly on boundary roads.

The email exchange, which took place earlier this month, follows on from an environment and neighbourhoods budget briefing. In the first of the emails, Matt White, a councillor for Tottenham Central, states that of a £6.49m saving predicted for the 2023/24 financial year, “£5.716m (88%) is from enforcement cameras for LTNs and new school streets”. He adds that this is “the largest single saving in the proposed budget, and alone accounts for over 30% of the £18.5m of proposed new savings”.

Cllr White’s email warns that the council appears to be relying on a large number of cars “driving through these supposedly safe streets in order to plug a gap in our budget”, and that if the saving goes forward it will look like the council’s Haringey Streets for People programme is “just a way to generate money”.

Cllr White also states that the figures suggest the council still expects to be receiving £4m to £5m per year from LTNs in five years’ time. He points out that the current LTNs are 18-month trials, yet the council appears to be “banking on them being permanent”. The email concludes: “I urge the cabinet to reconsider this savings proposal.”

Mark Blake, who represents Fortis Green, says in response that he shares the concerns, adding that “having such a considerable income target which appears highly speculative can only add to more difficulties down the line”.

In a subsequent email, Noel Park ward councillor Emine Ibrahim warns of a “huge issue” if the council goes out to consultation on a budget “that relies on fining people for entering LTNs from the wrong route”. She adds that it will “surely further anger residents who are against the LTNs”. Her email continues: “We are basically going to be fining people who are already facing huge financial pressures because of the cost-of-living crisis.”

Cllr Ibrahim suggests using “moveable physical barriers” such as rising bollards that don’t “catch people out and fine them”, adding: “we have to find a way to make this work that doesn’t appear to be a money-spinner”.

Michelle Simmons-Safo, who represents Seven Sisters, wrote that she shares Cllr White’s concerns and warns that it would be “highly controversial that we have a forecast of three years when the LTNs are in their trial period”. Pointing out that her inbox is full of “emails of anxious and frustrated vulnerable residents and carers who have had fines”, she adds: “These are not the residents who need to feel the wrath of the expense of a PCN [penalty charge notice] to burden their already stretched budget.”

The final email of the leaked exchange, from Bounds Green ward councillor Mary Mason, states that some people claim the council is “using the penalty charge to get more money rather than to deal with climate change”. It adds that £60 “is very little to high-end earners but is the weekly shop for many families”.

Cllr Mason later wrote: “I am also concerned about how this money will be used – initially we spoke about using any income to help make Haringey greener. Please could you let us know whether this will happen?”

Responding to the email exchange, Mike Hakata, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, environment and transport, said: “Any figures in the draft budget and MTFS [medium-term financial strategy], due to be published shortly, for future LTN and school streets income will be estimates based on initial data collected and experience in delivering other traffic schemes.

“It is very much the council’s hope and expectation that compliance will be high. If this means that income raised is lower than anticipated, this will be addressed in future budget rounds.

“Figures for years two-to-five in the MTFS are always subject to revision in later budget rounds based on the policy decisions of the administration.”