Haringey Council awaits a crucial £37m government bailout amid budget concerns and criticisms of delayed action.
The council needs £37 million from the government. This cash would help balance the budget. They will learn the decision at February’s end. This money lets councils use assets for daily costs.
The council also asked for current year support. They did not say how much they require right now. Luke Cawley-Harrison criticized Dana Carlin for slow action. Cawley-Harrison asked why emergency groups formed so late. He noted Carlin had access to budget reports. He questioned if she was unaware of the issues.
Carlin said they added money for adult care. They put in £20 million, just like last year. Unexpected needs and complexity arose, she stated. Carlin explained temporary housing costs were also off. She said other areas face the same issues too.
Haringey expects £30.9 million pressure for social care. Expect another £12 million for temporary housing. Pippa Connor said for reports asked for this data. The request regarded quarterly finances for all boards. A report found budget reviews were not strong enough. This report covered shortfalls from 2023/24.
Connor stated savings proposals lacked detail. This made recommendations difficult to formulate well enough. It meant more talks were required in the meeting. Carlin said demands and costs grew at the same time. This happened in both adult social care and housing.
Carlin stated their housing team prevents homelessness very well. They find people new homes quickly. They keep people in their current homes too. Core government funding has fallen about £143 million since 2010.