Investment in social care services will be at the heart of next year’s budget as Haringey Council continues to shore up its finances against soaring costs.
The council's core government funding is now £143m a year less in real terms than it was in 2010/11.
Like other councils up and down the country, Haringey has been hit with a combination of pressures beyond its control: the sharp reduction in government funding since 2010, a spiralling demand for social care services and persistently high inflation, interest rates and costs.
London councils collectively face a shortfall of £600m in 2023/24. Haringey, one of the boroughs with the highest levels of deprivation in London, is considered an ‘outer London’ borough and gets even less funding than neighbouring councils.
Despite the challenges, the council has still vowed to help the most vulnerable residents. The budget proposals, which were published this week, show an additional investment of £25.5m in 2024/25, with £20.4m earmarked for adult social care, £3m for temporary accommodation and £2.1m for children’s services.
Cllr Dana Carlin, Cabinet Member for Finance and Local Investment, said: “I was astonished and dismayed that the Autumn statement failed to mention support for local government or adult social care. Councils provide essential services to residents. Our additional investment in Adults, Children’s and temporary accommodation shows we are doing everything we can to safeguard vital services.
“But this will inevitably lead to some tough choices in other areas as we continue to work towards a balanced budget.
“Thirteen years of government austerity and rapidly rising demand for services means we are facing severe financial pressures. Until this government is willing to accept its responsibility to provide adequate and sustained funding, we will have to step up and plug the gap.
“With more than £16m of savings still to find, we have much more work to do to get us to a balanced budget by February. This is an immense challenge but together we will get there and continue to support those most in need.
“Central government must act to save local services.”
Haringey provides 3,500 adult residents with care and support every day with an additional 1,000 requiring other types of care, and the number is increasing year on year.
Soaring rates of homelessness because of the cost-of-living crisis and a chronic shortage of temporary accommodation as landlords leave the market is also driving up costs.
Despite years of diminishing government funding, the council has invested in parks, libraries, children’s centres and roads and pavements.
The major programme to deliver a new generation of 3,000 council homes will continue, as well as substantial improvements for existing council homes.
Update: Consultation on the budget launched in December 2023, allowing residents to have their say on the proposals ahead of a final decision in February 2024. Read the draft budget and have your say by Sunday, 14 January.
