The council continues to face the consequences of over a decade of chronic under-funding, increased demand and increased costs.
Haringey now has around £143m less in core government funding (in real terms) than it did in 2010 – a 55% drop. Demand and costs for vital services continue to increase, with more than 80% of the Council’s budget now spent supporting the most vulnerable through adults and children’s services and temporary accommodation.
Despite year-on-year efficiency savings, spending reductions and measures to increase revenue, Haringey will again require Exceptional Financial Support from government to balance the budget. This will ensure residents continue to benefit from key frontline services and vital investment in our borough.
This consultation puts resident voices at the heart of the decisions the council must take to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimise our reliance on Exceptional Financial Support.
Haringey Council Leader, Cllr Peray Ahmet, said:
“Setting local government budgets gets more difficult every year. Rapidly increasing demand and costs for key services alongside substantially lower funding per person than the national average means we continue to face unprecedented financial challenges.
“We welcome the extra money the new government has announced to tackle homelessness and invest in placemaking. And we’re pleased that the new local government funding formula will now incorporate housing costs and expected to more accurately reflect the high deprivation levels in some parts of Haringey.
“The government was never going to be able to reverse a decade of austerity overnight, but we will continue to work with them to ensure we build our financial stability and protect the vital services our residents rely on. While we are in a financial emergency, we will be relentless in our drive to protect and deliver the services our residents rely on.
"Our focus as a council is delivering on over £40m worth of savings already identified across the 25/26 and 26/27 budgets, so we are not proposing significant numbers of new savings proposals here.
“So please have your say. We will only be able to navigate these challenging times together.”
Residents across the borough can now have their say with the consultation running until 6 January 2026. To take part, visit https://haringeybudget2026.commonplace.is/
