Labour vote through cut to libraries

Last night (4th March), Labour voted through their planned 30% cut to Haringey’s libraries. The opposition Liberal Democrats presented a fully costed amendment to the budget which would have reversed these cuts entirely, paid for by savings to the council’s propaganda magazine, Haringey People, and reversing the ideological decision to bring the operation of the council’s leisure centres in-house, which will cost taxpayers £700k more per year versus retendering the contract and allowing a well-regarded, experienced national provider to run the centres.
 
Lib Dems believe that our amendments reflected residents priorities, but not a single Labour councillor voted against the cuts. Thanks to the support of all those who signed our petition - over 500 in just a couple of weeks. Sadly, Labour have chosen to ignore your voices, and pushed ahead with their unnecessary plans.
 
It now looks inevitable that cuts to opening hours in Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Muswell Hill, St Ann's, Stroud Green & Harringay libraries will go ahead, but we will of course keep fighting for our libraries despite Labour's plans. And we still believe that the vicious cuts pencilled in for 2025-26 can be stopped, and will continue fighting against these, and for our residents, too.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Luke Cawley-Harrison (LD-Crouch End), Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council, said:
“Ask any resident in Haringey, and I am confident they would prioritise libraries and tennis courts over pointless insourcing and money the council spends on promoting itself. Unlike this out-of-touch budget, our Lib Dem amendments will prioritise the services which are valued most by residents.”