The Full Council of Haringey Council met on Monday 20 July 2026 to discuss the council's financial position, including recommendations from external auditors, and to consider motions on the appointment of a Windrush Champion and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The meeting also included the appointment of political assistants and updates to the Members' Allowances Scheme.

External Auditor Recommendations and Council Response

A significant item on the agenda was the consideration of a statutory recommendation and two non-statutory recommendations from the council's external auditors, KPMG LLP. These recommendations, made in accordance with Schedule 7 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, highlighted concerns regarding the council's financial position, including a significant decrease in reserves and a continuing need for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The report indicated that the council had been issued these recommendations due to Unidentified savings/funding gaps in financial planning that would substantially threaten the delivery of the plan and Persistent failure to meet savings plans or financial targets. KPMG LLP advised that the council must increase its savings targets for future years and deliver savings in line with these targets, identifying a wider range of transformational savings to bridge the financial gap and reduce reliance on EFS. The auditors also recommended a cultural shift within directorates to prioritise financial implications alongside service quality, and for Cabinet and officers to demonstrate a commitment to increasing savings delivery through more robust identification and monitoring processes.

The council's proposed response, detailed in Appendix B of the public reports pack Public reports pack 20th-Jul-2026 19.30 Full Council.pdf, indicated agreement with the recommendations. The council outlined a three-year Financial Resilience Plan focusing on priority service areas such as Adult Social Care, Procurement and Commissioning, and Housing, with the aim of reducing spend and increasing income. The plan also included measures to improve financial forecasting and strengthen spend control mechanisms. The monitoring of these actions was proposed to be delegated to the Audit Committee.

Motions

Two motions were scheduled for consideration:

• Motion A: Appointment of a Haringey Windrush Champion Proposed by Councillor Andrew Reid and seconded by Councillor Dan Johnson, this motion sought to create the role of a Windrush Champion. The motion noted the contributions of the Windrush generation to Britain and the impact of the Windrush scandal. It highlighted Haringey's diversity and the need to ensure residents are not denied their rights due to historical immigration failings. The proposed role would act as a point of contact, increase awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and champion the interests of the Windrush generation. The motion also called for the Home Office to provide borough-level data on claims and for an annual Haringey Windrush Report.

• Motion B: Council Tax Reduction Scheme Proposed by Councillor Seema Chandwani and seconded by Councillor Ibrahim Ali, this motion addressed the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS). It noted the ongoing cost of living crisis and Haringey's position as a deprived borough. The motion expressed the belief that council tax is a regressive tax and that charging low-income households is counterproductive. The council resolved to consider no changes to the CTRS during the upcoming budget round, to expand the Council Tax Hardship Fund, and to ensure the Crisis and Resilience Fund is used to help residents build financial resilience rather than substitute council revenue.

Reports from the Standards Committee

The council was scheduled to receive reports from the Standards Committee, which included recommendations on two key areas:

• Appointment of Political Assistants and updates to the Constitution: The committee noted the need to appoint three political assistants, one for each of the qualifying political groups, due to the increase in the number of groups meeting the legislative requirements. These appointments were proposed to be on one-year fixed contracts to allow for a review of their value for money, particularly in light of the council's financial challenges. Updates to the Council's Constitution were also proposed to reflect these appointments. The review findings and final decisions on terms and conditions were to be delegated to the Standards Committee.

• Members' Allowances Scheme for 2026-2027: The committee considered an update to the Members' Allowances Scheme to formalise access for members to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), following new government legislation. The report indicated that the financial impact of this scheme on employer contributions was expected to be insignificant due to the lower level of councillor allowances. Members would be able to access information and a briefing session on the scheme. The council was recommended to approve the updated scheme.

Questions to Cabinet Members

Several questions were posed to Cabinet Members on various topics:

• Councillor Andrea Hodgson asked Councillor Mark Blake about the local authority's role in the dispute between the NEU and Highgate Wood School.
• Councillor Mike Hodges inquired of Councillor Erin Wolson about improvements the council is making to help residents stay safe and cool during extreme heat.
• Councillor Sarah Williams questioned Councillor Gio Iozzi regarding the current position and future prospects for the Oakfield Road tree in Stroud Green, referencing the administration's commitment to tree protection.
• Councillor Bethany Anderson asked Councillor Gio Iozzi for an update on the council's approach to reducing glyphosate use and trialling alternative weed management methods.
• Councillor Michael Brookes enquired of Councillor Ata Berk Aksit about the purpose of the proposed Popular Assets Commission, in the context of the council's land and property assets.
• Councillor Andrew Reid sought an update from Councillor Jo Kuper on the long-term waste contract with Veolia, focusing on waste reduction, recycling, and environmental sustainability.
• Councillor Eva Bell asked Councillor Gio Iozzi for an update on the implementation of Haringey's Walking and Cycling Action Plan.
• Councillor Ahmed questioned Councillor Erin Wolson on how the council intends to fulfil its manifesto promise to renegotiate or end contracts related to Finsbury Park, given a recent contract signing.
• Councillor Simon Clark asked Councillor Jo Kuper for an update on efforts to reduce delays in responding to residents' enquiries and service requests.